Recommendations
We do not recommend testing for oral STIs today.
Based on your answers, we recommend testing for oral STIs today.
Based on your answers, there are two reasonable options—you can test today or test in the future
What are oral STIs?
Oral STIs are infections of your throat. The most common ones are gonorrhea and chlamydia. They can present with a sore throat, white spots on the back of your throat, or no symptoms at all.
How is testing performed?
The collection swab is swabbed across the back of your throat, similar to a test for strep. Your doctor can collect the sample for you or you can do it yourself!
You can have an STI in your throat without symptoms and even without having it in your urine.
Did you know...
5% of women had a positive throat test for gonorrhea or chlamydia.*
Female
Male
*Among women presenting to a local STI clinic worried about having an STI.
You can have an STI in your throat without symptoms and even without having it in your urine.
Did you know...
7% of men had a positive throat test for gonorrhea or chlamydia. 82% of those cases were positive in the throat only, meaning the urine test was negative.*
Female
Male
*Among men presenting to a local STI clinic worried about having an STI.
Next: Decision Making
Complete Assessment
One more thing...
Even though you may not need testing today, you can always ask for it in the future, at your regular doctor’s office or in the ED.
Remember:
STIs can have no symptoms so it is important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active.
Not all doctors remember to offer STI testing, so don’t hesitate to ask for testing.