It depends on which sexually transmitted infection (STI) you have. Symptoms can develop within a few days or weeks, but sometimes they do not appear until months or even years later. Often there are few or no symptoms and you may not know you have an STI.
How soon after I had sex can I get tested for STDs? It depends. It can take 3 months for HIV to show up on a test, but it only takes a matter of days to a few weeks for STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis to show up. Practicing safer sex lowers your chances of getting or spreading STDs.
Your STD test results time will depend on the test. Some clinics offer rapid HIV testing, which can offer results in less than 30 minutes. Bacterial STD testing (chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis) takes several days to get results, while viral STD testing (HPV, herpes, or HIV) results can take just one to two days.
Herpes is easy to catch. All it takes is skin-to-skin contact, including areas that a condom doesn't cover. You're most contagious when you have blisters, but you don't need them to pass the virus along. Because herpes is a virus, you can't cure it.
The most dangerous viral STD is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to AIDS. Other incurable viral STDs include human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B and genital herpes.
Getting the results
Usually, this starts with a phone call from the clinic. If results are negative, you might be asked to be have tests again in 3–6 months. If results are positive, you'll be asked to see the doctor about treatment. Test results are usually available within 48 hours.
Most people who have chlamydia don't notice any symptoms.
If you do get symptoms, these usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after having unprotected sex with an infected person. For some people they don't develop until many months later. Sometimes the symptoms can disappear after a few days.
Test results normally take about one week. If your result is positive, sexual partners also need to be tested and treated. This is called contact tracing.
Gonorrhea. The symptoms of gonorrhea can become apparent 24-48 hours following exposure in some cases. However, in most cases, it will take 2-5 days.
How long can you spread chlamydia? After exposure, symptoms appear in 1 to 4 weeks. Someone with chlamydia is contagious until the infected person completes a 7 day course of antibiotics or 7 days after taking single-dose antibiotics. Most people do not clear chlamydia without antibiotic treatment.
Chlamydia often has no noticeable symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they usually do so 7–21 days of exposure. However, it can take weeks to months for people to notice any changes. Tests can usually detect chlamydia 1–2 weeks after exposure.
Symptoms of gonorrhoea
If symptoms do appear, they usually show up between 1 to 14 days after coming into contact with the infection. Symptoms of gonorrrhoea may include: green or yellow fluid coming out of the penis. pain or a burning sensation when peeing.
In as little as one day, chlamydia may show up in your system, but testing should be done at least five days after exposure. It is recommended you retest two weeks after treatment to make sure you are free of the infection.
Although chlamydia is highly contagious, it does not always transmit to a person's sexual partners. It is also possible to have a false-negative test result. Having more frequent sex with a partner who has chlamydia may increase a person's risk of contracting it.
Repeat testing may be needed in some cases. All sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men should be tested: At least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
The services sexual health clinics offer are free and do not require a Medicare card.
Do normal blood tests show STD results? STD testing can be performed through bloodwork but is not typically included in a standard blood panel. If you want your doctor to test you, you'll need to have an open and honest conversation with them about your concerns.
HPV. While HIV may be the most well-known and feared STD, Human Papillomavirus is the most common. According to the CDC, approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected and nearly all sexually active men and women will contract HPV at some point in their lives.
HPV is the most common STI in the United States, but most people with the infection have no symptoms. HPV can cause some health effects that are preventable with vaccines.