Why We Launched STI Home Tests (and Why You Might Need One)

You probably haven’t thought much about sexually transmitted infections lately. STIs aren’t a hot topic on social media or in the news, and they definitely don’t come up IRL conversations. So you might not even know that the US is seeing what the CDC calls a “steep and sustained” rise in STIs.

The Problem

But even if you haven’t heard about it, the American STI epidemic is very real. Infections like syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea have been increasing (by a lot), and new HIV infections have been holding steady. And those are just the cases we know about — many people don’t get tested regularly (or at all). Although the CDC estimates that people between 15 and 24 make up half of new infections, only 12% of Americans in that age group have been tested. 

It’s easy to forget about STIs, since many have no symptoms. But these silent STIs can have serious consequences: Each year, untreated STIs lead to an estimated 20,000 cases of infertility among American women. And being infected with an STI like syphilis or gonorrhea makes you more susceptible to acquiring HIV.

Our Solution

Although those stats might sound scary, you actually have nothing to fear from STIs — they are all treatable or totally manageable, as long as you know your status. Nurx wants to take anxiety and stigma out of STI testing, and help you make it a routine part of taking care of yourself.

So today we’re launching three STI Home Test Kits. Each of these kits contains everything you need to test yourself for some of the most common STIs from the privacy of your home, then send in the samples in a prepaid envelope to our partner lab. It’s convenient, private, and fast, with no trips to the doctor or clinic required.

STI testing with Nurx offers a very different experience compared with other home tests you might have heard of. For one thing, we offer tests for multiple places in your body, to check for throat and rectal infections. For another, our providers will connect you with treatment if you do test positive for any STIs. In some cases they can prescribe medication directly, and in others they’ll help you find a good treatment option near you.

Most importantly, when you test with Nurx you have unlimited access to our medical team, who  are experts in sexually transmitted infections and sensitive health issues. You can privately message them, any time, with questions about testing or STIs. 

Curious? If you’re having sex, you probably should be. Watch a video about our home STI testing through Nurx.

Here’s the low-down on the three kits, and who they’re right for:

The Full Control Kit

What: Tests for HIV, Hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia

How: Urine collection, an oral swab, a rectal swab, and a blood spot card (which involves a finger prick to get five drops of blood).

Who: If you haven’t had STI testing in a year or more, use this set of tests to get a full picture of your sexual health. It’s especially recommended for anybody who engages in oral or anal sex, because it contains chlamydia and gonorrhea tests for the throat and rectum. These infections tend to stay in specific areas, so an STI test that only looks at urine might not tell the full story.

Get the Full Control Kit

The Healthy Woman Kit

What: Tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis

How: A vaginal swab, an oral swab, and a blood spot card (which involves a finger prick to get five drops of blood).

Who: This set of tests looks for infections that affect female bodies, and includes throat testing to check for chlamydia and gonorrhea infections from oral sex.

Get the Healthy Woman Kit

The Basics Covered Kit

What: Tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia

How: Urine collection and a blood spot card (which involves a finger prick to get five drops of blood).

Who: This kit provides an essential status check, and could be a good choice if you’ve already been tested within the past year and just need an update, or if you’re confident you don’t need throat or rectal testing. 

Get the Basics Covered Kit

Have questions? Find answers to STI FAQs, or email us at [email protected]  

This blog pro­vides infor­ma­tion about telemed­i­cine, health and related sub­jects. The blog content and any linked materials herein are not intended to be, and should not be con­strued as a substitute for, med­ical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any reader or per­son with a med­ical con­cern should con­sult with an appropriately-licensed physi­cian or other healthcare provider. This blog is provided purely for informational purposes. The views expressed herein are not sponsored by and do not represent the opinions of Nurx™.