This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Many STIs cause no symptoms at all. When they do, the signs are often mild and easy to mistake for something else, like a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection. That is why this guide covers two things: the symptoms of STDs in females, and the testing that finds infections before symptoms appear.

The guide is for women of every age, orientation and gender history, including transgender women and anyone with a cervix, vagina or vulva. It cannot tell you what is causing a symptom. Only a clinician and a test can. What it can do is explain what to watch for, when to get care quickly, and where to get tested in Reno.

Key takeaways

Most STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, can be present without any symptoms, according to the CDC. Testing is the only way to know.
The CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend regular chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and for older women with higher risk.
Unusual discharge, burning with urination, pelvic pain, pain during sex, bleeding between periods and genital sores are all reasons to be tested.
Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can affect fertility. Bacterial STIs are curable with treatment from a clinician.
Severe pelvic pain, fever with pelvic pain, or any symptoms during pregnancy deserve care the same day.
Northern Nevada Public Health, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Northern Nevada HOPES, Community Health Alliance and Nevada Health Centers all offer testing in Reno. Several list free or sliding scale options.

In this guide

Why many STIs cause no symptoms
STD symptoms in women, infection by infection
Signs that call for a test
PID, fertility and pregnancy
When to get care the same day
The STD test for women: who, when and what to expect
Where to get tested in Reno
Sources

Why many STIs cause no symptoms

The CDC states that most people with chlamydia have no symptoms. The same is true of many people with gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, genital herpes and HPV. HIV can also go without symptoms for years.

This is not a sign that something is wrong with your body or your choices. These infections often settle in places that do not hurt or itch, such as the cervix, the throat or the rectum. A person can feel completely well and still have an infection that a test would find.

What this means in practice

A symptom-based approach misses a lot. If you wait for something to feel off, you may wait a long time, and some infections do quiet damage while they wait. For that reason, the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) build their recommendations around screening, which means testing people who feel fine.

The reverse also matters. Feeling fine is not the same as having a negative result, and only a test can give you that result.

How common these infections are in Nevada

Rates give some context. America's Health Rankings, using CDC data, reported a Nevada chlamydia rate of 493.6 cases per 100,000 people in 2023. KFF, citing the CDC 2023 STI Surveillance Report, lists Nevada rates for women of 577.1 per 100,000 for chlamydia and 127.5 per 100,000 for gonorrhea.

For Washoe County, which includes Reno, a Stacker analysis of CDC AtlasPlus data lists 2021 rates of 497.0 per 100,000 for chlamydia and 213.6 per 100,000 for gonorrhea. Those county numbers come from a secondary source and from a different year than the state figures, so they should not be compared directly. The point is simply that these infections are common here, and testing is routine care.

STD symptoms in women, infection by infection

Symptoms depend on the infection, and many overlap. The table gives the general picture from CDC patient information. It is a guide to what can happen, not a way to work out which infection you might have.

Infection	Symptoms that can occur	Often no symptoms?	Curable?
Chlamydia	Unusual vaginal discharge, burning with urination, pelvic or lower belly pain, bleeding between periods or after sex	Yes	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Gonorrhea	Increased or changed discharge, burning with urination, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain	Yes	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Trichomoniasis	Frothy or odorous discharge, itching or irritation, discomfort with urination or sex	Yes	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Syphilis	A usually painless sore, later a rash that can include palms and soles, and other body-wide symptoms	Yes, and early signs can pass unnoticed	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Genital herpes	Blisters or sores, tingling or pain, flu-like feelings with a first outbreak	Yes	No, but treatable and manageable
HPV	Genital warts in some cases; many infections cause no signs	Yes	No, but most infections go away on their own, per the CDC
HIV	Fever, tiredness, sore throat or rash can appear soon after infection; later years may bring no signs	Yes	No, but treatable and manageable

Chlamydia and gonorrhea

These two bacterial infections are the most common reasons women are tested. When symptoms show up, they usually involve the genital or urinary area: a change in discharge, burning when you pee, pain in the lower belly, or bleeding between periods. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can also infect the throat and rectum, often with no signs at all.

Both are curable. A clinician prescribes antibiotics, and the CDC guidelines tell clinicians which ones to choose. Your clinician will also tell you when it is safe to have sex again and whether partners should be treated.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite. In women it can cause discharge that may look frothy or have an odor, along with itching, redness or discomfort with sex or urination. Many people have no signs. It is curable with a prescription from a clinician.

Syphilis

Syphilis is easy to miss. The first sign is often a single sore that does not hurt, and it can sit inside the vagina or on the cervix where you cannot see it. The sore heals on its own, which can make it seem like the problem is gone, even though the infection continues.

Later stages can bring a rash, including on the palms and soles, along with fever, swollen glands or hair loss in patches. Syphilis is curable, and treatment is most straightforward when it is found early. A blood test finds it. Syphilis during pregnancy matters especially, which is covered below.

Genital herpes

Herpes can cause painful blisters or sores, tingling, or itching in the genital area. Many people never have a recognizable outbreak, or mistake one for a razor bump or yeast infection. There is no cure, but clinicians can prescribe medicine that shortens outbreaks and lowers the chance of passing it on. Many people live with herpes without it limiting their lives.

The CDC guidelines do not recommend routine herpes blood testing for people with no symptoms. If you have a sore or a possible outbreak, a clinician can swab it directly for the most useful result.

HPV

HPV is very common, and the CDC reports that most infections clear on their own. Some types cause genital warts. Others, if they persist, can cause changes in the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer over many years. This is why cervical cancer screening matters even when you feel well. A vaccine protects against the most important types. Ask a clinician whether it is right for you, as the CDC recommendations depend on age.

HIV

Some people have a flu-like illness with fever, rash, sore throat and swollen glands within weeks of HIV infection. Many have nothing noticeable. HIV is not curable, but treatment from a clinician is highly effective at keeping people healthy and, per the CDC, a person who stays on treatment and keeps an undetectable viral load does not pass HIV to sexual partners.

For testing timing, the CDC lists approximate windows. A nucleic acid test can detect HIV about 10 to 33 days after exposure. An antigen/antibody lab test on a blood draw can detect it about 18 to 45 days after exposure. Rapid antigen/antibody tests done on a fingerstick take longer, about 18 to 90 days. Antibody-only tests, which include most rapid and self tests, take about 23 to 90 days. Ask the clinic which test it uses and whether a repeat test makes sense.

Infections that look similar but are not STIs

Yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis cause itching, odor and discharge, and they are common. The CDC does not classify them as STIs. Because their symptoms resemble those of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and gonorrhea, a clinician exam and test is the reliable way to sort them out. Treating the wrong thing at home can delay the right care.

Signs that call for a test

No single symptom proves any particular infection. Still, each of the following is a good reason to book a visit instead of waiting.

Discharge and odor

Discharge that is new, heavier, or a different color or texture than usual
An odor that is new or stronger than usual
Itching, burning or redness in or around the vagina

Pain and urinary changes

Burning or pain when you urinate
Pain during vaginal sex, or deep pelvic pain with sex
Lower belly or pelvic pain that is new or does not go away
Needing to pee more often than usual

Bleeding

Bleeding between periods
Bleeding after sex
Periods that are heavier or more painful than your normal

Skin changes

Sores, blisters, bumps or ulcers on or near the genitals, anus or mouth
A rash on the body, especially the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
Swollen glands in the groin or elsewhere

Whole-body and other signs

Fever, fatigue or sore throat that follows a new sexual contact
A sore throat or rectal pain, discharge or bleeding after oral or anal sex

Situations that call for a test even with no symptoms

A new partner, or a partner who has more than one partner
A partner who tells you they have an STI
Sex without a condom or dental dam
You are pregnant or planning to be
You have not been tested in the past year

Testing is a routine part of health care, not a statement about anyone's character. Clinics test people of every age, orientation and relationship status every day.

PID, fertility and pregnancy

What PID is

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. The CDC explains that it often begins when bacteria, most often from untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea, travel upward from the cervix. PID can cause lower belly pain, fever, unusual discharge, pain with sex, or irregular bleeding. It can also cause no clear signs, or only mild ones.

The link to fertility, stated carefully

The CDC states that PID can lead to lasting problems, including scarring in the fallopian tubes, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) and difficulty becoming pregnant. Not everyone with chlamydia or gonorrhea develops PID, and not everyone with PID has fertility problems. The risk is real, and it is the main reason clinicians encourage screening and prompt treatment.

Early treatment lowers the chance of lasting harm. PID is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician, sometimes with a short hospital stay if it is severe. If you have had PID before, that history is worth sharing with future clinicians.

Pregnancy

Several STIs can affect a pregnancy or a newborn if they go untreated. Syphilis is the clearest example, and Nevada law addresses it directly. Nevada Revised Statutes 442.010 calls for a syphilis test at the first visit during pregnancy, or as soon as practicable, and again in the third trimester. The third-trimester test is to be done between the 27th and 36th week of gestation, or as soon afterward as practicable. The law also sets out when testing happens at delivery. A person who objects is not tested, and the refusal is documented.

The need is local as well as national. America's Health Rankings, using CDC data, lists a 2023 congenital syphilis rate of 232.0 per 100,000 live births in Nevada, ranking 45th among states. Syphilis is curable, and treatment during pregnancy protects the baby. If you are pregnant or think you might be, tell your clinician about any symptoms, and ask which STI tests are part of your prenatal care. The pregnancy law summary above is based on the Nevada Legislature page, and your clinician can explain how it applies to you.

When to get care the same day

Most STI testing can be booked in the days ahead. A few situations should not wait.

Go to urgent care or an emergency room

Severe pain in the lower belly or pelvis, especially if it came on suddenly
Pelvic pain together with fever, chills, nausea or vomiting
Heavy vaginal bleeding, or fainting or dizziness with pelvic pain
Pain on one side of the belly with a positive pregnancy test or a missed period, because an ectopic pregnancy can be an emergency
Fever with a new genital sore, severe headache, or a stiff neck

If it feels like an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Call a clinic today

Any symptoms while you are pregnant
Burning with urination plus fever or back pain
A new genital sore or blisters
A partner has just told you they have an STI and you have symptoms

After a possible HIV exposure

The CDC explains that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is medicine a clinician prescribes after a possible HIV exposure. It must be started as soon as possible and within 72 hours. If you think you were exposed in the last three days, call a clinic or go to an emergency department right away and ask about PEP. Northern Nevada Public Health lists PEP among its services.

After sexual assault

If you have been sexually assaulted, medical care is available without judgment. An emergency room can provide an exam, STI prevention and testing, emergency contraception and referrals to support services. You decide what steps to take and when.

The STD test for women: who, when and what to expect

Routine screening recommendations

Guidance from the CDC and the USPSTF is consistent on the main points:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea: The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and the USPSTF recommend screening sexually active women under 25, and older women with risk factors such as a new partner or a partner with other partners. The CDC recommends at least yearly screening in those groups.
HIV: The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 be tested at least once. The USPSTF recommends screening for ages 15 to 65. More frequent testing is advised when risk is higher.
Syphilis: The CDC recommends screening in pregnancy. Others are screened depending on risk.
Hepatitis C: The CDC recommends testing every adult at least once, and testing during each pregnancy.
Cervical cancer and HPV: The USPSTF recommends regular cervical cancer screening for women ages 21 to 65, with the method and schedule depending on age. A clinician can tell you which applies to you.

Some clinics add herpes or trichomoniasis testing when symptoms or other factors point to them. Ask for what fits your situation.

What a visit usually involves

Many tests require no pelvic exam. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can often be found from a urine sample or from a swab you collect yourself in the bathroom. Throat or rectal swabs are used if you have had oral or anal sex. HIV and syphilis are blood tests, and some clinics offer rapid HIV tests from a fingerstick. A sore can be swabbed for herpes.

You are free to ask questions, ask the clinician to explain each test, and ask what privacy protections apply. If a pelvic exam is part of your visit, you can ask for it to be explained step by step, or ask to pause it at any time.

Timing

Tests can miss an infection if they are done too soon after exposure. The CDC gives HIV windows, listed earlier. For other infections, the right timing is something the clinician can tell you. If you test early and have a new exposure, or if the result and your situation do not match, ask whether a repeat test is a good idea.

Results and treatment

If a test finds a bacterial STI or trichomoniasis, a clinician prescribes treatment, and these infections are curable. HIV and herpes are treatable and manageable, and a clinician can set up ongoing care. Ask your clinician about partner notification and about retesting, which the CDC recommends after treatment for some infections.

Under Nevada law, as summarized from NRS Chapter 441A on the Nevada Legislature website, providers and laboratories report certain communicable diseases to the health authority. This is part of how public health programs track infections and support treatment. Clinics can explain how reporting works for the infection in question.

Privacy and age

Nevada Revised Statutes 129.060, as summarized on the Nevada Legislature website, allows a minor to give consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases from a health officer, physician, physician assistant, registered nurse or clinic, and to STD prevention services. The summary does not list a minimum age. If you are under 18, ask the clinic about its own policies before your visit.

Prevention options to ask about

Condoms and dental dams reduce the risk of many STIs. The HPV vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine protect against those infections. For HIV, PrEP is medicine a clinician prescribes to lower the chance of getting HIV, and several Reno clinics list it. The CDC's 2024 guidance on doxycycline after sex (doxy-PEP) recommends it for men who have sex with men and for transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. The CDC notes that evidence is limited for cisgender women. Northern Nevada Public Health lists doxy-PEP among its services, so a clinician there can talk through whether it applies to you.

Where to get tested in Reno

You have several options in Reno, from the public health clinic to community health centers. For a side-by-side look at services and what each option costs, see our guide to STD testing in Reno, where to get tested and what it costs.

The details below come from CDC directory listings (GetTested and the National Prevention Information Network). Hours and prices are often not published there, so call before you go and ask about eligibility, cost and what to bring.

Northern Nevada Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

Northern Nevada Public Health is the Washoe County health department, formerly the Washoe County Health District. Its sexual health clinic is at 1001 E Ninth St, Bldg B, Reno, NV 89512. The phone number is 775-328-2470.

CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test and a free STI test, along with insurance, Medicaid and a sliding scale, and says to contact the organization for eligibility. The CDC NPIN listing shows on-site chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and rapid HIV testing, and also lists PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP. Walk-in visits are listed. The CDC listings do not publish clinic hours, so call to confirm.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, Reno Health Center

The Reno health center is at 8025 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511. The phone number is 775-688-5555. CDC GetTested lists rapid and blood-draw HIV testing, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests, and HPV and hepatitis B vaccines. It lists insurance and Medicaid as accepted, says to contact the organization for eligibility, and shows that an appointment is required. The listing does not give hours or prices.

Northern Nevada HOPES, 5th Street Clinic

The clinic is at 580 W 5th St, Reno, NV 89503. The phone number is 775-786-4673. CDC GetTested lists a free HIV test and a free hepatitis C test, plus chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis B testing, and PrEP for uninsured people. It lists a sliding scale and accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, with an appointment required. The Northern Nevada HOPES website gives clinic hours of Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the page does not say which clinic those hours apply to, so confirm when you call.

Community Health Alliance

Community Health Alliance has two Reno sites on the CDC GetTested directory, both reached at 775-329-6300:

North Valleys Health Center, 280 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Suite 107, Reno, NV 89506
Nell J Redfield Health Center, 3915 Neil Rd, Reno, NV 89502

The listings show HIV (rapid and blood draw), hepatitis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests, and HPV vaccine. They show insurance and Medicaid accepted, PrEP for uninsured patients, and a sliding scale. Appointments are required, and the listings do not publish hours.

Nevada Health Centers, Willow Street Health Center

The center is at 790 Willow St, Reno, NV 89502. CDC NPIN lists hours of Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. It says appointments are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. Listed services include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV tests, HPV vaccine, PrEP and STI treatment. The center accepts insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale. The main line listed by NPIN is 800-787-2568. The listing's appointment number was unclear, so use the main line or the center's website to book.

Searching the national directory

The CDC's GetTested directory lists testing sites by ZIP code and shows the services each site provides. It is a good way to double-check hours and eligibility before you go.

Tips for your visit

Ask what the visit costs and whether a sliding scale or free test is available for you.
Bring your insurance or Medicaid card if you have one, and say if you do not.
Try not to urinate for an hour or so before a urine test, if the clinic asks.
Write down your symptoms, your last period, and any medicines you take.
Ask when and how you will get results.

STD Symptoms in Women: Signs, When to Test and Where in Reno