Get Tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), that you can get during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. A pregnant person can also pass these STIs to their baby during birth. 

How do I know if I have an STI? 

Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI. Most people who have an STI don’t feel sick or have any symptoms. 

It’s also important to talk with a doctor or nurse if someone you recently had sex with has an STI. 

Is there a cure for chlamydia and gonorrhea? 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea can both be cured with the right treatment. If these STIs aren’t treated, they can cause serious health problems, like making it difficult or impossible to get pregnant. 

If you have an STI, it’s important to get treatment right away. It’s also important to tell any sex partners you have about your STI so they can get treated, too. This can help protect others from getting an infection and protect you from getting the infection again. 

It’s a good idea to get tested again 3 months after you finish treatment. That’s because getting chlamydia and gonorrhea again is common.

Who needs to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea?

Women are more likely than men to have serious health problems from untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea, and the recommendations for getting tested are different for women and men: 

For women:

• If you're age 24 years or younger and having sex, get tested once every year
• If you're age 25 years or older, get tested every year if you're at higher risk for infection

For example, you may be at higher risk if you have:

• More than 1 sex partner
• A new sex partner
• A sex partner with an STI

For men:

• Talk with a doctor to find out if you need to get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other STIs

If you’re transgender, or if you don’t identify as a woman or a man, talk to your doctor about your testing needs.

Learn more about getting tested for STIs. 

If you’re sexually active, it’s a good idea to have an honest talk with your doctor or nurse about your sexual activity. The information you share with them, along with STI screening recommendations, will help them figure out if you need to get tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or any other STIs. 

Use this tool to find out which STI tests you might need.

What are the signs of chlamydia or gonorrhea?

Many people who have chlamydia or gonorrhea don’t have any signs or symptoms. But symptoms for chlamydia and gonorrhea are very similar when they do happen. 

Women with symptoms may have:

• Abnormal discharge (fluid) from the vagina
• Pain or burning when they urinate (pee)
• Bleeding between periods

Men with symptoms may have:

• Abnormal discharge from the penis
• Burning when they urinate
• Painful or swollen testicles (though this symptom is less common)

People can also have an infection in their rectum (the part of the body that connects the colon to the anus). This doesn’t always cause symptoms. But when symptoms do happen, they can include:

• Discharge or bleeding from the anus
• Itching or soreness around the anus
• Painful bowel movements (pain when pooping)

See a doctor or nurse if you or your partner notice any of these symptoms.

How do doctors test for chlamydia and gonorrhea?

A doctor or nurse can test your urine for both chlamydia and gonorrhea. Sometimes, the doctor might take a sample from the vagina, penis, rectum, or throat instead. The test is easy and painless.

Learn more about chlamydia:

• Chlamydia facts
• Women and chlamydia

Learn more about gonorrhea:

• Gonorrhea facts
• Women and gonorrhea