This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause no symptoms at all. That is one of the most important facts in this guide. It means a lack of symptoms cannot tell you much, and a symptom you do notice cannot tell you which infection is behind it.

This guide explains the symptoms of STDs in females that are worth paying attention to, the infections that most often cause them, and the signs that call for care the same day. It also covers how testing works and where to get an STD test in Dallas, including free and low-cost options. It is written for women of every age, orientation and gender identity, including transgender and nonbinary people with a cervix or vagina.

Key takeaways

The CDC says most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, and many women with gonorrhea have none or only mild ones. Testing is the only way to find out what is going on.
Common signs that deserve a visit include unusual discharge, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, sores, bumps and lower belly pain.
Fever with pelvic pain, severe belly pain, or pelvic pain during pregnancy should be seen the same day.
Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can affect fertility. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician.
Dallas has free and low-cost testing, plus a free mailed at-home kit through the Texas health department for people 13 and older.
Texas minors of any age can consent to STI and HIV testing and care.

In this guide

Why many women have no symptoms
STD symptoms in women, infection by infection
Signs that call for testing, and signs that call for same-day care
Pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility
Who should get an STD test for women, and when
Where to get tested in Dallas
What a visit looks like, partners, pregnancy and privacy
Sources

Why many women have no symptoms

The CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe many common infections as frequently silent. Chlamydia is the clearest example. The CDC says most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms. Gonorrhea works the same way in many women. The CDC notes that when women do have symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a bladder infection or a vaginal infection.

There are a few reasons this happens. The cervix, where chlamydia and gonorrhea often settle, has few pain nerves. Mild irritation can look like ordinary changes in discharge across a menstrual cycle. Infections in the throat or rectum, which can follow oral or anal sex, often cause nothing at all.

This is why public health groups recommend routine screening for some groups of women, even when they feel fine. We cover that in the screening section below.

What this means in practice

Feeling well does not tell you whether you have an infection. A normal-looking exam does not either. Only a test can answer that question, and a clinician can help you choose the right one.

The reverse is also true. Itching, odor or a new discharge does not point to one specific STI. Bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, skin irritation and urinary tract infections can cause similar signs. A clinician can sort out the cause with the right tests.

Dallas County context

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported 22,073 chlamydia cases in Dallas County in 2022, a rate of 848.7 per 100,000 people. Statewide, DSHS reported a rate of 519.9 per 100,000 for chlamydia that year. For gonorrhea, DSHS reported 10,696 cases in Dallas County (411.3 per 100,000) against a Texas rate of 207.0.

Those numbers count only infections that were tested for and reported. They are a reminder that testing is routine care in Dallas, not something unusual. DSHS has not published newer county-level STD figures in the reports available at the time of writing, so check the DSHS website for updates.

STD symptoms in women, infection by infection

The table gives a quick overview. Remember that many people with each of these infections have no symptoms, and that the same sign can come from several causes.

Infection	Signs that can occur in women	Curable?
Chlamydia	Often none. Possible: unusual discharge, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Gonorrhea	Often none or mild. Possible: more discharge, burning when urinating, bleeding between periods, pelvic pain	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Trichomoniasis	Often none. Possible: itching, burning, frothy or unusual discharge, odor	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Syphilis	A painless sore, a later rash, flu-like feelings; some stages cause no signs	Yes, with treatment from a clinician
Genital herpes	Blisters or sores, tingling, pain; many people have mild signs or none	Not curable, but treatable and manageable
HPV	Usually none. Possible: genital warts. Some types can cause cervical changes found by screening	Not curable; most infections clear on their own, and health problems from HPV can be treated
HIV	Possible flu-like illness in the first weeks; many people have no signs for years	Not curable, but treatable and manageable

Chlamydia and gonorrhea

These two bacterial infections are the most common reasons for an STD test for women. When symptoms appear, the CDC lists unusual vaginal discharge, burning when urinating and bleeding between periods. Gonorrhea can also cause pelvic pain.

Both can infect the throat and rectum. These infections often cause no signs, so a clinician may offer testing at those sites based on the kinds of sex you have had.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a common infection caused by a tiny parasite. The CDC says most people who have it do not have symptoms. When signs do appear, they can include itching or irritation, burning with urination and a change in discharge. A clinician can test for it and prescribe treatment if the test is positive.

Syphilis

Syphilis moves through stages. The first sign is usually a firm, painless sore where the infection entered the body. In women that spot can be inside the vagina or on the cervix, so it can go unseen. A later stage can bring a rash, often on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, along with feelings like fever or swollen glands.

Signs can fade without treatment even though the infection remains. A blood test can find syphilis, and the CDC says it is curable with treatment from a clinician. Syphilis matters especially in pregnancy, which we cover below.

Genital herpes

Herpes can cause blisters or open sores on or around the genitals, along with tingling, itching or pain. The first outbreak is often the most noticeable. Many people have very mild outbreaks or none, and may never know they carry the virus.

Herpes cannot be cured, but a clinician can prescribe medicine that treats outbreaks and lowers their frequency. The Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic page says it treats genital herpes outbreaks, but also says the clinic does not do routine herpes blood screening. If you want a herpes blood test, ask a clinician whether it is right for you, because the CDC does not recommend routine screening for people without symptoms.

HPV

Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear on their own. Some types cause genital warts. Other types can cause changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer over time if they are not found. That is why cervical cancer screening matters.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for cervical cancer in women ages 21 to 65, with the method depending on age. A Pap test or HPV test is not the same as a test for chlamydia, gonorrhea or other STIs. Ask for each one by name if you want it. The Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic page says it does not do Pap smears, so a different clinic would handle that part of your care.

HIV

Some people have a flu-like illness with fever, sore throat, rash or swollen glands within a few weeks of getting HIV. Others have no signs at all. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 be tested for HIV at least once, and more often if there are reasons for it, such as a new partner or a partner whose status is unknown.

HIV is not curable, but the CDC says treatment is highly effective, and people who take it as prescribed can live long, healthy lives.

Hepatitis B and C

These viruses can spread through sex or blood and often cause no early symptoms. The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening for all adults at least once, and during each pregnancy. Ask a clinician which hepatitis tests fit your situation.

Signs that call for testing, and signs that call for same-day care

Signs that are worth a visit soon

Consider booking an appointment if you notice any of the following, especially after a new partner or a partner who has symptoms:

Discharge that is new, different in color, texture or smell, or heavier than usual
Burning or pain when urinating, or needing to urinate more often
Bleeding between periods or after sex
Pain or discomfort during sex
Itching, burning or irritation in the genital area
Sores, blisters, bumps or warts on or around the genitals, anus or mouth
A rash, especially on the palms or soles
Lower belly or pelvic pain that does not go away
A partner who tells you they have been diagnosed with an STI

None of these signs on its own confirms an infection. They mean a clinician should take a look and run the right tests.

Signs that call for same-day care

Seek care the same day, at an urgent care center or emergency department, if you have:

Fever together with pelvic or lower belly pain
Severe or sudden belly pain, or pain with fainting or dizziness
Pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding while pregnant or possibly pregnant
Pain with vomiting that keeps you from drinking fluids
Painful swelling in the genital area, or sores that spread quickly with fever

Call 911 if the pain is severe, you feel faint, or you cannot reach care quickly. The same-day list is not a diagnosis. It simply describes situations where waiting for a routine appointment is not a good idea.

After a possible exposure

If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, tell a clinician right away. The Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic and the Resource Center both list post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) among their services, and PEP works best when it is started quickly. A clinician decides whether it is appropriate and prescribes it. Call the clinic first to confirm what it can offer that day.

Pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. The CDC says it often happens when bacteria from an untreated STI, most often chlamydia or gonorrhea, travel up from the cervix. Not every case of PID comes from an STI, but untreated STIs are a known cause.

PID can be hard to spot. The CDC lists possible signs as lower belly pain, pain during sex, unusual discharge, bleeding between periods, fever and pain when urinating. Some people have only mild signs or none, which is one reason the damage can go unnoticed.

How PID can affect fertility

PID can leave scar tissue in the fallopian tubes. The CDC says this can lead to long-term pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) and difficulty getting pregnant. The CDC also reports that about 1 in 8 women with a history of PID have difficulty getting pregnant.

That statistic describes a group, not any one person. Many people treated for PID go on to have children. Treatment from a clinician matters most when it starts early, which is another reason to get tested and treated promptly. Bacterial STIs are curable, so finding them before they reach the pelvic organs protects your options later.

What to do about it

Get tested on the schedule recommended for you, even without symptoms.
If you have pelvic pain, ask for a pelvic exam and tell the clinician about your sexual history so they can choose the right tests.
If you are treated for an STI, ask when to be retested, since reinfection is common.
Ask your partner or partners to be tested and treated as well. The next section on privacy and partners explains how Texas handles this.

Who should get an STD test for women, and when

Routine screening

The CDC and the USPSTF recommend yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25. They also recommend it for older women with risk factors, such as a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who has an STI. Pregnant women are screened under separate rules, described below.

The CDC recommends HIV testing at least once for everyone ages 13 to 64, and the USPSTF recommends it for ages 15 to 65. Testing more often is advised if you have new or multiple partners. The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening once for all adults.

Women with a new partner, or whose partner has other partners, can talk with a clinician about a fuller panel. Depending on the kinds of sex you have, that might include tests of the throat or rectum as well as a urine or vaginal swab test.

Timing and window periods

A test can miss a recent infection because the body or the test needs time to show it. This time is called the window period. The CDC gives specific windows for HIV tests. A lab-based antigen and antibody test using blood from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure, according to the CDC. Other HIV tests have different windows, and the CDC lists longer ones for rapid antibody tests and self-tests.

For other infections, ask the clinician when to test after an exposure. If you test soon after a possible exposure, a clinician may suggest testing again later. Waiting is not required if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with a known infection. Get seen sooner in those cases.

Doxy-PEP

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of bacterial STIs. The CDC recommendation applies to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and transgender women, who had a bacterial STI in the past year. The CDC says the evidence is not yet strong enough to recommend it for cisgender women. A clinician can discuss whether it fits your situation. Dallas County's Sexual Health Clinic page does not list doxy-PEP, so ask whichever clinic you choose.

Where to get tested in Dallas

Dallas has public, nonprofit and hospital-system options. The summaries below list what each clinic publishes. Details can change, so call before you go. You can also browse our full list of Dallas STD testing clinics and what they cost, or use the CDC's GetTested locator at gettested.cdc.gov to search by ZIP code.

Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) runs the Sexual Health Clinic at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, 1st Floor, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75207. The phone number is (214) 819-1819.

The DCHHS page lists testing for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and mpox. It also lists treatment for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and genital herpes outbreaks, along with PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention.

Appointments are required, and the clinic offers same-day or next-day slots. The DCHHS page says that routine testing without symptoms is directed to the DCHHS Mobile Medical Unit. Listed hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The phone line opens at 7:45 a.m., and the clinic closes at 3:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The county page lists no fees. The CDC GetTested listing says Medicaid is accepted and to contact DCHHS about eligibility.

Resource Center Health (Nelson-Tebedo clinic)

Resource Center, Dallas's LGBTQ+ community center, offers testing at 2603 Inwood Rd., Dallas, TX 75235, phone 214.528.2336. Its testing page lists a confidential rapid HIV antibody test, an early HIV RNA test and a syphilis test as free. Gonorrhea and chlamydia testing is free with a $40 office visit. Anonymous HIV antibody screening is listed at $90, and a hepatitis A, B and C panel at $100.

The page does not mention a sliding scale or insurance, and it asks you to request an appointment online. Its PrEP Care Program can be reached at 214.540.4469 for PrEP and PEP prescriptions.

Prism Health North Texas

Prism Health North Texas, a nonprofit community health center, offers STI and HIV testing and treatment at its Oak Lawn Health Center, 2801 Lemmon Ave, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75204. The phone number for its Dallas locations is 214-521-5191. Prism also lists testing and treatment at its Oak Cliff, South Dallas and Worth Street centers and at Uptown Physicians Group.

Prism says it uses sliding fee rates based on household income and size, accepts Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and most private insurance, and does not deny care based on ability to pay. It asks that appointments be scheduled in advance, with same-day and walk-in appointments for urgent issues depending on availability.

Other clinics listed by the CDC

The CDC GetTested locator lists several more Dallas options. Check their own pages or call to confirm services and costs.

Martin Luther King Jr Family Clinic (Foremost Family Health Centers), 2922-B MLK Jr Blvd, Dallas, TX 75215, (214) 426-3645. GetTested lists insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale.
Parkland Health, Southeast Dallas Health Center, 9202 Elam Rd, Dallas, TX 75217, (214) 266-1600. GetTested lists a free HIV test, plus insurance, Medicaid and sliding-scale options.
AHF Healthcare Center, Dallas, 7777 Forest Ln Ste B 122, Dallas, TX 75230, (972) 383-1060. GetTested lists a sliding scale and says an appointment is not required.
Neighborhood Medical Center, 5917 Belt Line Rd, Dallas, TX 75254, (972) 726-6464. GetTested lists insurance, a sliding scale, and no appointment required.
Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic, Children's Health Specialty Center Dallas, 2350 N Stemmons Fwy, Ste F5200, Dallas, TX 75207, (214) 456-9099. This clinic serves teens and young adults. Its page says a parent or guardian must give general consent for a minor to be treated there, and that the clinic does not publish a price.

Free at-home testing

DSHS offers Test for Texas, a free mailed self-testing kit for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Anyone in Texas aged 13 or older can order one at testfortexas.org, and no insurance is needed. A home test is a screening step. If a result is positive or you have symptoms, a clinician can confirm it and arrange treatment.

If cost is a concern

Start with the Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic, the free HIV and syphilis tests at Resource Center, Prism's sliding fee scale, or the free mailed kit. When a price is not published, the honest answer is that it is not listed, so call and ask what the visit will cost before you book.

What a visit looks like, partners, pregnancy and privacy

What to expect

A visit usually begins with questions about your symptoms, partners and the kinds of sex you have. These questions help the clinician pick the right tests. They are not a judgment, and clinicians ask them of everyone.

Testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis is often done with a urine sample or a swab, and you can sometimes collect the swab yourself. HIV, syphilis and hepatitis tests use blood. If you have a sore, the clinician may swab it. A pelvic exam is not always needed.

Results come back within a few days for many lab tests, and some HIV tests give results in minutes. Ask how and when you will be told, and whether you can get results by phone or through a patient portal.

Treatment and your partners

A clinician prescribes treatment. Do not use leftover or borrowed medicine. Follow the clinician's directions for finishing treatment and for when it is safe to have sex again.

Partners usually need testing and treatment too, or you can be reinfected. The CDC's legal summary for Texas says state administrative rules allow a physician to prescribe medicine for the partner of an established patient without seeing the partner first. It also says advanced practice nurses may do so, and that pharmacists may dispense those prescriptions. This practice is called expedited partner therapy. Whether it applies to you is a clinician's decision, so ask at your visit.

Pregnancy

Under Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 81.090, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B tests are done at the first prenatal visit. Syphilis and HIV tests are done again in the third trimester, not earlier than the 28th week. Syphilis and hepatitis B tests are also done when a woman is admitted for delivery. A woman may object to the HIV tests, but not the syphilis tests, according to the statute.

These tests exist because untreated syphilis can pass to a baby. The CDC reported 930 cases of congenital syphilis in Texas in 2023. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, tell your prenatal clinician about any symptoms or past infections.

Privacy and minors

Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets a minor of any age consent to diagnosis and treatment of reportable infectious diseases, which covers reportable STIs and HIV. Parent or guardian consent is not required. The same law says a physician may tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, with or without the minor's consent. That is permitted, not required, so teens should ask a clinic about its practices before the visit.

Texas DSHS also requires labs and clinicians to report some infections to health authorities. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV are on the state's notifiable conditions list. Reporting is used for public health tracking and follow-up. A clinic can explain what is reported and how that information is protected.

Questions to bring to your appointment

Which tests do you recommend for me, and at which body sites?
Do I need to repeat any test later, and when?
When will I get results, and how?
Should my partner or partners be tested or treated?
Is PrEP or PEP right for me?
When is my next cervical cancer screening due?

If you are unsure where to begin, pick one clinic from the list above and call. Testing is a routine part of health care, and a clinician can answer questions about your next steps.

STD Symptoms in Women: Signs, When to Test and Where in Dallas