Is STI testing different for men? What to expect

In a few ways, although for most men the process is quick and simple. The main differences are:

• the sample for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea: men give a urine sample, while women are asked for a vaginal swab, as urine can miss more infections in women
• extra swabs for some men: gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are advised to have throat and rectal swabs as well
• no cervical screening: HPV testing in the UK is part of cervical screening, so there’s no routine HPV test for men

Blood tests for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B are the same for everyone.

Most men don’t need a swab from the penis.

Depending on the tests you choose, you may be asked for:

• a urine sample: for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Try not to pee for 2 hours before you give it, which can make the result more reliable. The clinic or your kit will tell you how to collect it
• a blood sample: for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B. At a clinic, it’s taken from your arm. With a home kit, you prick your finger and fill a small tube
• throat and rectal swabs: if you’ve had oral or anal sex. You can usually take these yourself
• a swab from a sore: if you have a blister, ulcer or lump, to test for Herpes, Syphilis or HPV

A swab from inside the tip of the penis is now mainly used for men with symptoms such as a discharge, so a sample can be checked under a microscope or grown in the lab.

Swabs can be uncomfortable for a few seconds, but they’re quick.

Here’s how testing for the most common STIs compares:

UK guidelines describe samples by body part rather than gender, so trans and non-binary people are tested according to the body parts they have and the sex they’ve had.

Tell the clinic about the sex you’ve had, so they can test the right places.

UK guidelines say all sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men should have 3-site testing:

• a urine sample
• a throat swab
• a rectal swab

plus blood tests for HIV and Syphilis. Infections in the throat and bottom often cause no symptoms, and a urine test won’t find them.

Rates of Gonorrhoea and Syphilis are higher in gay and bisexual men. In England in 2025, they accounted for more than half of Gonorrhoea diagnoses and more than 3 in 5 infectious Syphilis diagnoses. Men who have sex with men can also have the HPV vaccine up to and including the age of 45, and the MenB vaccine, which gives some protection against Gonorrhoea, is offered to those at higher risk.

Urine alone can miss infections in the throat or bottom, whoever you have sex with.

UK guidance says:

• test once a year if you’re sexually active, and whenever you have a new partner
• test every 3 months if you’re at higher risk, for example if you have sex without condoms with new or casual partners, have more than 10 partners a year or use PrEP
• if you have symptoms, test straight away

After sex, you can test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea from 2 weeks. A lab HIV test is reliable from 45 days, and a Syphilis test can miss an infection in the first 3 months, so you may need a repeat test.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, get urgent medical care about PEP, emergency medicine that can stop you getting infected.

Regular testing matters most when you have no symptoms. Read more in “New relationship? Get tested together before you stop using condoms”

Many men with an STI have no symptoms. How likely you are to notice one depends on the infection:

• over 90% of men with Gonorrhoea in the penis get symptoms, usually within 2 to 5 days
• about half of men with Chlamydia in the penis get symptoms
• fewer than 1 in 10 men with Mycoplasma genitalium are thought to get symptoms

Symptoms in men can include:

• a discharge from the tip of the penis
• pain or burning when you pee
• pain or swelling in the testicles
• blisters, sores, lumps or a rash around the genitals or anus
• itching around the genitals or anus

If you have symptoms, don’t wait for the usual 2 weeks before testing. Read more in “Penis discharge: do I have an STI?”

Untreated STIs can cause problems for men too:

• epididymitis: painful swelling of the tube behind the testicle, usually caused by an STI in men under 35
• prostatitis: Gonorrhoea can infect the prostate
• reactive arthritis: painful, swollen joints. Reactive arthritis after an STI is diagnosed more than 10 times as often in men as in women
• fertility: in rare cases, an infection of the testicles can affect fertility
• late Syphilis and HIV: left untreated, they can cause serious long-term illness

Men can also pass infections such as Chlamydia to partners, who may develop pelvic inflammatory disease without knowing they’re infected.

Sudden, severe pain in a testicle is an emergency, so call 999 straight away. It can mean the testicle has twisted.

Better2Know offers:

• Full Screen: tests a urine and blood sample for 7 infections, including HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days (5 days for the home test).
• Confidence Screen: for gay and bisexual men, it adds throat and rectal swabs for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea to the same 7 infections, from 28 days after sex, with results in 5 days. You can also order a home test kit.
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (Urine): a urine test for both infections, from 14 days after sex, or straight away if you have symptoms, with results in 2 days.
• Blemish Screen: if you have a lump, blister or sore in your genital area, it tests a swab from it for Herpes 1, Herpes 2, HPV and Syphilis, with results in 5 days.

You can book at one of our clinics or order a home test kit. If you test before 45 days, a negative HIV result needs a repeat test. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Does an STI test hurt for men?

Not usually. Most tests need only a urine sample and a small blood sample. Swabs can be uncomfortable for a few seconds.

Can men get tested for HPV?

There’s no routine HPV test for men in the UK. If you have a wart or growth, a swab from it can be tested. Read more in “Can HPV be detected with a urine test?”

Will a urine test find STIs in my throat or bottom?

No. A urine test only finds infections in the urethra, the tube you pee through. If you’ve had oral or anal sex, you need throat or rectal swabs too.

STI testing for men is usually simple: a urine sample and a blood test. The main differences are that urine is the best sample for men, gay and bisexual men need throat and rectal swabs too, and there’s no routine HPV test. Testing once a year, and whenever you have a new partner, is the best way to stay on top of your sexual health.

Book a Full Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 12 January 2024 and was last updated on 1 October 2026.

This article is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. NHS, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reviewed 13 May 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/
2. NHS, Chlamydia, reviewed 24 October 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/
3. NHS, Gonorrhoea, reviewed 16 December 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
4. NHS, Urethritis, reviewed 10 May 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urethritis/
5. NHS, Epididymitis, reviewed 6 August 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epididymitis/
6. NHS, Visiting a sexual health clinic, reviewed 22 February 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/visiting-an-sti-clinic/
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8. NHS, HPV vaccine, reviewed 1 September 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/
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14. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, 2026. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/national_guideline_for_the_management_of_infection_chlamydia_trachomatis_2026.pdf
15. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, National guideline for the management of infection with Mycoplasma genitalium, 2025. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/sonietal2025britishassociationofsexualhealthandhivnationalguidelineforthemanagementofinfectionwith.pdf
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