Get Yourself Tested
With young adults ages 15 to 24 years old accounting for almost half of all new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2018, STI testing, prevention and treatment has never been more important on college campuses.
To help battle the alarming trends of STIs, the health center offers “Get Yourself Tested” (GYT) screenings for chlamydia and gonorrhea — the two most common STIs among college students.
How to request at GYT screening
The GYT program operates out of the health center’s Primary Care Clinic (located on the first floor), and a screening may be requested by sending a Message through the Patient Portal.
To request a screening, log on to the Patient Portal. Select Messages on the left side of the screen, then select New Message. A list of options will appear. Select "Request for Get Yourself Tested (GYT)" and click Continue. Fill out the Form that appears, then click Send.
The form will be sent to our triage nurses, who will assess whether your symptoms are appropriate for a GYT appointment. If they are, the nurses will help you schedule an appointment in our lab.
How does GYT program work?
GYT offers easy, convenient testing for patients experiencing no symptoms. We can bill your insurance, or if you're uninsured, you can pay a reduced self-pay rate. Patients can expect their results within 1-2 business days.
Patients with symptoms should make an appointment with a medical provider for further evaluation and likely, additional testing.
Females: If you do not have symptoms and are not on your period, a self-collected vaginal swab is the recommended test. Urine testing is available if you prefer, but the cost is more and it must be sent to an outside laboratory for testing.
Males: If you do not have symptoms, you will provide a urine sample.
Important: If you will be providing a urine sample, do not urinate for 1 to 2 hours before your lab appointment. This helps ensure the best possible test results.
Why get tested?
One in 2 sexually active young people will get a STI by 25. And of the approximately 20 million new STIs that occur every year in the United States, most will go undiagnosed. The only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to GYT.
What happens if I test positive?
Many STIs are curable and all are treatable. If either you or your partner has a curable STI, both of you should start treatment immediately to avoid reinfection.
However, if left untreated the infection can lead to serious and permanent health problems, even if you never have symptoms.
How can I prevent myself from getting an STI?
While practicing abstinence is the surest way to prevent contracting STIs, using condoms and having fewer partners can greatly reduce risk.