Confidential STI Testing and Treatment in Chicago
Getting tested should be simple. At the Women's Health Center of Chicago, it is: you come in, you say what you want tested for or let us recommend a panel, you give a sample, and you get your results. No lecture, no raised eyebrow, no questions you did not sign up for.
Dr. Adeeb Alshahrour, MD FACOG, and our staff provide confidential STI testing and treatment on West Fullerton Avenue in Chicago.
Confidential, and we mean it
Your visit and your results are protected health information. We do not discuss them with your partner, your parents, or anyone else without your written permission. Certain infections are reportable to public health authorities by law — that is standard everywhere and it is handled discreetly.
If you are on someone else's insurance and are concerned about what appears on an explanation of benefits, tell us at the front desk. It is a common concern, it is not awkward to raise, and there are usually ways to work around it.
What we test for
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Herpes (HSV), by swab of an active lesion, or by blood test in specific situations we will explain
- HPV, through cervical screening — see gynecologic cancers
- Bacterial vaginosis and yeast, which are not sexually transmitted but cause overlapping symptoms and get checked alongside
Most testing is a urine sample, a swab, a blood draw, or some combination. It takes a few minutes. Swabs can often be self-collected if you would prefer that to a pelvic exam.
You do not need symptoms to be tested, and many infections have none — that is precisely why routine screening exists. Annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is recommended for sexually active women under 25 and for older women with new or multiple partners. HIV testing is recommended at least once for everyone aged 15 to 65, and more often with ongoing risk. We can also test in pregnancy as part of prenatal care.
Reasons to come in
- A new partner, or a partner you are not sure about
- A partner told you they tested positive
- Unusual discharge, odor, itching, burning with urination, or pelvic pain
- Sores, bumps or blisters
- Bleeding after intercourse or between periods
- A condom broke
- Nothing at all — you just want to know where you stand
Same-visit treatment where appropriate
Some tests are rapid; others take a few days. When a diagnosis is clear on the day — from symptoms, an exam, or a rapid result — we treat it in the office at the same visit rather than sending you away to wait. If you have a known exposure to chlamydia or gonorrhea, we can treat presumptively while testing is pending.
Most bacterial STIs are cured with antibiotics, usually a single injection or a short oral course. Trichomoniasis is curable. Herpes and HIV are not cured but are well managed with medication that controls symptoms and, for HIV, reduces transmission. Hepatitis C is now curable with a course of oral therapy, and we refer for treatment.
When results come back after your visit, we contact you either way — you will not be left wondering.
Partner treatment
Treating you and not your partner means reinfection. We talk through this at your visit and, where Illinois law permits for specific infections, we can provide expedited partner therapy so your partner can be treated without needing their own appointment first. Where that is not appropriate, we will help you have the conversation or point your partner toward care.
Retesting about three months after treatment for chlamydia or gonorrhea is recommended, because reinfection is common and worth catching.
Prevention
We can talk about condoms and how they fit alongside your other contraception, HPV vaccination, hepatitis B vaccination, and PrEP for HIV prevention, including referral if that is the right fit. Note that birth control methods including the IUD, implant, pill and tubal ligation prevent pregnancy but offer no protection against infection — those are two separate jobs.
Booking
Call or book online. Ask for STI testing when you schedule; you can also add it to a routine check-up if you would rather keep it to one visit. We keep appointments available for same-week testing because waiting two weeks to be seen is how people give up on getting tested. Find directions and hours at our Chicago location.
Medical disclaimer
This page is for general education and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it does not create a physician-patient relationship. Screening recommendations, treatment regimens and legal provisions vary and change over time. Testing and treatment decisions depend on your individual circumstances and should be made with a physician. In a medical emergency, including severe pelvic pain or high fever, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.