It’s a hot (like really really hot) girl summer. But you know what else is hot? Staying safe and getting tested regularly for STIs. CDC guidelines vary by person, but everyone should get tested at least once a year. Luckily, D.C. has plenty of places where residents can get checked completely for free.
Get Checked DC (At Home)
This program will send a free HIV or STI testing kit to your home and you’ll get the results in about a week. Or, you can walk into any Labcorp in the DMV and get tested for free. Just make sure to sign up through the site before you go.
Latin American Youth Center (Columbia Heights)
This program provides free HIV, STI, and pregnancy testing Monday through Thursday 2 - 6 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted. They also have a nurse practitioner who offers free birth control consultations and STI treatments every Thursday evening from 4 - 7 p.m., but appointments are required.
D.C. residents can get free condoms here! (Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images)
Planned Parenthood (NoMa)
Planned Parenthood only offers free STI testing if you have insurance, otherwise it’s $100. However, the range of tests and care they have available is more extensive.
Whitman-Walker Health Clinic (Logan Circle/Congress Heights)
This clinic has two fancy new locations, both with free HIV and STI testing. They’re open weekdays 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. HIV test results are instant, STI results take five to eight days.
DC Health and Wellness Center (Eckington)
You have to make an appointment, but you can almost always get a same day appointment for free STI/HIV testing.
More Free Sexy Things:
D.C. mails free condoms and lube to anyone with a D.C. address. It’ll come in an unmarked envelope, and sometimes, they even include free stickers 😊
