We've all heard the message: If you have sex, you should get tested for STDs. But getting tested can be intimidating, confusing and expensive, especially for those without health insurance or money.

What to get tested for and how often to get tested

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists herpes, HIV, HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis (a tiny protozoan that infects mucosal surfaces and leads to a frothy, greenish discharge) as major public health risk factors.

However, not all tests may be appropriate, said Mark Shaw, director of the Health Promotion Department at Hall Health. Sexually active men and women should get a chlamydia and gonorrhea test yearly. HIV testing is also a good idea for people who have had sexual intercourse, said Nels Carroll, a senior majoring in psychology and biology and a volunteer peer health educator for U-HELP. Many of the people who transmit HIV do not know they are infected, and prompt diagnosis can significantly improve a person's prognosis on antiretroviral medications.

Women who are sexually active should get visual screening and an annual pap smear at their yearly gynecological exam. The pap smear is the most effective way to test for HPV, the Human Papilloma Virus.

"HPV is a very prevalent virus. There are about 100 strains." Carroll said. "Some lead to genital warts, and others infect the mucosal surfaces and can lead to abnormal growths and cervical cancer."

Men who show symptoms of genital warts may undergo a visual screen for genital warts, but there is no routine testing for HPV in asymptomatic men, Carroll said. Though herpes affects an estimated 45 million people annually, the test is expensive.

"People who have herpes usually know they have it, so they don't typically do that test unless you have symptoms," Carroll said.

Similarly, trichomoniasis affects an estimated five million people annually, but its symptoms are so obvious that people aren't tested unless they have symptoms.

"Women should go in once a year for their annual exam and

Where to go for help

Hall Health

If sticking close to campus is important, Hall Health may be the best option. Students can call the appointments line or check in at the student services center for an STD test.

"We also try to make the process an educational opportunity, so we give students counseling before and after the testing" Shaw said.

Tests involve a blood draw, and can be done at Hall Health. The samples are sent to the UW Medical Center, so results can take 48 hours to come back, Shaw said.

"Also, it's not subsidized, so that can be a bit of a barrier," he said.

Doing a complete panel of STD testing could cost $300, Carroll said Typically, however, students discuss their lifestyle and risk factors with a clinician and find that only a few of the tests are necessary. A test for chlamydia and gonorrhea costs $93, an HIV test is about $50 and a syphilis test is $17, Carroll said.

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood also offers STD testing for all STDs. There is a Planned Parenthood on Roosevelt Way and another on Northeast 45th Street, so a student can get tested without straying far from campus.

"Probably the cheapest place around here to get tested is Planned Parenthood," Carroll said. "They have a sliding scale, so they can work with you and your income."

For a student living on $1,000 per month, the initial office visit costs about $125 and each additional test costs anywhere from $15-35. Pelvic exams cost around $116 and typically include a pap smear and a visual screen for herpes and genital warts.

Public Health STD Clinic

King County also provides subsidized STD testing. The program runs on a sliding scale and is based on your stated income. (They won't ask you for proof of income.) All STD tests, except for herpes testing, could cost as little as $15. Herpes testing costs $25. Results are available over the phone a week after testing.

The downside to this program is its location; at Harborview Medical Center in First Hill it is much less convenient than the other options.

Hall Health Appointments Line:

(206) 616-2495

Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday,

Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Planned Parenthood

Roosevelt Ave. Clinic

(206) 729-0453

Monday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday Closed

University District Clinic

(206) 632-2498

Monday 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tuesday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Wednesday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday 8:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Public Health STD Clinic

STD Hotline: (206) 205-7837

STD Clinic Info: (206) 731-3590

Appointments: (206) 731-2271

Reach Tia Ghose at editor@thedaily.washington.edu.