Why test, even when you notice nothing
Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) produce no symptoms in an early stage. That applies to chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV just as much as to less well-known infections. Anyone who only gets tested on suspicion therefore systematically misses a large share of positive cases. Soa Aids Nederland therefore advises: test routinely when you have new partners, regardless of whether you notice anything.
For the escort sector — clients as well as providers — this applies all the more. Anyone with regularly changing contacts benefits most from a routine of three or six months between tests. It is part of working professionally and of dating calmly. Our guide Making appointments safely online for clients covers profile screening; this page covers the health piece afterwards.
Where do you get tested
In the Netherlands there are three main routes. The GGD offers anonymous tests to certain risk groups, free of charge and without a referral. The GP tests anyone, but it goes via your health insurance and counts against your deductible (eigen risico). And commercial clinics work with self-test packages or in-person appointments without waiting time, against payment.
For people meeting the GGD criteria, the GGD is the first choice: anonymous, free, and the test quality is identical to that of the GP. According to the Rijksoverheid you qualify for the Centrum Seksuele Gezondheid (CSG) if you are under 25, are a sex worker, are a man who has sex with men, or if a former partner has tested positive.
STI testing at the GGD per region
Amsterdam. GGD Amsterdam runs the CSG on Nieuwe Achtergracht. You make appointments by phone or online via ggd.amsterdam.nl. Turnaround: usually within one to two weeks. Visitors from our city guide can also visit other GGD locations in the region — Hoofddorp, Amstelveen, Diemen. Also read our page on escorts in Amsterdam for the broader context.
Rotterdam. GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond applies comparable criteria and offers testing on Zuid-Hollandlaan. Online appointments via the GGD website. The waiting time is slightly longer than in Amsterdam — count on two to three weeks. For clients in the region: see escorts Rotterdam for the local offering.
The Hague, Utrecht and other regions. GGD Haaglanden, GGD region Utrecht and the other regional GGDs follow the same national protocol. The locations differ, the tests do not. A current list is available on the central STI testing page of RIVM.
What to expect during the appointment
A GGD STI test typically consists of a short questionnaire, a conversation with a nurse, and the samples themselves. For chlamydia and gonorrhoea that is a urine sample and possibly a throat or anal swab. For syphilis and HIV a blood sample is taken, via a prick in the elbow crease. The whole visit lasts about thirty minutes, including the conversation.
Some people find the conversation confronting. The nurse asks explicit questions about sexual behaviour — type of sex, number of partners, condom use. That is not judgement; it determines which tests are relevant. Honest answers give the best coverage. The information stays within the GGD and is not shared with your GP or insurer.
Result and what happens next
As standard you get the result within one to two weeks. With a negative result the GGD sends an SMS or email. With a positive result you call back for a follow-up appointment. Treatment is available at the GGD in virtually all cases — a single antibiotic course for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, a penicillin injection for syphilis. For HIV a referral to an HIV treatment centre follows.
Important: with a positive result the GGD discusses with you how to inform recent partners. This is called partner notification. It can be done anonymously via an online tool (partnerwaarschuwing.nl) where your name is not mentioned. For the escort sector this is relevant: breaking an infection chain requires quick, anonymous communication.
Costs
At the GGD: free for those within the target group. Outside the target group (for example a woman over 25 without other risk factors) they may refer you to the GP. At the GP, tests come under your health insurance deductible — usually that comes down to €40 to €150 depending on which tests are performed. A commercial package is more expensive, typically €80 to €200, but with no waiting time and no questions about your target-group eligibility.
What else you can arrange
- Test yourself after each new contact without consistent condom use, and routinely twice a year if your contacts vary
- Keep your results — useful for chain screening or for a new steady partner
- With a positive result, actively ask for partner-notification support
- Combine with PrEP considerations if you have many unprotected MSM contacts; the GGD advises on this
For clients working on a personal screening routine: our article on location safety for incall and outcall covers the other side of that same safety chain.