Generally, no one can find out if you have an STI unless you want them to, because that information must be kept confidential unless you give permission for it to be shared. But some STIs are “reportable diseases.” That means the state health system wants to keep track of them and control their spread.

Your health care provider must report certain STIs to the state. If this happens to you, a state official may contact you and ask you to tell your sexual partners about your STI.

If you want, the official will help you tell your partner(s). Sometimes, officials might try to find your sexual partners and tell them to get tested, but they will not give out your name.

Even if your STI must be reported, no one besides your health care provider and the state official have to know about it.