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.

Pregnancy brings a lot of appointments and a lot of questions. This page answers the common ones about STD testing during pregnancy for people in Las Vegas, from what prenatal STD testing includes to where to go in Clark County. It uses the CDC, the Southern Nevada Health District and Nevada law as its sources.

The Basics of Prenatal STD Testing

Why are people tested for STDs during pregnancy?

Some infections can pass to a baby during pregnancy or birth, and many cause no symptoms in the parent. Testing lets a clinician find an infection early and treat it, which protects both of you. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend screening for several infections at prenatal care.

Which infections does the CDC recommend screening for?

The CDC recommends that pregnant people be screened for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B at the first prenatal visit. It recommends hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy. Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening is recommended for people under 25 and for older people at increased risk, according to the CDC guidelines.

Is prenatal STD testing the same as a routine blood draw?

Several of these tests use a blood sample, so they are often drawn with other prenatal labs. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are usually checked with a urine sample or a swab. Ask your clinician which tests are included in your visit.

Will I be asked about my sexual history?

Your clinician may ask a few questions to decide which tests fit your situation. These are medical questions, and they apply to every gender, orientation and relationship type. You can answer privately and ask why a question matters.

Syphilis in Pregnancy and Congenital Syphilis

What is syphilis in pregnancy?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that a blood test can detect. It often causes no noticeable symptoms, so a person may not know they have been exposed. That is one reason syphilis in pregnancy is screened for at prenatal care.

What is congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis happens when syphilis passes from a pregnant parent to the baby. The CDC says it can lead to serious outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth and health problems for a newborn. Screening and treatment during pregnancy are how clinicians work to prevent it.

Can syphilis be treated during pregnancy?

Yes. Syphilis is a curable bacterial infection, and a clinician prescribes the treatment. The CDC guidelines name penicillin as the recommended treatment in pregnancy, and your clinician decides what applies to you.

What does Nevada require for syphilis testing in pregnancy?

Nevada Revised Statutes, NRS 442.010, requires a syphilis test at the first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester, between the 27th and 36th week. A test at delivery is also required for certain groups. These include people in CDC-recommended groups, people living in a high-morbidity area named by the state, people without prenatal care, and people delivering a stillborn infant after 20 weeks.

What if I did not get prenatal care?

NRS 442.010 also covers emergency departments, labor and delivery units and non-hospital medical facilities. They must ask people of childbearing age about pregnancy and test pregnant patients who have not been tested in the prior three months. A late first visit is still worth having.

Are congenital syphilis cases rising in Clark County?

The Southern Nevada Health District reports provisional Clark County counts of 36 congenital syphilis cases for 2024 and 0 for 2025 year to date, with data as of February 5, 2026. Provisional counts can change as reports come in, so these numbers are not a final trend. The health district's quarterly disease statistics are the place to watch for updates.

How common is syphilis in Las Vegas?

The Nevada Office of State Epidemiology reported 554 primary and secondary syphilis cases in Clark County in 2023, a rate of 23.2 per 100,000 people. Our guide to STD rates in Las Vegas puts these figures in context. These numbers describe the community and say nothing about any one person.

HIV, Hepatitis and Other Infections

Why is HIV testing part of prenatal care?

The CDC recommends HIV screening for all pregnant people at the first prenatal visit. HIV is not curable, but it is treatable, and the CDC says treatment during pregnancy greatly lowers the chance of passing HIV to a baby. Testing is the first step toward that care.

What about hepatitis B and hepatitis C?

The CDC recommends hepatitis B screening at the first prenatal visit and hepatitis C screening during each pregnancy. Results help your care team plan for you and for your baby after birth. Ask your clinician how they handle a positive or negative result.

Should chlamydia and gonorrhea be checked?

The CDC recommends it for people under 25 and for older people at increased risk. Both are bacterial infections that are curable with treatment from a clinician. Your clinician can tell you whether screening applies to your situation.

Is herpes or HPV part of routine prenatal screening?

Neither is part of the CDC's routine prenatal screening list. Herpes and HPV are not curable, but both are manageable. If you have questions about either, bring them to your prenatal visit so a clinician can answer them for you.

Results, Treatment and Privacy

What happens if a result comes back positive?

A clinician will explain the result, whether more testing is needed and what treatment options exist. Bacterial infections and trichomoniasis are curable, and HIV, herpes and HPV are manageable with care. A positive result is a medical finding and carries no judgment.

Will my partner need to be treated?

Often a partner needs care too, so the infection does not pass back and forth. CDC data shows expedited partner therapy has been permissible in Nevada since March 16, 2009. Your clinician can explain how it works.

Who is told about my results?

Nevada rules, NAC 441A.040 and NAC 441A.230, require health care providers to report cases or suspected cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis to the local health authority. This reporting supports public health follow-up. Ask your clinician about privacy in your records.

Can a teen get tested and treated without a parent?

Under NRS 129.060, a minor in Nevada may give consent to examination and treatment for any sexually transmitted disease. The statute sets no minimum age. Pregnancy care itself is a separate question, so ask your clinic what applies.

Where to Get Tested in Las Vegas

Where can I get low-cost testing in Las Vegas?

The Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. offers STI testing and treatment, and charges are based on income and household size. The health district says no one is turned away because of inability to pay on the day of the visit. Call (702) 759-1700, and see our list of local clinics for more options.

Are there other places to go?

Nevada Health Centers lists STD testing at its Martin Luther King Family Health Center (702.383.1961) and Nellis Family Medical Center (702.563.4662), with a sliding-fee program. The Center's Arlene Cooper Community Health Center offers free HIV testing and low-cost STI screening at 702-802-5432. Hours and walk-in rules change, so call first, and read our guide to testing and costs in Las Vegas.

Is there another way to find a site?

The CDC runs a testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov where you can search by ZIP code. Tell the site that you are pregnant when you call or arrive, so staff can direct you to the right visit. Your prenatal provider can also order these tests as part of regular care.

STD Testing During Pregnancy in Nevada