STD testing for transgender people

When should you get tested for STDs? 

Get tested for STDs: 

• If you have symptoms linked to an STD. 
• If you don’t have symptoms but had unprotected sex. 
• If you had sex with someone who has an STD. 

Do you think you might have an STD? Then get tested soon. This way you will know for sure if you have an STD or not. 
 

Where can you get tested for STDs? 

You can get tested for HIV and other STDs with your GP. Sometimes you can also get tested for STDs at the GGD. An STD test is free at the GGD.  

Find a GGD in your area 

When can you get tested for STDs at the GGD? 

• If you have symptoms that can be caused by an STD 
• If someone you had sex with has an STD 
• If you’re under 25 
• If you have sex with men who (also) have sex with men 
• If you do sex work 
• If you come from a country where many people have STDs, or if you have sex with someone who comes from there. These areas are mostly in Asia, Africa, parts of South and Central America, Eastern Europe and Russia. On zanzu.nl you can find information about STDs in different languages. 

The GGD’s STD clinic is often busy. Sometimes you have to wait a long time for an appointment, or there is just no availability. The GGD might redirect you to your GP. If you get tested for STDs with your GP, the cost is included in your health insurance excess (eigen risico). Sometimes you’ll have to pay yourself.  

STD home testing kit 

Would you rather not go to the GGD or your GP? Then you can also test yourself for STDs. 

More about reliable STD home testing kits 
 

How is the STD test done? 

Before you can get tested, the doctor or nurse will ask you some questions. Some of them are about your sex life. Do you have symptoms, internal or external? Let them know. It could be an STD. The doctor or nurse will examine your body. 

After the conversation and the examination, you can get these tests: 

• Do you have a (new) vagina? Then you will collect some vaginal fluids yourself with a cotton bud in what is called a swab test. Sometimes the doctor will do this for you  
• Do you have a (new) penis? Then you’ll hand in a pee sample Sometimes the doctor will collect some fluids from your penis with a swab  
• The doctor will use a needle to take a blood sample from your arm 
• The doctor will often also take a sample from your anus or throat with a swab 

The doctor will send the fluid, pee or blood to the lab. They will check your samples for STDs. You will get your result within a week. 

Tell your GP about your situation 

Not all GPs have much experience with transgender people. Tell your GP about yourself: what changed or what is going to change in your body. And if you have a new penis or a new vagina. This is to help your GP decide which STD tests you need. 

Ask your GP to test you for other STDs too. And to test your throat and anus as well. 

 

Do transgender people have a higher chance of STDs? 

Are you a trans man or a trans woman? Then you have a higher chance of getting HIV or another STD. This has a number of reasons: 

• Your skin is more vulnerable to STDs. Did you have surgery on your genitals very recently? Then your skin will be extra sensitive to STDs for a few months. 
• Maybe you don’t always use condoms. This makes it easier to get an STD. 
• Hormonal treatment can cause the vagina to get less wet. As a result, sex can cause wounds. This will make you more vulnerable to STDs. Lube can prevent these wounds. Water-based lube is safe to use with condoms. Contact with oils or fat causes regular condoms to break. And those are not good for your vagina either. 
• You (also) have anal sex. This can make it easier for you to get an STD or HIV. Read more about anal sex and your health. 
• You have sex with men who have sex with men. They are a bit more likely to have an STD or HIV. 
• You do sex work. Some trans people are sex workers. If this is your case, you have a higher chance of getting an STD because you have sex with different people. 

Cervical cancer examination 

Are you 30 to 60 years old and do you have a vagina and a cervix? Then you can get checked for cervical cancer. You will receive a letter to remind you once every 5 years, if you are officially (still) registerd as a woman. When it’s time, you can do a swab test with your GP. You will collect some vaginal fluids with a swab. Usually you will do this yourself. Sometimes the doctor will do it for you. You can also ask for a self-test. To do so, you need DigiD.  

This test is important to make sure you won’t get cervical cancer. Or at least, that you can be treated in time.  

How will you be invited to this examination? 

• Are you registered as woman at your municipality? Then you will receive an invitation for the population screening by mail 
• Do you have a uterus and are you registered as man at your municipality? Then you won’t receive an invitation. Ask your GP yourself for this examination. 
• Are you not sure about needing this examination? You should discuss it with your GP 

Read more about the population screening for cervical cancer