How Telehealth Makes STI Testing Easier in Australia

Telehealth makes STI testing easier by removing many of the things that stop people getting tested: finding an appointment, sitting in a waiting room, travelling long distances or feeling embarrassed face to face. You speak with a GP by phone or video, get an electronic pathology request, give your samples at a local collection centre and get your results without an extra visit.

This article explains how telehealth STI testing works, who should test and how often, and when you still need to be seen in person.

Why regular STI testing matters

Many STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and early syphilis, often cause no symptoms. You can have an infection for months without knowing, and pass it on to partners. Left untreated, some STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility problems, or problems in pregnancy. Testing is the only way to know for sure, and most bacterial STIs are treatable once found.

Gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in Australia have roughly doubled over the past decade, according to the Kirby Institute’s 2025 surveillance report. For an overview of the most common infections, see our guide to common STIs in Australia.

What gets in the way of testing

• Embarrassment or worry about judgement: some people find it hard to raise sexual health with a GP they’ve known for years.
• Access: appointments can be hard to get, and sexual health clinics are mostly in larger towns and cities.
• Time: taking time off work or study for an appointment and a separate pathology visit.
• Privacy: in smaller communities, people may worry about being seen at a clinic.
• Not knowing you need a test: because many infections have no symptoms.

How telehealth STI testing works

1. Book a consultation. Choose a phone or video appointment at a time that suits you.
2. Talk to a GP. The doctor asks about symptoms, recent partners and the type of sex you’ve had. These questions help them choose the right tests and sites to test (for example urine, throat or anal swabs). There’s no judgement; it’s routine.
3. Get your pathology request. An electronic request is sent to your phone or email. Take it to any participating collection centre.
4. Give your samples. Most STI tests use a urine sample, a self-collected swab or a blood test. Self-collected swabs are just as accurate for chlamydia and gonorrhoea as swabs taken by a doctor.
5. Get your results and any treatment. The doctor follows up with you. If you need treatment, they can prescribe it if clinically appropriate and send an eScript to your phone.

What does a standard STI check include?

The Australian STI Management Guidelines describe a standard check-up for people without symptoms. It usually includes:

• chlamydia and gonorrhoea (urine or swab)
• syphilis (blood test)
• HIV (blood test)
• hepatitis B status, if you’re not known to be immune

Your doctor may add other tests depending on your situation. Some tests need to be repeated if you’ve had a very recent exposure, because infections can take a few weeks to show up.

Who should get tested, and how often?

A test is a good idea if you:

• have a new sexual partner, or more than one partner
• have had sex without a condom with someone whose STI status you don’t know
• have a partner who has been diagnosed with an STI
• have any symptoms, such as unusual discharge, pain when weeing, sores or a rash
• are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
• simply want to check

healthdirect recommends that sexually active people under 30 have a chlamydia and STI check at least once a year. Men who have sex with men are usually advised to test more often, up to every three months depending on risk. Your doctor can suggest what suits you.

What telehealth can’t do

Telehealth works well for most STI testing, but some situations need an in-person assessment:

• genital sores, lumps or warts that a doctor needs to look at closely
• severe pain in the lower tummy, pelvis or testicles
• symptoms in pregnancy that need examination
• a cervical screening test that needs to be collected by a clinician

Your telehealth GP will tell you if you need to be seen in person and where to go.

When to get urgent help

• If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, go to an emergency department or sexual health clinic straight away for HIV PEP. Read more in Doxy-PEP vs HIV PEP.
• Go to an emergency department if you have severe pain in your lower tummy or testicles, a high fever, or feel very unwell.
• If you’ve been sexually assaulted, go to an emergency department or call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, call 000.

How Teldoc can help

Our AHPRA-registered GPs provide STI testing and treatment online by phone or video, 7 days a week from 9 am to 7 pm (Sydney time), and most patients are seen within 15 minutes. STI consultations are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. See our fees page for details, or read how bulk billing works for sexual health.

Our sister service STI Doctor focuses only on STI testing, treatment and prevention. Public sexual health clinics also offer free, confidential testing, and you don’t need a Medicare card at many of them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an STI test without seeing a doctor in person?

Yes. A GP can assess you by phone or video and send you an electronic pathology request. You then give your samples at a local collection centre.

How long do STI test results take?

It varies by test and laboratory, but most results are back within a few days to a week. Your doctor will let you know when to expect them.

Do I need a test if I don’t have symptoms?

Often, yes. Many STIs cause no symptoms, so regular testing is the only way to know. Testing is recommended after a new partner and at least yearly for sexually active people under 30.

Is telehealth STI testing confidential?

Yes. Consultations are private, and your doctor is bound by Australian privacy law. Some STIs must be reported to public health authorities to track infections in the community, and this reporting is also kept confidential.

This article is general health information and isn’t a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you’re worried about your health, speak to a GP. In an emergency, call 000.

Medically reviewed by Dr Vafa Derakshan (MBBS, FRACGP), September 2026