Your sexual health matters, especially in a bustling city like NYC where STD rates are climbing. In 2025, New York State reported around 512.5 STD cases per 100,000 people, ranking it as the fourth highest in the country. That’s a clear signal that getting regular STD testing New York is very important, as it helps you spot infections early, keep yourself healthy, and protect partners. This post walks you through free testing sites in NYC and shows how to alert past partners anonymously. Read on to learn how to look after your body and privacy at the same time.

Free STD Testing Methods in NYC
Feeling uneasy about your sexual health but short on money? STD testing New York is far simpler than you think, thanks to free and low-cost services spread across the five boroughs.
NYC Health Department STD Clinics
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) operates a free std clinic New York in every borough, so testing in New York is convenient no matter where you call home. Stop by for free screenings for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea, including rapid HIV tests that yield results in minutes, and NAAT swabs for chlamydia and gonorrhea (throat and rectal samples available).
Most services are completely free. However, if you’re over 19, there’s still little to worry about; services remain affordable through a sliding-scale fee based on your household size and income. For example, under the NYC Health + Hospitals 2024 fee schedule: those earning 101–125% of the federal poverty level pay $15, 126–150% pay $25, and 151–200% pay $30. Individuals with higher incomes may pay more or be charged self-pay rates.
Worried about privacy? Don’t be. The clinic follows strict HIPAA confidentiality standards, so none of your personal information will be shared. And also, sexual health professionals are on hand to guide you through each step, from sign-in, tests, and getting results (usually 7 to 10 days or same day at Chelsea/Fort Greene-Express Clinics).
Need directions or clinic hours? Head to the NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics web page. And if you’re aiming for faster service, consider booking ahead at the Express locations, but walk-ins are still welcome. For more details, you can call their hotline at 347‑396‑7959.

Planned Parenthood
The Manhattan Health Center Planned Parenthood offers full-scope STI testing, covering everything from chlamydia and gonorrhea to HIV, syphilis, genital warts (HPV), herpes, etc. Many people tap free std testing New York through programs such as the Family Planning Benefit Program; just call (212) 965-7000 to check. Have insurance? Most plans treat STI screenings as preventive care with no copay.
Getting tested is easy: You can make an appointment online, but you’re also welcome to walk in anytime during Health Center hours. Once you arrive, you’ll do the test and wait for results. Rapid HIV results are ready in 20 minutes, while others may take a few days. If any test is positive, staff can start treatment on the spot and explain how to tell partners. Their caring, judgment-free team also offers counseling so you never feel alone. Putting privacy and education first, Planned Parenthood helps you manage your health on your own terms. Head to their STD-testing section for details and to book an appointment.

Other Free & Low-Cost Testing Options in NYC
Do you need STD testing in New York but want to stay wallet-friendly? Find a std test New York clinic through local centers and nonprofits offering low-cost or free testing plus extra support without sacrificing quality.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are one of the best entry points for free std clinic New York. Spread through all five boroughs, these health centers offer STD testing at no charge if you’re uninsured, and use a sliding fee scale if you have limited income. That means some patients pay $0, while others might pay $10 to $50, depending on their financial situation.
A quick phone call to centres like Apicha Community Health Center (212-500-1320) and Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (212-379-6998) will tell you about hours and what paperwork to pack.

- GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) stands out as a welcoming home for the LGBTQ+ community. Inside its doors, HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea tests are free and done in a relaxed, judgment-free zone. While you wait, trained staff offer counseling and referrals so you walk out with the facts and support you need. Check the GMHC site for schedules, because walk-ins and appointments fill up fast. For info or testing appointments, call (212) 367‑1100.

- Callen-Lorde Community Health Center also stands out for LGBTQ care. While GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) supports the LGBTQ community as well, Callen-Lorde goes even further with a more complete and inclusive model. Their std clinic in New York offers STI testing, treatment, PrEP/PEP, mental health services, and youth outreach together in one place.

Fees usually range from $0 to $100 for visits, and $50 to $150 for lab tests, depending on income. However, sliding-scale options and some free services make sure cost isn’t a barrier. Their Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT) van also brings testing directly to young people. You can reach them at (212) 271-7200. For the full list, swing by the center’s services page.
💡Tips: Always phone ahead or check online to confirm current free tests and hours.
The Next Step: Partner Notification
So you just got a positive STD result at a free STD clinic in New York. What’s next? Telling your partners keeps them safe and stops the spread. It’s not easy, yet NYC gives you tools to lighten the load with its own quirks. Doing it yourself may feel scary, especially when feelings are raw. The Health Department’s clinic-assisted option lets you notify someone anonymously. They typically reach out within 24 to 48 hours after your diagnosis, keeping things discreet while making sure your partners are notified on time.
Then there’s Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), a real win for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Your health care provider can hand over pills or an EPT card with dosing instructions for the partner. No check-up is needed for this method. Just remember EPT only covers select infections and relies on your partner to follow through. Provider notifications often drag on for days, and notifying someone yourself? That can feel nearly impossible. If you need a calm, anonymous way to text your partner about a recent STD result, just click the link and see how we help.
AnonSMS: Private Partner Alerts
You just learned your own test came back positive, and now the hardest task is telling the person you care about. AnonimSMS is built for exactly that moment. The secure web tool sends anonymous STD alerts by text, letting you warn your partner without showing who sent it.

👉Getting started is simple:
- Open the “Notify a Partner” page on ANONİMLER and select the TellYourPartner feature.

- Choose the STI to report, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, or “I’m not sure” and when the exposure happened.

- Enter your partner’s phone number with the correct country code. Then, preview and send a respectful, medically accurate message.

When you’re ready, press send. That’s all, no app to install, no account to create, and it never asks for personal details.
✨✨Here are the features that count:
- Full Anonymity: Your name and phone number never appear, and we do not store them.
- Worldwide Delivery: Whether your partner is in Los Angeles, Manhattan, London, or Sydney, the message gets through.
- Professional & Clear Templates: Pre-written, sensitive, and informative message options (“STD Notification Templates”) are available. These remove the emotional pressure of having to write the message yourself.
Prefer to write your own message? You can also use the Anonymous SMS feature directly to send a custom note. If you need help with wording, check out our STD notification text samples to guide your message and ensure it’s respectful, clear, and informative.
Sonuç
Keeping your sexual health on track starts with routine STD testing New York, and the city offers free, no-shame clinics all over town. Yet free std testing New York City alone isn’t the whole picture. Telling your partner is a genuine act of care. Whether you do it face-to-face or send an anonymous text, it helps shield both of you.
FAQs About STD Testing in New York
Have questions about STD testing New York? The answers below should give you the confidence to tackle testing and notifications.
1. How much does it cost for an STD test in NYC?
Thanks to free STD clinics around the city, basic tests offered at DOHMH sites and partner nonprofits usually cost nothing, even if you lack insurance. Tests done at private labs or full panels can run between $8 and $150, while at-home kits are priced roughly $35 to $175. Yet in most public and community clinics, core screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis still comes at no charge.
2. What’s the STD rate in New York?
In 2025, New York State logged approximately 512.5 STD cases for every 100,000 people, placing it as the fourth highest in the country. Based on the most recent STI report from state officials, chlamydia continues to be the leading reported infection, with 109,284 confirmed cases in 2023, translating to a rate of 558.4 per 100,000 individuals. Within New York City itself, the Department of Health’s surveillance for the same year shows persistently high levels of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, marked by sharp differences across neighborhoods and demographic groups.
3. Is ANONSMS really anonymous?
Short answer: Yes. Anonsms never saves or shares the phone number you send from, nor any info about you. There is no account to set up. Just type in a partner’s number on the Anonsms TellYourPartner STD Text page, choose the STIs, type your partner’s number, and tap send. No tracking, no records kept. That level of true secrecy lets anyone warn past partners without fear of being exposed.