Free STD Testing in Oakland, CA

At-Home STD Testing

Testing for STDs at home is safe, convenient, and private. Performed regularly, it can help you stay healthy and avoid unknowingly transmitting STDs.

You have many options for at-home STD testing. The best at-home STD tests are FDA approved and evaluated for safety and accuracy with fast result turnaround times and support from health care professionals.

At-home STD testing kits should include instructions for collection and test registration, along with materials such as containers and swabs to collect and send your sample to the lab. Most at-home STD tests offer results in about five days through a secure online patient portal.

Oakland is the largest city in Alameda County and the county seat, and like the rest of the state, Alameda struggles with rising numbers of STD cases. In 2018, chlamydia was the most prevalent STD in Alameda County, gonorrhea was second, and despite a slight dip, primary and secondary syphilis was third.

Alameda ranked 28th based on the number of reported cases among counties and independent cities nationally, with 9,701 cases documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2018. However, the California Department of Public Health reported 9,719 cases in Alameda County that year, ranking it 13th among California counties for incidences of chlamydia, with a rate of 584.5 cases per 100,000 residents. Chlamydia infections were higher among women, with 5,431 confirmed diagnoses, translating to a rate of 642.7 cases per 100,000 female residents. There were 4,251 cases confirmed in men, translating to 519.9 per 100,000 male residents.

Alameda reported 3,777 gonorrhea infections in 2018, placing it 29th among counties and independent cities nationwide. This matched statistics from the state, placing it eighth among California counties for incidences of gonorrhea with a rate of 227.2 cases per 100,000 residents. Numbers for 2018 were up from the previous year with 3,583 cases reported in 2017, or a rate of 217 per 100,000 residents. In 2018, there were twice as many reported instances of gonorrhea in men compared to women, which has been the norm since 2016.

Nationally, Alameda ranked 36th for the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases in counties and independent cities with the CDC, reporting 222 cases for the county in 2018. California’s health department showed a slightly larger number of 224 cases for Alameda in 2018. This works out to 13.5 cases per 100,000 residents and is slightly less than the number of cases reported for 2017, unlike statewide results, which increased. There were 228 diagnoses in 2017, which was a bump up from the 186 reported in 2016. Like the rest of the state, primary and secondary syphilis infections were more prevalent in men, with 204 of the 2018 cases among the male population, up from 197  in 2017. In comparison, diagnoses among women dropped from 31 in 2017 to 20 in 2018. With the decline in female cases, congenital syphilis also saw a drop, with only a single case reported in 2018 compared to five in 2017.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain one of the most critical public health challenges facing the United States, with approximately 26 million new STD infections occurring every year. Nearly half of these new infections affect young people ages 15 to 24.

Community-based organizations are a vital first line of defense in the fight against STDs and HIV/AIDS in particular. They generate awareness and foster social change while providing access to testing and treatment.

You may not be aware of all the STD resources available in Oakland that can help prevent the spread of STDs. Get connected with these community organizations that are leading the fight against STDs and HIV/AIDS with resources and support:

As part of the Planned Parenthood Mar Monte program, the West Oakland Health Center offers STD testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and other diseases. HIV testing, counseling, and treatment referrals are also available. The Center also provides male and female condoms, dental dams, birth control services, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, HPV vaccines, PrEP, and STD/safe sex education. Individuals without insurance may qualify for state-funded programs or a lower fee sliding scale. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and service is offered in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

1682 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
510-300-3800
Website

East Oakland/Coliseum Health Center is part of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. It offers testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and bacterial vaginosis, as well as HIV testing and counseling and treatment referrals. It also provides dental dams, birth control education and supplies, emergency contraceptives, PrEP, HPV vaccines, pregnancy testing, STD/safe sex education, and testing and treatment for urinary tract infections. Uninsured individuals may qualify for state-funded programs or lower fee scales. Clinic hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Service is available in Spanish and English.

8480 Enterprise Way
Oakland, CA 94621
510-746-4700
Website

CAL-PEP offers street outreach, education, and testing for individuals most at risk for HIV and STDs, including sex workers, injection drug users, homeless individuals, at-risk youth, ex-offenders, sexual partners of at-risk individuals, and other high-risk populations. It provides rapid HIV, viral hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis testing through its mobile clinic and on-site at CAL-PEP every Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2811 Adeline Street
Oakland, CA 94608
510-874-7850
Website

San Antonio Neighborhood Health Center provides HIV testing and diagnosis and treatment of STDs and other infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes. The Center also offers birth control and safe sex education. Its staff speaks over 12 different languages to serve patients in their preferred language. Clinic hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and appointments can be made by phone. It accepts private insurance, Medicare, and Medi-Cal and has a low-cost sliding scale for individuals without insurance.

1030 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94606
510-238-5400
Website

Asian Health Services offers free HIV testing and confidential STD testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes. Individuals may also request a free self-administrative, oral swab HIV testing kit to take at home. It also has low-cost, sliding scale HIV care and PrEP for uninsured individuals. Asian Health Services accepts private insurance, Medicare, and Medi-Cal, and helps with Medi-Cal and Covered California insurance coverage. Clinic hours vary depending on location, and walk-in and same-day appointments are often available. Staff members speak more than 10 Asian languages.

310 8th Street #103
Oakland, CA 94607
Multiple Oakland locations
510-972-4483
Website

The Native American Health Center provides adolescent and adult health care, including confidential HIV and STD testing, treatment, and counseling. Rapid blood HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and rapid hepatitis C testing are available. It also offers HPV and hepatitis A and B vaccines, and adolescent pregnancy prevention. Services are open to everyone without any tribal or ethnic requirements. The Center accepts private insurance, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and sliding fee scale payments. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and appointments are required.

2950 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94601
510-535-4400
Website

Youth UpRising provides health, wellness, and educational programming to adolescents and young adults, aged 13 to 24, with primary health services offered on-site at its 4,500 square-foot clinic. Physical health services are provided in partnership with Children’s Hospital Oakland, including preventative services for STDs and pregnancy. Some of the STD testing options available are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, conventional blood HIV, and hepatitis C. The clinic also provides hepatitis A and B vaccines and counseling to youth struggling with sex-related and sexuality issues.

8711 MacArthur Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94605
510-777-9909
Website

• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/STDs_Reach_Epidemic_Levels_Infographic_2018.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/STDSurveillance2018-full-report.pdf
• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/STD-Data-Chlamydia-Tables.pdf
• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/STD-Data-Gonorrhea-Tables.pdf
• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/STD-Data-Syphilis-AllStages-Tables.pdf