New relationship? Get tested together before you stop using condoms

Yes, ideally. UK guidelines suggest that anyone with one long-term partner, where neither of you has sex with anyone else, tests at the start of the relationship.

Many STIs cause no symptoms, so either of you could have an infection from a past partner without knowing. Testing before you stop using condoms means you can treat anything the tests find before it passes between you, and it’s far easier to sort out now than later. Many couples choose to test together, which can make it feel less awkward.

Tests need time after sex to give a reliable result, so the timing depends on when each of you last had sex with someone else:

• Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea: from 2 weeks after sex
• HIV: from 45 days with a lab test
• Syphilis: a test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test

Keep using condoms until you both have results that cover these times. If either of you had another partner recently, you may need to test now and again later.

A full STI screen for both of you should cover Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B. Two common infections aren’t usually part of routine tests:

• Herpes: UK guidelines don’t recommend testing people without symptoms. Blood tests are available but have limits, and a swab is the best test if either of you has a sore.
• HPV: it’s very common and usually has no symptoms. There’s no blood test for HPV, and the only routine NHS test is part of cervical screening.

Vaccines can help too. The NHS offers the HPV vaccine to many people under 25, and to men who have sex with men up to the age of 45. The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk.

Don’t panic. Most STIs are easy to treat, and a positive result is common.

• Both of you may need testing and treatment, even if only one of you tested positive.
• Avoid sex until you’ve both finished treatment and whoever treats you says it’s safe.
• A positive result doesn’t mean anyone has cheated. Many infections go unnoticed for months, and some, such as Herpes, can show up years after infection.

Read more in “Can you get an STI in a relationship even if no one’s cheated?”

If you’re planning to start a family, testing first has extra benefits. Untreated Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect fertility and raise the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Once you’re pregnant, the NHS offers a blood test for HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in every pregnancy, ideally by 10 weeks, so any infection can be treated early.

If you’re not planning a pregnancy, you’ll need other contraception when you stop using condoms. The NHS says only condoms protect against STIs, so other methods, such as the pill, protect against pregnancy only.

Testing once at the start only works if things stay the same. If either of you has sex with someone else, or you agree to open things up, go back to using condoms and get tested again. UK guidelines suggest testing after any change of partner. Read more in “Should we get tested before having sex? How to talk to a new partner”

Better2Know offers:

• Full Screen: tests for 7 infections, including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days (5 days for the home test).
• Peace of Mind: if you want to test sooner, it checks for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis from 14 days after sex, with results in 2 days. You can book it at one of our clinics or order a home test kit.
• Platinum Screen: tests for 12 infections, adding Hepatitis C, Herpes 1, Herpes 2, Trichomonas and Gardnerella to the Full Screen, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days.

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.

Can we test together at home?

Yes. You can each order a home test kit, take your samples at the same time and post them to the lab, then compare results when they’re ready.

Do we need to test if we haven’t had other partners for years?

It’s still worth it if neither of you has tested since your last partner. Some infections, such as Chlamydia, can go unnoticed for months, and HIV may cause no symptoms for years.

Is asking a new partner to test a sign of mistrust?

No. Many STIs cause no symptoms, so testing is about looking after each other, not about doubting anyone.

Getting tested together before you stop using condoms is one of the simplest ways to look after each other in a new relationship. Test at the right time, keep using condoms until you both have your results, and test again if anything changes.

Book a Full Screen at a clinic near you or order home test kits for you both. 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 8 January 2016 and was last updated on 1 October 2026.

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

Sources

1. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, Summary guidance on testing for sexually transmitted infections, 2023. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/bashh_summary_guidance_on_stis_testing_2023.pdf
2. Brook, Chlamydia, accessed 1 October 2026. https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/chlamydia/
3. NHS, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reviewed 13 May 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/
4. NHS, Chlamydia, reviewed 24 October 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/
5. 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
6. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 2025. https://www.bashh.org/resources/136/gonorrhoea_guideline_2025
7. British HIV Association, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and British Infection Association, Adult HIV testing guidelines, 2020. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/hivtesting2020wiley.pdf
8. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK guidelines for the management of syphilis, 2024. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/syphilis_2024.pdf
9. NHS, Human papillomavirus (HPV), reviewed 10 March 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv/
10. NHS, HPV vaccine, reviewed 1 September 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/
11. NHS, Hepatitis B vaccine, reviewed 19 March 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hepatitis-b-vaccine/
12. NHS, Genital herpes, reviewed 27 June 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/genital-herpes/
13. NHS, HIV and AIDS, reviewed 9 July 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
14. NHS, Pelvic inflammatory disease, reviewed 17 December 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/
15. NHS, Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis, reviewed 23 January 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-for-hepatitis-b-hiv-and-syphilis/
16. NHS, How contraception is used, reviewed 31 January 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/choosing-contraception/how-it-is-used/