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.

Telling someone about a positive result is hard. Most people find the conversation easier once they have a plan.

This guide walks through how to tell someone about an STD result, step by step. It includes a short script, common mistakes to avoid, and how expedited partner therapy works in California. It is written for people in Los Angeles and for every gender and orientation.

Why partners need to know

Many STIs cause no symptoms, according to the CDC. A partner may not know anything has changed.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) also explain that when a partner is not treated, a person can be re-infected after finishing their own treatment. Telling partners protects them. It also protects you from passing an infection back and forth.

Public health workers call this partner notification. For an STD, partner notification means letting recent partners know so they can get tested and, if a clinician advises it, treated.

Los Angeles County has a lot of STI activity. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health 2024 STI Surveillance Snapshot reports 493 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people and 252 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 people. That covers the county excluding Long Beach and Pasadena, and the figures are provisional. Having an STI is common and says nothing about your character.

What you need before you start

Your own result and your clinician's advice. Know which test was done and what the clinician recommended.
A list of people to tell. Your clinician or the health department can help you decide how far back to look. The right window depends on the infection.
A private, unhurried setting. A phone call, a walk or a quiet room all work.
A few reliable links. The CDC and your local clinic have plain-language pages you can share.
A plan for yourself. Decide what you will say if the first reaction is hard.

Step-by-step: how to tell your partner about an STD result

Step 1: Talk to your clinician first

Ask your clinician what the result means, what treatment they prescribe, and when it is reasonable to have sex again. Ask what your partners should do.

Having these answers makes the conversation shorter and less frightening. It also keeps you from guessing about medical details.

Step 2: Decide who to tell and in what order

Start with recent and current partners. Your clinician can tell you how far back to go for your infection.

If you are not sure about a past partner, ask the clinic or the health department how they would handle it. Some people start with the person they feel safest talking to.

Step 3: Pick the format that fits the relationship

In person or by phone is best for an ongoing partner. A text or message can be fine for someone you no longer see, or if you do not feel safe in a direct conversation.

Your safety comes first. If you worry a conversation could turn violent, choose a method that keeps distance, or ask a clinic about other options.

Step 4: Start with care, then share the facts

Keep the first sentence simple and the tone steady. Here is a script you can adapt:

"I want to tell you something important about our health. I am saying it because I care about you."
"I recently got tested, and my result was positive for [name of infection]."
"A clinician is treating it. They recommended that you get tested too."
"I can share what I learned, and I can help you find a place to go."

Say what you know. If you do not know when or where the infection came from, say that plainly. Many STIs cannot be traced to a single date or person.

Step 5: Share next steps, not blame

Offer concrete help. Tell them what testing involves, and give them a clinic or the CDC's testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Say that you are not blaming them and are not asking them to blame you. Infections pass between people for many reasons, and neither of you needs to carry guilt.

Step 6: Give them space to react

Surprise, worry, quiet and anger are all normal. You do not have to defend yourself or settle everything in one talk.

It is fine to say, "Take the time you need. I am here when you want to talk." Then follow through on any follow-up you offered.

Step 7: Ask whether they want you to tell others

Your partner may have other partners who should be told. Offer to share the same information, or point them to the options in the next section.

Step 8: Follow your clinician's advice about sex

Ask your clinician when sex is reasonable again, and whether your partner should be treated or tested first. Following their advice reduces the chance of passing an infection back and forth.

Expedited partner therapy in California

Expedited partner therapy, often shortened to EPT, is a way to treat a partner without a separate visit first. A clinician gives the patient a prescription or medication to pass to their partner. The partner does not have to be examined before treatment.

EPT is meant to make treatment easier to reach and to lower the chance of re-infection. A clinician decides whether it is appropriate for a given infection and person.

Is EPT legal in California?

Yes. The CDC page on the legal status of EPT in California cites California Health and Safety Code section 120582. It allows EPT for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other STIs determined by the state health department or recommended in current CDC guidelines.

The same CDC page notes that the law covers physicians and, under subdivision (b), nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives and physician assistants. Business and Professions Code section 4076 lets pharmacists label EPT medication without the partner's name. Nationally, the CDC says EPT is permissible in 49 states (page updated July 1, 2026).

What EPT does and does not do

It can make treatment easier for a partner who cannot get to a clinic soon.
It does not replace testing for other infections. Partners may still benefit from a full visit.
It depends on the infection. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) discuss EPT mainly for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other infections, including HIV and syphilis, call for the partner to be evaluated by a clinician.
Only a clinician can prescribe treatment. Ask yours whether EPT is an option for you.

Help with partner notification in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) runs the county's STD and HIV programs through its Division of HIV and STD Programs. The pages reviewed for this article do not describe an anonymous partner notification service, so ask the clinic or call the department to find out what help they offer. The division's main number is (213) 351-8000.

Under California Code of Regulations, Title 17, section 2500, health care providers must report gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV to the local health officer. Under section 2505, laboratories report chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and acute HIV results. Reporting is part of how health departments track infections. Ask your clinician how it works for your result.

Where to get tested in Los Angeles

Your partners can use the same clinics you can. DPH's Sexual Health Clinics page says its clinics provide testing at no patient charge, and insurance is billed if available, with no copay or coinsurance. DPH says clinics are open to everyone regardless of citizenship and that it will not report immigration status.

Central Health Center, 241 Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Appointments are preferred and walk-ins are limited.
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health, 11833 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059. Appointments are preferred and walk-ins are limited.
Pacoima Health Center, 13300 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331. Screening only. People with symptoms or a possible exposure are told to book at another DPH clinic.

All DPH sexual health appointments go through one scheduling line, (213) 449-7009. DPH says results arrive through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days. The county's STD hotline for finding free testing is (800) 758-0880.

Other options include the Los Angeles LGBT Center's McDonald/Wright Building at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. and AHF Wellness Center - Western at 1811 N. Western Ave. The Center's page does not state a price for STI testing, so check with the clinic. For a longer list, see our guide to STD testing in Los Angeles.

If you or a partner are 12 to 17, California Family Code section 6926 lets a minor 12 or older consent to STI testing and treatment. DPH says its clinics tell patients 12 and older they can be tested and treated without their parents knowing.

Tips that help

Practice out loud. Saying the first two sentences once or twice makes them easier.
Use "I" statements. "I got a result" lands better than "you gave this to me."
Keep medical facts with the clinician. You can say, "My clinician can explain more."
Offer to go together. Many clinics welcome partners who test at the same time.
Take care of yourself afterward. A friend, counselor or support line can help if the conversation is heavy.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for the perfect moment. Waiting can delay a partner's testing and treatment.
Blaming or guessing. You rarely know who passed an infection to whom.
Delivering it in a crowd or by surprise. Choose a private moment.
Giving medical advice yourself. Leave diagnosis and treatment to a clinician.
Skipping follow-up. Ask whether your partner has questions, and share a clinic they can call.

What to expect afterward

Many people report relief once the conversation is done. Reactions vary, and some partners need time.

If your partner gets tested and treated when advised, the chance of passing an infection back and forth may drop. Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis can be cured with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable, and a clinician can explain the options.

No test or treatment works in every case, and results depend on timing, so follow up with a clinician if you have questions. Ask a clinician about the right testing window for your situation, because timing differs by infection.

Next step

If you or a partner need testing, call the DPH scheduling line at (213) 449-7009 or use the CDC locator at gettested.cdc.gov. Free and low-cost options exist across Los Angeles.

How to Tell a Partner You Have an STD (and Expedited Partner Therapy in California)