X
How Soon After Unprotected Sex Should I Get Tested for STDs?
Written and reviewed by Slava Fuzayloff | Published on July 14, 2024
Are you curious about the timeline for Sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs) testing?
Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward, and it is not the same for all STDs
[1, 2]
STDTesting
https://www.nyp.org/womens/pregnancy-and-birth/family-planning/std-testing
Getting Tested for STIs
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/index.html
.
For some STDs, such as gonorrhea, it can be 2 days, and for some, such as syphilis, it can be up to 3 months. Why such a big difference? Because different diseases are tested differently.
For some conditions (chlamydia and gonorrhea), tests use the PCR method to look for the presence of bacteria or viruses. For a PCR test to detect the infection, infection should reproduce inside the body to a certain level, which takes a little time.
For other conditions- HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis—the most accurate test is the one that checks for the body's reaction to infection (antibodies), which take an even longer time to produce.
The presence or absence of symptoms does not go hand-in-hand with test results.
For any sexually transmitted disease, there is the earliest time when it can be tested, and there is a time when the disease can be ruled out. [3] Screening Recommendations and Considerations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Sources https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm
So, each condition below will have two numbers:
- when the test can first detect positive results
- when the result rules out the disease or the negative test is reliable.
How soon after contact can Chlamydia be tested?
The test for chlamydia is done via urine or swab. It is a PCR test that detects the bacteria.
The earliest time for Chlamydia testing is 1 week after contact.
The test that rules out the Chlamydia infection is done 3 weeks after contact.
How soon after exposure can Gonorrhea be detected?
The Gonorrhea test is a PCR test that detects bacteria.
It can be done via swab or urine.
The earliest time for Gonorrhea testing is 2 days after exposure.
The test that rules out the Gonorrhea infection is 2 weeks post-exposure.
How soon after sexual contact can HIV be tested?
The HIV test is done via blood [4] What is the window period for an HIV test? https://i-base.info/guides/testing/what-is-the-window-period .
The earliest time an HIV test can be done is 5-7 days after sexual contact via HIV DNA or RNA PCR test.
To rule out HIV, a test should be done 90 days after sex.
How soon after unprotected sex can Syphilis be tested?
The syphilis test is done via blood. It looks for different antibodies (TPPA and Treponemal Ab) produced by the patient after exposure to infection. That is why it takes a longer time to be reliable.
The earliest time for Syphilis testing is 9 days after exposure. But most resources believe it is somewhat reliable in 6 weeks.
The test that excludes Syphilis infection can be done only 90 days after exposure.
How soon after unprotected sexual contact can Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) be tested?
Herpes tests can be done using a swab or a blood test. More on herpes tests here.
The most common Herpes test- the IgG test, can be first done 3 weeks after a sexual encounter. The IgG test rules out herpes in 3 months.
How soon after exposure can Trichomoniasis be tested?
Trichomoniasis test is done via urine or swab. It is a PCR test that looks for bacteria.
The earliest time trich can be detected is 5 days after exposure. But the test that excludes trichomonas is done 4 weeks after sexual contact.
How soon after unprotected contact can Mycoplasma be tested?
The Mycoplasma test involves collecting urine or swab specimens. It looks for bacteria via PCR.
The mycoplasma incubation period (Hominis and Genitalium species) is 2-35 days.
So, the first test for Mycoplasma can be done as early as day 5 after unprotected contact. The same test excludes Mycoplasma when it is done in 5 weeks.
How soon after sex Ureaplasma can be tested?
A PCR test that detects Ureaplasma Hominis and Urealyticum can be done via urine or swab.
The earliest time the ureaplasma test can be done is 10 days after exposure. However, testing in three weeks is necessary to rule out Ureaplasma.
How soon after unprotected contact, Hepatitis B and C can be done?
Both hepatitis B and C tests are done via blood tests.
The earliest time hepatitis tests (for Hepatitis C and B) can be done is 3-6 weeks post-exposure.
The test is definitive and rules out the presence of Hepatitis only after 3 months post-exposure.
Source
-
STDTesting
https://www.nyp.org/womens/pregnancy-and-birth/family-planning/std-testing -
Getting Tested for STIs
https://www.cdc.gov/sti/testing/index.html -
Screening Recommendations and Considerations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/screening-recommendations.htm -
What is the window period for an HIV test?
https://i-base.info/guides/testing/what-is-the-window-period
