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.

Learning that you have a sexually transmitted infection is hard enough. Figuring out how to tell someone about an STD can feel harder. It is also one of the kindest and most useful things a person can do for a partner's health and their own.

This guide walks through how to tell your partner about an STD in plain steps. It also explains partner notification, why partners need care too, and what expedited partner therapy means in Nevada. It is written for people in Las Vegas, and for every gender, orientation and relationship type.

Why partners need to know

Many STIs cause no symptoms. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say that is a main reason infections go unnoticed and spread. A partner may feel fine and still benefit from a test.

There is a second reason. For bacterial infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, a partner who is not treated can pass the infection back after you finish your own treatment. The CDC guidelines describe this as reinfection. Treating both people at about the same time is how that loop gets broken.

Telling a partner is not about blame. Infections move between people in every kind of relationship. It is a health task, like telling a roommate about a gas leak.

Locally, these infections are common. The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Office of State Epidemiology, reported 12,563 chlamydia cases in Clark County in 2023, a rate of 525.2 per 100,000 people. For gonorrhea it reported 5,768 cases, a rate of 241.1 per 100,000. These are ordinary health conditions that clinics in Las Vegas deal with every day.

What you need before you start

You do not need much. A little preparation makes the conversation easier.

Your facts. Know the name of the infection and what your clinician said about it. If you are unsure, call the clinic that tested you and ask.
A rough timeline. Think about who you have had sexual contact with and about when. The CDC guidelines give clinicians time frames for which partners to notify, and your clinician can tell you which apply to you.
Reliable information to share. Bookmark the CDC page for your infection. Your partner can read it in private afterward.
A list of places to get care. Have a clinic name and phone number ready. A few options appear later in this article.
A private time and place. Choose somewhere you can talk without rushing or being overheard.
A support person, if it helps. A friend you trust can be someone to talk with before and after.

How to tell your partner about an STD: step by step

Step 1: Get the basics from your clinician first

Ask your clinician three questions. What is the infection called? Is it curable or manageable? Which partners should be told?

Bacterial infections and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. Knowing which category applies lets you speak with confidence and answer the first question most partners ask.

Step 2: Decide who needs to hear it

Make a short list of recent partners. Include anyone, regardless of gender or how serious the relationship was. Your clinician can say how far back to look for your infection.

If a conversation feels unsafe for any reason, including a history of threats or violence, skip it. Use an indirect option instead (see Step 6) and talk to a clinician about your situation.

Step 3: Pick the right moment and the right format

In person is often best for a current or recent partner. A phone call, video call or private message can work when distance or safety is a concern.

Avoid times when either of you is rushed, drinking or about to be intimate. Avoid public places where reactions may feel exposed. A quiet walk or a seat at home usually works well.

Step 4: Use a calm, simple script

Lead with care, say the news plainly, and move quickly to next steps. Here is a script you can adapt.

Opening: “I need to tell you something about my health. I am telling you because I care about you.”
The news: “I recently got tested and my results showed [name of infection].”
Why you are telling them: “Because we were intimate, you may want to get tested too. Many infections cause no symptoms, so a test is the only way to know.”
Reassurance: “My clinician explained that this is [treatable / curable / manageable]. I am getting care for it.”
Next step: “If it helps, I can share some clinics in Las Vegas that offer free or low-cost testing.”

Keep your voice steady and slow. Pause after the news. Let your partner react before you continue.

Step 5: Listen, answer what you can, and say what you do not know

Your partner may feel surprised, worried or upset. Those feelings are normal. Try not to argue or defend yourself. A short reply works: “I understand. Take the time you need.”

If they ask a medical question you cannot answer, say so. “I do not know, but a clinician can answer that.” That is more helpful than guessing.

It is fine to say you do not know where or when the infection started. Many STIs are hard to date, and the CDC notes that some can be present for a long time before anyone knows.

Step 6: Consider partner notification options if you cannot say it yourself

Partner notification is the public health term for letting partners know they may have been exposed. There are usually three routes: you tell them yourself, a clinic or health department helps you do it, or the health department notifies them without using your name.

The Southern Nevada Health District page for its sexual health clinic does not describe an anonymous notification service, so do not assume one exists. Ask directly. The district's sexual health clinic is at (702) 759-1700, and The Center's health center can be reached at 702-802-5432. Either can tell you what help with notification, if any, they offer.

One related point: under the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 441A.040 and 441A.230), health care providers must report cases and suspected cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis to the local health authority. That reporting is a standard public health step. Ask your clinician how it applies to you and what happens next.

Step 7: Point your partner to testing and care

Give your partner concrete next steps instead of leaving them to figure it out. Las Vegas has several options.

Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., (702) 759-1700. The district says walk-ins for STI testing and treatment are available until capacity is reached. It also offers free Express Testing, a walk-in service for people who do not have symptoms. Charges for other services are based on income and household size, and the district says you will not be turned away because you cannot pay on the day of your visit.
Southern Nevada Health District, Fremont Public Health Center, 2830 E. Fremont St., (702) 759-1700. It also offers testing, with free Express Testing on Fridays according to the district.
Arlene Cooper Community Health Center at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, 702-802-5432. The Center says HIV testing is free and STI screening is low cost. Appointments are encouraged, and walk-ins are available for a limited number of patients each day.
Nevada Health Centers. The Martin Luther King Family Health Center (1799 Mount Mariah Dr., 702.383.1961) and Nellis Family Medical Center (691 N. Nellis Blvd., 702.563.4662) list STD testing and a sliding-fee discount program based on family size and income. The pages do not say whether walk-ins are accepted, so call first.

Hours differ between the district's own pages, so confirm them with the clinic before you go. For a wider view of prices and locations, see our guide to STD testing in Las Vegas, including where to go and what it costs. The CDC also runs a testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Step 8: Follow up

A day or two later, check in with a short message. “Thinking of you. Let me know if you want help finding a clinic.” Do not press for details about results. Their health information is theirs to share.

Expedited partner therapy in Nevada

Expedited partner therapy, often shortened to EPT, is a way for a clinician to provide treatment or a prescription for a patient's partner without first examining that partner. The CDC describes it mainly for partners of people with chlamydia or gonorrhea, as a way to reach partners who might not otherwise be seen.

According to the CDC's legal status page for Nevada, EPT has been permissible in Nevada since March 16, 2009. The CDC cites Nevada Administrative Code sections 441A.200, 441A.490 and 441A.540. It also lists Nevada Revised Statutes section 639.2353(2)(d), which requires the patient's name on a prescription label. The CDC notes that this requirement can make EPT harder to use in practice.

What does that mean for you? If you are diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea, ask your clinician whether EPT is an option for your partner. It is a clinician's decision, not something you can arrange alone, and it does not suit every situation. EPT is also not a replacement for an exam and testing when a partner has symptoms or may have been exposed to other infections. The CDC encourages partners who receive EPT to also seek a full medical evaluation.

Tips that make the conversation easier

Lead with the facts, not an apology. A short, steady statement is easier to hear than a long explanation.
Use “we” language about next steps. “We can both get tested” reads as care, not accusation.
Offer information, not pressure. Share the CDC page and clinic list, then let your partner decide.
Practice once. Say the script aloud alone or with a friend.
Ask your clinician about timing. They can tell you when sex is okay again and what to do in the meantime.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting too long. Delay gives more time for an untreated infection to affect your partner or return to you.
Telling by text without follow-up. Short messages can be misread. If you use text, offer to talk by phone afterward.
Guessing about medical details. Say “a clinician can answer that” rather than offering a best guess.
Assuming who gave it to whom. Most infections cannot be traced to a person or date. Focus on care, not blame.
Using shame or harsh language. Words that shame a person hurt and are medically wrong. A person with an infection is a person with a health condition.
Skipping your own follow-up. Ask your clinician whether you should be retested after treatment, as the CDC recommends for some infections.

What to expect afterward

Reactions vary. Many partners feel upset at first and then relieved to have clear information and a plan. Some need time. A few may react with anger. None of these responses means you handled it badly.

Testing can tell your partner whether they have an infection. A clinician can explain what the results mean and, if needed, prescribe treatment. For curable infections, treatment from a clinician is expected to clear the infection in most people, and follow-up testing can confirm it. For HIV, herpes and HPV, a clinician can talk through management options and ways to lower the chance of passing the infection on.

If a partner is concerned about HIV exposure, tell them that time matters. The Southern Nevada Health District lists HIV PEP and PrEP services at its sexual health clinic. These are available by calling (702) 759-1700. The Center and Nevada Health Centers also list PrEP and PEP services.

Whatever happens in the conversation, you took a responsible step. That deserves respect from you as well.

Next step

If you have not been tested lately or your partner wants to be, free and low-cost options are close by. Start with the Southern Nevada Health District at (702) 759-1700, or find a site through gettested.cdc.gov. Confirm hours and what to bring before you go.

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