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.

Los Angeles has more than one kind of STD clinic. County public health clinics, Planned Parenthood health centers and community clinics all test for sexually transmitted infections. They differ in cost, how easy it is to walk in, and what else they offer, such as PrEP.

This guide compares the three groups side by side. It uses what the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) and each clinic publish. Where a clinic does not publish a detail, this guide says so. Call the clinic to confirm before you go.

Why the choice of clinic matters in Los Angeles

Testing is a routine part of health care, and many people in the city use it. The Los Angeles County DPH 2024 STI Surveillance Snapshot reports 493 chlamydia cases per 100,000 people and 252 gonorrhea cases per 100,000 people. The same snapshot reports early syphilis at 36 per 100,000. These figures cover Los Angeles County excluding Long Beach and Pasadena, and the 2024 data are provisional.

The point is simple. Testing is common, and a clinic visit is a normal thing to do. The right clinic is the one you can reach, afford and feel comfortable in.

Long Beach and Pasadena have their own city health departments. If you live there, check with your city's department as well.

The three kinds of STD clinic, in plain terms

1. County public health clinics

LA County DPH runs sexual health clinics. This is the option most people mean when they search for health department STD testing. Three of the county's six sites are in or carry a Los Angeles address: Central Health Center, the MLK Jr. Center for Public Health, and Pacoima Health Center. The others are in Glendale, Monrovia and Whittier.

2. Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is a national nonprofit health care organization with health centers in the Los Angeles area. Many people look for a Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles when they want STD testing. This guide does not list individual centers, addresses, hours or prices. Those details were not confirmed for this article. Check the organization's own website or call a center directly for current services, fees and insurance rules.

Nothing here is an endorsement. Planned Parenthood is described as one option among several, and this site has no affiliation with it.

3. Community and nonprofit clinics

This group includes the Los Angeles LGBT Center, AHF Wellness Center, APLA Health, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (for ages 12 to 24) and Watts Health Center. They are run by nonprofits and community health organizations. Each has its own services and cost policy.

Side-by-side comparison table

Attribute	County public health (DPH)	Planned Parenthood	Community clinics
STD testing	Yes. Central and MLK are full-service. Pacoima is screening only.	Check with the center. Not confirmed here.	Yes at all listed clinics.
HIV testing	Yes at Central and MLK.	Check with the center.	Yes at the LGBT Center, AHF and APLA. Not listed for CHLA or Watts.
Treatment on site	Yes at Central and MLK.	Check with the center.	Listed at the LGBT Center, APLA, CHLA and Watts. AHF says it can help you find affordable treatment.
PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP	Yes at Central and MLK, at no patient charge, per DPH.	Check with the center.	Listed at the LGBT Center and APLA. Not listed for AHF, CHLA or Watts.
Cost	Free. DPH says there are no patient fees, and insurance is billed if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance.	Not confirmed here. Ask the center.	AHF testing is free per AHF. APLA says free or low-cost. The LGBT Center, CHLA and Watts do not publish a testing price in the sources reviewed.
Walk-ins	Appointments preferred. Limited walk-ins at Central and MLK.	Check with the center.	LGBT Center and AHF accept walk-ins. APLA, CHLA and Watts did not state a walk-in policy.
Ages	Patients 12 and older can be tested and treated without their parents knowing, per DPH.	Check with the center.	CHLA serves ages 12 to 24.
Languages	Not published on the DPH page reviewed. Ask when you book.	Check with the center.	Not published in the sources reviewed. Ask the clinic.

Language support matters to many Angelenos. None of the sources reviewed list languages, so ask when you call. You can request an interpreter or ask which languages staff speak.

County public health clinics: pros and cons

DPH runs the sexual health clinics that most directly answer the question of where to get free STD testing in Los Angeles. DPH says its sexual health clinics provide PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP at no patient charge. Doxy-PEP is a preventive approach that the CDC addressed in its 2024 guidance. A clinician decides whether it fits you.

Pros

No patient fees. DPH bills insurance if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance, and does not charge you.
Full-service sites. Central and MLK offer STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and treatment.
Open to everyone. DPH says its clinics are open regardless of citizenship and that it will not report immigration status.
Privacy for young people. DPH tells patients 12 and older they can be tested and treated without their parents knowing. California Family Code section 6926, as amended by AB 499 in 2011, lets minors 12 and older consent to STI care. Parents are not liable for payment for that care.
Telehealth by phone booking. DPH offers telehealth visits when you book by phone.
Online results. Results come through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days, per DPH.

Cons

Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins are limited, so you may wait or be asked to come back.
Limited days. Central Health Center registration runs Tuesday through Friday and the clinic is closed Monday, per the DPH schedule.
Pacoima is screening only. If you have symptoms or a possible exposure, DPH sends you to another clinic for evaluation and treatment.
One scheduling line. All DPH appointments go through (213) 449-7009, which can be busy.

Where they are:

Central Health Center, 241 Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health, 11833 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059. It uses a Los Angeles mailing address, and it was not verified whether it sits inside City of Los Angeles limits.
Pacoima Health Center, 13300 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331

You can read more on the LA County DPH Sexual Health Clinics page.

Planned Parenthood: pros and cons

Planned Parenthood is a well-known name, which is one reason people search for it first. This guide could not confirm local details, so the pros and cons below are limited to what applies generally to any health center you call. Check each point before you go.

Possible advantages to check

It is a familiar organization, which some people find easier to approach.
Many people already know it as a place for sexual and reproductive health visits.
A center may offer other services in the same visit. Ask what is available at the specific location.

Possible drawbacks to check

Cost is not confirmed here. Ask whether you will be charged, how insurance is handled, and whether fees depend on income.
Services vary by center. Ask whether the center offers HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and treatment.
Walk-in policy and hours are not confirmed here. Ask whether you need an appointment.

A short call can answer all of this. Ask about cost, walk-ins, languages and the services you want before you travel.

Community clinics: pros and cons

Community clinics vary the most. Here is what each one publishes.

Los Angeles LGBT Center, McDonald/Wright Building

Address: 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. DPH lists the site as accepting walk-ins with same-day appointments available, Monday through Friday, 10am to 7pm. It offers STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and treatment. The Center's page says PrEP care is free or low-cost. It does not state what STI testing costs, so ask when you call. The DHSP listing gives (323) 993-2997.

AHF Wellness Center, Western

Address: 1811 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. AHF says testing is free and no appointment is needed. It tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV, and suggests calling ahead about wait times. DPH lists hours as Tuesday through Friday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm, closed Sunday and Monday. AHF says it can help you find affordable treatment, but does not state that treatment is given on site. Phone: 1 (855) 783-2434.

APLA Health, Gleicher/Chen Health Center Annex (Out Here Sexual Health Center)

Address: 3741 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90016. APLA lists STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP and treatment. It says Out Here locations offer free or low-cost sexual health services, but gives no sliding-scale detail. Its pages direct patients to book an appointment. Phone: (213) 201-5000.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles, STD Services for Youth Aged 12 to 24

Address: 3250 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. This is a youth option, listed by DPH with hours Monday through Friday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm. Cost, HIV and PrEP services, and walk-in policy were not confirmed. Phone: 1 (323) 361-7550.

Watts Health Center

Address: 10300 Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002. DPH lists STD screening and treatment, with hours every day from 9am to 2pm. Cost and walk-in policy were not confirmed. Phone: 1 (323) 564-4331.

Community clinic pros

Several accept walk-ins or same-day visits (the LGBT Center and AHF).
Some have longer evening or weekend hours, such as AHF on Saturday and the LGBT Center until 7pm on weekdays.
Some focus on specific communities, which can make a visit feel more comfortable.
The LGBT Center and APLA list PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP alongside testing.

Community clinic cons

Costs are less consistent. Several clinics do not publish a testing price.
Services differ by site, so the clinic with the shortest wait may not offer everything you want.
Walk-in policies are unclear at APLA, CHLA and Watts.

Best for: recommendations by use case

Lowest cost with full services: a DPH sexual health clinic at Central or MLK. It combines no patient fees with testing, treatment and prevention in one place.
No appointment and a quick visit: AHF Wellness Center on Western Ave. or the LGBT Center. Both accept walk-ins, but call ahead about wait times.
PrEP, PEP or doxy-PEP: DPH at Central or MLK, the LGBT Center or APLA. A clinician decides what fits you.
Teens and young adults: a DPH clinic, where patients 12 and older can be tested and treated without their parents knowing, or Children's Hospital Los Angeles for ages 12 to 24.
Privacy at home: the free I Know home kit. It is a vaginal-swab chlamydia and gonorrhea kit for people with a vagina aged 12 to 44 in Los Angeles County. The kit, lab test and return postage are free, per the LA County DHSP. The hotline is (800) 758-0880.
Not sure which clinic suits you: call the LA County STD hotline at 800-758-0880 or the HIV hotline at 800-367-AIDS (2437), per LA County DHSP.
Planned Parenthood: a good fit if you already know and trust it. Confirm cost, services and walk-in rules with the center first.

What to ask any clinic before you go

Do you test for the infections I am concerned about?
Is there a charge? How do you handle insurance?
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
Which languages do staff speak? Can I get an interpreter?
How and when will I get results?
Do you offer treatment, PrEP, PEP or doxy-PEP if I need them?

Timing matters for some tests. The CDC publishes how soon after an exposure different tests can detect certain infections. A clinician can explain this for your situation and tell you when to test or retest.

What happens with your results

Under California rules, labs report chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and acute HIV results to the local health department (Title 17 CCR section 2505, per CDPH). Providers report gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV (17 CCR section 2500). Chlamydia is reported by labs only. This is routine public health tracking. The county uses these reports to produce the figures cited above.

Verdict

For most people, a county public health clinic is the best place to start. The reasoning is straightforward. DPH publishes that it charges no patient fees, offers a full range of services at Central and MLK, and welcomes people regardless of citizenship. It also supports patients 12 and older who want private care. Its main tradeoffs are that appointments are preferred and walk-ins are limited.

Community clinics are strong when you want a walk-in visit or a specific community setting. AHF and the LGBT Center stand out for walk-in access. Always ask about cost, because several do not publish a testing price.

Planned Parenthood is a legitimate option, but this guide cannot compare it point by point because local details were not confirmed. Treat it as one choice to price and check by phone.

Any of these choices is a reasonable one. Getting tested matters more than which door you walk through. If cost is your main barrier, start with DPH or AHF. If you want PrEP or doxy-PEP in the same visit, start with DPH, the LGBT Center or APLA.

Next steps

For a longer list of places, see our guide to STD testing in Los Angeles and where to get tested. You can also use the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov to find testing sites by ZIP code.

To book at a county clinic, call (213) 449-7009. For other clinics, call the number listed above and confirm hours, cost and walk-in rules.

STD Clinics in Los Angeles: Public Health, Planned Parenthood and Community Options Compared