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.

Yes, it can. The CDC says most sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms, or symptoms so mild they are easy to miss. That is true during pregnancy too. So the symptoms of an STD while pregnant are often absent, and a clinician's test is the way to find out what is going on.

This guide walks you through how to make sure your pregnancy care covers STI screening, step by step. It is written for anyone who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy in Orlando, whatever your gender, orientation or relationship status.

Why no symptoms does not mean no effect

Some infections can pass to a baby during pregnancy or birth. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe several ways this can happen. Syphilis can cross the placenta. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes can pass during delivery. HIV and hepatitis B can pass during pregnancy, birth or, for HIV, breastfeeding.

The CDC says untreated syphilis in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth or serious health problems for the baby. The CDC also says treatment during pregnancy can prevent most of these outcomes. That is why screening matters even when you feel well.

The good news is that screening is routine, and these infections can be managed once a clinician finds them. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV and herpes are not curable, but they are treatable and manageable, and a care team can lower the chance of passing them to a baby.

If you want to read about signs that can show up outside of pregnancy, see our guide to STD symptoms in women and when to test. The rest of this page stays on pregnancy.

What you need before you start

The name and phone number of your prenatal provider, or a plan to find one
Your insurance or Medicaid card, if you have one
A photo ID, which the county clinic requires
A short list of past tests, treatments or diagnoses you remember, even if you are unsure of dates
A list of questions (suggestions are in Step 4)
About 15 minutes to talk openly with your provider

Step-by-step: making sure your pregnancy is screened

Step 1: Book prenatal care as early as you can

The CDC recommends that pregnant people be screened for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B at the first prenatal visit. The USPSTF also recommends early syphilis screening for all pregnant people. An early visit gives time to treat anything found and to protect the baby.

If you do not have a provider yet, call a clinic and say you are pregnant and want prenatal care. If cost is a worry, ask about sliding scale fees and Medicaid.

Step 2: Ask exactly which infections are in your first-visit labs

Do not assume every test is included. Ask your provider to go through the list with you. The CDC recommends screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in pregnant people under 25 and in older people at increased risk. The CDC also recommends hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy.

Florida has its own rule too. Florida Administrative Code Rule 64D-3.042 says practitioners providing prenatal care must test for sexually transmissible diseases at the initial exam for the current pregnancy and again at 28 to 32 weeks. Under Florida Statute 384.31, a pregnant person may decline by signing a written objection. Ask what your provider's form says before you sign anything.

Step 3: Share your history without editing it

Your provider is not there to judge. Tell them about new or multiple partners, a partner who was treated for an infection, or any past diagnosis. These details help them decide whether you need extra or repeat testing.

You do not have to be certain about anything. A sentence like "I am not sure if I was ever tested for this" is enough.

Step 4: Bring questions

Which STI tests are part of my routine prenatal labs?
Will I be tested again later in pregnancy?
If a test is positive, what happens next?
Should my partner or partners be tested or treated?
How will I get my results, and how fast?

Step 5: Plan for repeat testing in the third trimester

A negative result early in pregnancy reflects that moment in time. Under Rule 64D-3.042, Florida's testing schedule includes a second round at 28 to 32 weeks. The CDC also advises repeat syphilis testing in the third trimester and at delivery for people at increased risk or living where syphilis is common. Your provider can tell you which applies to you.

Florida's rule also says that people who reach delivery with no prenatal care, no test record, or no test after the 27th week are treated as high risk. They must be tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV and syphilis before discharge.

Step 6: If something is found, follow up fully

A clinician will choose the treatment that is safe in pregnancy. Do not start or stop any medicine on your own, and do not use leftover prescriptions.

The CDC recommends a follow-up test after treatment during pregnancy to confirm it worked. Keep that appointment. Ask whether partners should be treated too. Florida Statute 384.27 allows expedited partner therapy under certain conditions, according to the CDC's legal status page for Florida. Ask your clinician whether it applies in your situation.

Step 7: Keep your records and ask for your results

Ask for copies of your lab results, or find them in your patient portal. Bring them to the hospital or birth center. If you change providers, they will help the next team see what has already been done.

Local options in Orlando

Your prenatal provider is the usual route for pregnancy screening. If you need a place to start, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County runs an STD clinic at 832 West Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805. Its page says the clinic is walk-in and first come, first served, and that you need a picture ID. The county lists low- or no-cost testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Fees start at $20 and up, and the clinic takes cash, card, Medicaid and Medicare. The county says results take about one week.

Hours differ between county pages, so call 407-858-1400 before you go. The county's page does not say how the clinic handles prenatal care, so ask about that on the call. You can also browse our list of local testing sites.

The Lila Mitchell Health Center, 5151 Raleigh St, Ste B, Orlando, FL 32811, is listed on the CDC GetTested site for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis tests. The listing says an appointment is required. The phone number is (407) 723-5004.

If you are under 18, Florida Statute 384.30 says a parent's consent is not required for an exam or treatment for a sexually transmissible disease. It also says the fact of a minor's visit is confidential and may not be shared, for example by sending a bill to a parent or guardian, except as provided in s. 384.29. The statute names no minimum age.

Why this matters in Orange County

FLHealthCHARTS, from the Florida Department of Health, reports 2025 rates for Orange County. Chlamydia was 516.7 per 100,000 people, with 7,937 cases, compared with 410.8 for Florida. Gonorrhea was 193.7 per 100,000, compared with 156.5 for the state. Primary and secondary syphilis was 9.3 per 100,000, with 143 cases, compared with 12.4 statewide. New HIV diagnoses were 25.1 per 100,000, compared with 15.0 for Florida.

These are county figures, not Orlando-only figures, because no city figure was published. They show that these infections are present in our community. They do not say anything about any one person.

Tips for a smoother experience

Ask for the plan in writing, including when your next screening is due.
Bring a support person if that helps you speak up.
Say if you want an interpreter. Ask the clinic what language help it offers.
Keep your phone number current so the clinic can reach you about results.
Ask your partner or partners to talk with their own clinician. Their care protects you both.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for symptoms. Many infections cause none, so symptoms are not a reliable signal.
Assuming a past negative result still holds. A new partner or a partner's new diagnosis may call for another test. Ask your clinician.
Assuming you were screened for everything. Routine labs differ. Ask which tests were run.
Skipping the repeat test. Later-pregnancy testing exists because things can change.
Skipping follow-up after treatment. The CDC advises a check that treatment worked.
Using old or borrowed medicine. Only a clinician can choose what is safe in pregnancy.

What results may look like

Many people find their screening results come back negative, and routine testing simply becomes part of their care record. If a test is positive, treatment may help protect both you and your baby. The CDC says early treatment of syphilis in pregnancy can prevent most problems for the baby. For HIV, the CDC says medicine during pregnancy and birth can greatly lower the chance of passing it on. Outcomes vary by infection and by how early it is found, so your clinician is the best source for what to expect in your case.

Results may take days to a week. The county STD clinic says about one week, and it gives results in person or by coded text with signed consent.

Asking about screening is a routine, caring step, and it is one you can take at any point in your pregnancy.

Can an STD Affect Your Pregnancy Without Symptoms?