Your Health, Your Way: At-Home HIV & STI Testing

When it comes to dating, taking care of your sexual health is as important as picking out your look or where you’ll meet. But let’s be real—testing for HIV and other STIs can feel awkward, time-consuming, or even scary. Maybe you’ve felt judged at a clinic before or a partner has judged you for openly talking about your testing practices. And for some of us, the shame tied to sex—especially with how religion and family traditions shape our lives—can make even thinking about testing feel overwhelming.

But here’s the truth: Taking care of your sexual health is a form of self-respect and community care. And now, it’s easier than ever to do it on your own terms, in your own space.

What Is Self-Testing or At-Home Testing?

Self-testing means you can order an HIV or STI test kit online and take it in your own private space—without a visit to a clinic. These kits are discreet, easy to use, and come with clear instructions so you can test in the place you feel safest.

In the U.S., TakeMeHomeTM –a completely no-cost service–offers three main types of tests you could get at home:

• At-Home HIV Test: You get your results within minutes using a swab or a blood test cartridge. For a limited time, Together.TakeMeHome.org is offering free OraQuick® In-Home HIV Tests throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico. No blood required—just a quick gum swab, and you get your results in 20 minutes.

• Mail-In STI Self-Tests: In select locations, TakeMeHome.org offers a kit which tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, and syphilis. You collect your samples and mail them back. You take a fingerstick blood sample (put a small amount of blood on a card), swab your throat and butt, and submit a urine test. Your results are delivered to you in a secure online portal within a few days.

• At-Home Syphilis Test: TakeMeHome.org is also offering a syphilis test you take at home and get results in 15 minutes. Using a small amount of blood, you can find out if you have the infection which is increasing throughout the U.S. 

Why Regular Testing Matters

STIs are a natural part of dating and hooking up. You can have STIs no matter how many partners you have or even if you feel totally fine. Many STIs, including HIV, don’t show obvious symptoms. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting tested every 3 to 6 months if you’re sexually active—especially if you have multiple partners or share syringes/drug use supplies.

The most common infections to test for are:

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (oral, anal, and urine tests or occasionally vaginal swabs)

• HIV and Syphilis (blood tests)

• Hepatitis C (blood test—especially important if you inject drugs or are pregnant)

Let's Talk About Stigma

In the Latinx community, we know how intense the stigma surrounding sexual health and HIV can feel. For many of us, discussing these topics can feel like navigating a minefield, often influenced by deeply rooted cultural beliefs and norms. 

Catholicism and other traditional ideas have historically imposed strict views on sexuality, creating an atmosphere of shame and secrecy. Take machismo–the cultural norm emphasizing male strength and dominance– which can pressure men to avoid testing or discussing sexual health openly, while women may face their own set of challenges, including fear of judgment and stigma.

This stigma can have far-reaching consequences, not just for individuals but for families and communities. It perpetuates a cycle of misinformation and fear that can prevent us from seeking the care we deserve. Testing for HIV and other STIs is self-care, but it is also an act of community care. 

When one person takes the step to get tested, they are not only protecting themselves but also their loved ones and the broader Latin Familia.

Talk to Your Partners

Starting the conversation about sexual health can feel intimidating, but it’s a vital step in ensuring everyone involved feels safe, respected, and informed. By discussing your health, you can foster trust and ensure you and your partners feel comfortable sharing their health status and practices–like PrEP, condoms, doxyPEP, and/or being undetectable.

Understanding each other's sexual health status allows us to make informed decisions about what we want from a given partner. Whether you're in a monogamous relationship or exploring connections with multiple partners, knowing and sharing your sexual health priorities can help reduce the chance of getting STIs and increase the chances to have hotter and healthier sex.

How to Get Started

Programs like TakeMeHome are designed to provide easy, discreet testing options, allowing you to prioritize your health with your comfort in mind. 

Ordering a self-test from TakeMeHome™ is super easy and completely free. It comes in a plain envelope—no one will know what’s inside but you. The site asks a few quick questions, and most people can complete their order in under a minute: tmhtest.me/chispa

For more info about self-testing, visit bhoc.me/selftest–o aprende más en español a bhoc.me/autoprueba.

Chispa familia, your health is worth the time. You’ve got the power to look out for yourself and your partners. No shame. Just love and self-care—con amor. ❤️