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.

Infection screening is a routine part of prenatal care. Most results come back negative, and when one does not, there are well-established ways to protect both parent and baby. These answers draw on CDC guidance, Illinois law and Chicago clinic information.

The basics of prenatal STD testing

Why do prenatal providers test for STIs?

Some infections can pass to a baby during pregnancy or birth, and many cause no symptoms in the parent. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) build screening into prenatal care so infections can be found and treated early. Testing is routine and says nothing about anyone's character.

Which infections does the CDC recommend screening for?

The CDC recommends that pregnant people be screened for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. It also recommends hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy. Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is advised for pregnant people under 25 and for older people at increased risk, a recommendation the USPSTF shares.

When in pregnancy does testing happen?

Most screening happens at the first prenatal visit. The CDC guidelines also describe repeat screening later in pregnancy for people at increased risk, including repeat syphilis testing. A clinician will tell you which tests apply to you and when.

What does a test involve?

Depending on the infection, a clinician uses a blood draw, a urine sample or a swab. Many of these tests can be added to blood work already planned for the visit. Ask your provider which infections are on your panel.

Syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis

What is congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis happens when a pregnant person with syphilis passes the infection to the baby. The CDC says it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death or lasting health problems for the child. It is preventable when syphilis is found and treated during pregnancy.

Why is syphilis in pregnancy easy to miss?

The CDC notes that syphilis can cause few or no noticeable symptoms, and sores can go unseen. That is why testing, not symptoms, is the dependable way to find it. Only a clinician or a test can tell you about your own status.

Can syphilis in pregnancy be treated?

Yes. Syphilis is curable, and the CDC guidelines name penicillin as the treatment for pregnancy, prescribed by a clinician. Treatment during pregnancy is how congenital syphilis is prevented, so follow-up care matters.

Does Illinois require syphilis testing in pregnancy?

Yes. Under the Illinois Prenatal Syphilis Act (410 ILCS 320/1), testing is required at the first examination and again in the third trimester, between 27 and 32 weeks. The law does not apply to someone who objects on religious grounds. The statute as published does not set a delivery-time testing requirement, so ask your provider about their practice.

Why test again if the first syphilis test was negative?

A test reflects the moment it was taken. Syphilis can be acquired later in pregnancy, and the CDC guidelines describe repeat screening for people at increased risk. The Illinois requirement for a second test gives every pregnancy that second check.

Is congenital syphilis becoming more common?

The CDC has reported rising congenital syphilis across the country in recent years. For Illinois, the CDC's 2023 surveillance tables list 100 congenital cases, a rate of 77.9 per 100,000 live births. For city numbers, see what the latest data shows about STD rates in Chicago.

Other infections checked in pregnancy

How does HIV testing work in pregnancy?

The CDC recommends HIV screening for all pregnant people. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable, and the CDC says treatment during pregnancy greatly lowers the chance of passing HIV to a baby. Illinois repealed its HIV-specific criminal transmission law in 2021 (P.A. 102-168).

Why are hepatitis B and C included?

Both can pass to a baby at birth. The CDC recommends hepatitis B testing for every pregnancy and hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy. Knowing early lets the care team plan ahead for the newborn.

What about chlamydia and gonorrhea?

Both are bacterial infections that are curable with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports Chicago's 2022 chlamydia rate at 1,023.7 per 100,000 people, so screening is common here. The CDC guidelines recommend follow-up testing after treatment in pregnancy, and your clinician will say when.

Is trichomoniasis part of routine prenatal testing?

Not for everyone. A clinician decides based on symptoms, history and the CDC guidelines. Trichomoniasis is curable with treatment from a clinician.

What about herpes and HPV?

Herpes and HPV are not curable, but both are manageable. The CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood screening in pregnancy, so raise any questions or symptoms with your provider. Cervical screening follows your clinician's usual schedule.

Results, partners and privacy

What happens if a result is positive?

Your clinician explains the result, confirms it if needed and prescribes treatment where it exists. For bacterial infections and trichomoniasis, that treatment cures the infection. For HIV, herpes and HPV, the plan focuses on management and protecting the baby.

Can my partner be treated without a visit?

In some cases, yes. Illinois law (410 ILCS 325/6(e)) allows expedited partner therapy for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, for partners exposed within the previous 60 days, per the CDC's legal-status page. It does not cover syphilis, so partners of anyone with syphilis should be evaluated by a clinician.

Who sees my results?

Your care team does. Illinois rules (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693) require clinicians to report syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV to public health within seven days, and in Chicago reports go to the city health department. Birth and stillbirth certificates record whether a syphilis test was done, its date and the lab, but never the result (410 ILCS 320/2).

Cost, consent and where to test in Chicago

Can a teenager get tested without a parent?

Yes. Under 410 ILCS 210/4, a minor age 12 or older may consent to prevention, diagnosis and treatment related to sexually transmitted infections without parental consent. Providers must report each case to public health and may try to involve family if they believe it will not be harmful.

Where can I get tested in Chicago?

Your prenatal provider handles routine screening. If you want testing on your own, the local testing list includes Chicago Department of Public Health sexual health clinics, Cook County Health's Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center and Howard Brown Health walk-in sites. The CDC's GetTested locator shows more options. Call ahead, because these clinics do not all list prenatal care.

What does it cost?

It varies. The Chicago Department of Public Health says it provides care regardless of ability to pay, though its page does not say visits are free. Howard Brown Health offers a sliding fee discount, and the CDC's GetTested listing shows a sliding scale at the CORE Center. Our guide to STD testing in Chicago and what it costs has more detail.

Can I walk in, or do I need an appointment?

Howard Brown Health says no appointment is needed at its walk-in sexual health clinic. The CORE Center walk-in STI Screening Clinic takes calls Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, at 312-572-4700. Chicago Department of Public Health clinics offer limited walk-ins and ask you to call first.

Who can I call with questions?

The Illinois HIV/STD Hotline is 1-800-243-2437, per the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Chicago Department of Public Health sexual health page lists its clinics. For a free HIV-only home test, Erie Family Health Centers offers a kit to Illinois residents age 17 and older at 312-386-6344.

STD Testing During Pregnancy in Illinois