Confidential Online STI & STD Testing in Alberta

When to book an STI visit

You don't have to wait for symptoms. Many sexually transmitted infections cause none, so a visit is reasonable whenever you think you might have been exposed. It also makes sense if something feels off and you'd rather talk privately than sit in a waiting room. Book if any of these sound familiar:

• You have a new partner, or your partner has had other partners
• You had sex without a condom, or a condom slipped or broke
• A partner told you they've tested positive for an STI
• You've noticed discharge, burning when you pee, sores, itching or unusual bleeding
• You want a check before you and a steady partner stop using condoms

Testing without leaving your community

When tests are needed, you receive a lab requisition and give urine, a swab or blood at a community lab collection site, depending on what was ordered. For people in small towns, on acreages or working away from home, that's one stop at a collection site you can reach rather than a long drive to a city clinic. A phone visit works well where video keeps freezing. At the collection site, you'll need the requisition, your Alberta Health Card and a photo ID, and it's worth checking whether that site prefers appointments.

Treatment and follow-up

Once your results are in, the doctor reviews them and follows up with you. A negative result early after an exposure may still need a repeat test later, and you'll be told if that applies. For a positive result, the doctor explains what it means and prescribes treatment when appropriate, sent to the pharmacy you pick. Some infections need in-person treatment or longer-term care, and you'll get clear directions if yours does. The doctor will also tell you when it's safe to have sex again and whether to retest down the road.

What the visit costs

If your Alberta Health Card is active, your STI visit is free. If the card isn't active, or you aren't covered by the Alberta plan, the fee is $80. Medication you fill at a pharmacy isn't part of the visit, and a lab may charge for tests that aren't insured, so ask if you're unsure. Erectile dysfunction and other men's sexual health concerns are handled through a separate paid program, not this visit.