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 cause no symptoms at all. That is why prenatal care in Florida includes lab screening, not only a check for symptoms. This guide walks you through how to prepare for those screenings in Orlando, what to ask, and what to watch for between visits.

It is written for pregnant people of every gender identity and orientation, and for their partners.

What you will need

A photo ID and your insurance or Medicaid card, if you have one.
The date of your last menstrual period, or your estimated due date.
A short list of any symptoms you have noticed, with the dates they started.
Past test results or treatment records, if you have them.
A list of questions for your prenatal provider.
A phone with the number of your clinic or the Florida Department of Health in Orange County.

Step 1: Know which symptoms are worth mentioning

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis and others can be present without any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can overlap with ordinary pregnancy changes. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you the cause.

Tell your provider if you notice any of these:

Unusual vaginal discharge, or a change in its color or smell.
Burning or pain when you urinate.
Itching, soreness or irritation in the genital area.
A sore, bump or blister on the genitals, anus or mouth. Syphilis sores can be painless, so a sore that does not hurt still counts.
A new rash, including on the palms or soles.
Pelvic or lower belly pain.
Discharge or pain from the rectum.

Having one of these does not mean you have an infection. Many things cause them, including normal hormone changes and yeast or bacterial vaginosis. The point is to let a clinician sort it out.

Step 2: Understand what Florida requires at your first visit

Florida Administrative Code Rule 64D-3.042 says practitioners who provide prenatal care must test for sexually transmissible diseases at the initial examination for the current pregnancy. Florida Statute s. 384.31 adds that anyone attending a pregnant woman for pregnancy-related care must have her tested, including for HIV, as set by department rule. You may decline by signed written objection, so you stay in charge of your own care.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend that all pregnant people be screened for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B at the first prenatal visit. The CDC also recommends screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea for pregnant people under 25 and for older people at increased risk. Your provider decides which tests fit your situation.

Ask which tests will be run from your blood draw and which from a urine or swab sample. Not every STI is part of routine prenatal labs. Herpes is a common example. The CDC guidelines do not recommend routine blood screening for herpes in pregnancy, so your provider will usually ask about symptoms and history instead.

Step 3: Plan for the repeat screening later in pregnancy

Rule 64D-3.042 also calls for testing again at 28 to 32 weeks of gestation. A negative result early in pregnancy does not cover the whole pregnancy, because new exposures can happen at any time.

The rule also covers delivery. According to the rule, a woman at delivery, or within 30 days postpartum, who had no prenatal care, no test record, or no test after the 27th week is treated as high risk. She must be tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV and syphilis before discharge.

Mark the 28 to 32 week window on your calendar early. Ask your provider's office to remind you.

Step 4: Get your prenatal care set up in Orlando

If you do not yet have a prenatal provider, or you want a place for testing and follow-up, our Orlando testing list shows the clinics we track. A few local facts are worth knowing:

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County STD clinic is at 832 West Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805. The county STD page says it is walk-in, first come first serve, and asks for a picture ID. The page lists clinic fees starting at $20 and up, with a sliding scale after an eligibility screening. Results take about one week. Hours vary between county pages, so call 407-858-1400 before you go.
The Lila Mitchell Health Center, at 5151 Raleigh St, Ste B, Orlando, FL 32811, is listed by the CDC GetTested directory with chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV tests on a sliding scale. The listing says an appointment is required. The number is (407) 723-5004.

These clinics offer STI testing and treatment. They are not a substitute for prenatal care with an obstetric provider. Ask the clinic what it can and cannot do for someone who is pregnant.

If you are a minor, Florida Statute s. 384.30 says a parent's or guardian's consent is not required for examination or treatment for a sexually transmissible disease. The statute states no minimum age. It also says the fact of a minor's consultation, examination and treatment is confidential and may not be shared, for example by sending a bill to a parent, except as provided in s. 384.29.

Step 5: Ask about results and follow-up

Before you leave an appointment, ask these questions:

Which infections were tested today, and which were not?
How and when will I get my results?
If a result is positive, what will the plan be?
When should I be tested again?

Florida law requires licensed practitioners, hospitals and certified laboratories to report certain diseases to the Department of Health under s. 381.0031(2). Rule 64D-3.029 lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV among them. This is a public health process. It exists so health workers can follow up on care.

Step 6: If a clinician finds an infection, follow the plan

Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and trichomoniasis, are curable with treatment from a clinician. The CDC guidelines include treatment choices that are suitable in pregnancy. Your clinician picks the medicine that fits your situation. Do not take leftover or borrowed medicine.

HIV and herpes are not curable, but both are treatable and manageable. The CDC says that with care during pregnancy, the chance of passing HIV to a baby can be greatly reduced. Your provider will explain the options for HIV and herpes.

The CDC guidelines also advise follow-up testing after treatment for some infections in pregnancy. Ask your clinician whether a recheck makes sense for you.

Florida allows expedited partner therapy under s. 384.27, per the CDC. A clinician may provide treatment for a partner who is unable or unlikely to seek care in a timely manner, when certain conditions are met. Ask your provider whether it applies to you.

Tips for a smoother process

Bring up symptoms even if they seem small or embarrassing. Providers hear about them every day.
Ask your partner or partners to talk with a clinician too. Testing and treatment for everyone involved can help prevent passing an infection back and forth.
Keep a copy of your results. They help if you change providers during pregnancy.
Call ahead. Walk-in lines at public clinics can be long, and hours can change.
If cost is a worry, ask about a sliding scale before you book.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for symptoms. Many infections cause none, so routine screening matters even when you feel fine.
Assuming an earlier test still counts. A test from before pregnancy does not replace the screening your prenatal provider orders.
Assuming every STI is on the standard panel. Ask what was and was not tested.
Skipping the 28 to 32 week screening. Florida's rule calls for a second round for a reason.
Treating yourself. Over-the-counter products can hide or worsen symptoms. A clinician needs to examine you first.
Stopping treatment early. Finish what your clinician prescribed, and go to every follow-up visit.

What results to expect

Most people who are screened in pregnancy get negative results. If a screening does find an infection, early detection may give your care team more time to treat it and plan for the birth. Treatment in pregnancy may lower the chance of passing some infections to the baby. Outcomes depend on the infection, the timing and your own health, and your clinician can explain what to expect in your case.

Local numbers can add context. According to FLHealthCHARTS (Florida Department of Health), Orange County had a chlamydia rate of 516.7 per 100,000 in 2025, compared with 410.8 per 100,000 statewide. The same source reports gonorrhea at 193.7 per 100,000 in Orange County and 156.5 statewide. These are county figures, not Orlando-only figures. You can read more in our look at the latest STD rate data for Orlando.

FLHealthCHARTS congenital syphilis figures for Orange County were not available to us. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County can tell you what it has published.

When to call sooner

Call your prenatal provider promptly if you notice new genital sores, a rash, unusual discharge, pain with urination, or pelvic pain. If you cannot reach your provider and feel very unwell, seek urgent care.

STD Symptoms During Pregnancy: What Florida Prenatal Care Screens For