Chlamydia Testing for Men

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated October 26, 2026

Quick answer

For men and anyone with a penis, the CDC says chlamydia can be diagnosed by testing first-void urine or a swab of the urethra. If you had oral or anal sex, the CDC says infection can be found by testing the site of exposure, so a throat or rectal swab may be needed. The CDC recommends yearly screening for gay and bisexual men, and says a partner who has been told they have chlamydia should be evaluated, tested and treated.

The test you need

Chlamydia: NAATRetest if negative before day 49

Too earlyMay detect; retest if negativeReliable

Counted from your most recent exposure. CDC gives no single window for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trich or syphilis; the cautious date uses the NHS "up to 7 weeks". Work out your own dates

Test: Chlamydia NAAT (urine or swab)
Sample: First-void urine or a urethral swab; a throat or rectal swab if those sites were exposed
When: The CDC gives no fixed waiting time after exposure. If you test early and it is negative, ask a clinician whether to repeat it
Results: STDCheck's page says 1 to 2 days

Which of these apply to you?

I am a gay or bisexual man, or I have sex with men
A partner has been told they have chlamydia
I had receptive oral or anal sex and want those sites checked
I have a new partner or more than one partner
I want a private option that does not need an exam

The CDC recommends yearly testing for gay and bisexual men. If a partner has chlamydia, see a clinician rather than waiting. A list like this is a guide to the conversation, not a diagnosis.

If you have a penis, the chlamydia test is usually a urine sample or a urethral swab, according to the CDC. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, and MedlinePlus says getting tested is the only way to know for sure. Here is how the test works and when it makes sense for men and anyone with a penis.

How do men get tested for chlamydia?

The CDC says chlamydia in the urethra can be diagnosed by testing first-void urine or a urethral swab. The test is a NAAT, which the CDC calls the most sensitive and recommended test for chlamydia. The CDC lists first-catch urine as an optimal sample for men.

STDCheck’s page describes first-catch urine as about 20-30mL of the initial urine stream. MedlinePlus says to avoid urinating for two hours before the test, so plan around it. A clinic or lab will give you their own instructions, which may differ.

Is it a urine test or a swab?

Usually urine. A urethral swab is the other option the CDC lists. Which one you are offered depends on the clinic or lab. If you have a choice, ask which is available.

If you had oral or anal sex, urine alone does not check your throat or rectum. The CDC says infection at those sites is diagnosed by testing the exposure site. Self-collected rectal swabs are a reasonable alternative to clinician-collected ones, according to the CDC. Most people with chlamydia in the throat have no throat symptoms.

Should men get tested if they have no symptoms?

It depends. The CDC says gay and bisexual men should get tested for chlamydia every year. For heterosexual men at low risk, the CDC says there is insufficient evidence for routine screening. That does not mean you should not test. Anyone with symptoms, or whose partner has been told they have chlamydia, should be tested.

If you have had a new partner or a condom problem, ask a clinician whether and when to test. You do not need to wait for symptoms.

When should I test after exposure?

The CDC does not give a single waiting time after exposure. STDCheck’s page says two weeks after potential exposure is ideal. A negative test taken very early may be worth repeating, so ask a clinician for the right timing for your situation.

If a partner has been told they have chlamydia, do not wait for a test. The CDC advises that partners with sexual contact in the 60 days before symptoms or diagnosis be evaluated, tested and treated presumptively. Call a clinician.

How long do the results take?

MedlinePlus says results are usually ready in a day, and some rapid tests give results in 90 minutes or less. STDCheck’s page says 1 to 2 days. A positive result should be followed up with a clinician, who can prescribe antibiotics. Chlamydia is curable.

Can a chlamydia test be wrong?

Any test can be wrong. A NAAT is the most sensitive type, according to the CDC, but one taken very soon after exposure may miss an infection. MedlinePlus says a negative result means chlamydia was not found when the sample was collected, so a new exposure after that would need a new test. If you have symptoms and a negative result, talk to a clinician rather than assuming it is nothing.

Is there a lab-based option?

STDCheck’s page describes a first-catch urine test, and says no swabbing, pricking or undressing is needed for it. Its page does not mention throat or rectal testing, so use a clinician if you need those sites checked.

The FDA has authorized a mailed home-collection test that uses vaginal swabs or urine as appropriate, and it is for adults 18 and older. Check the kit’s instructions for who it is meant for. See at-home chlamydia test kits for the details.

Do I need to test again after treatment?

Yes. The CDC says men and women treated for chlamydia should be retested about 3 months after treatment, even if their partners were treated.

Get care now if

You have pain or swelling in the testicles
You have discharge from the penis or burning when you pass urine that is not going away
You have a fever with pelvic or lower belly pain
A partner who is pregnant has been told they have chlamydia

Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, an urgent care clinic, sexual health clinic or your doctor can see you.

When to test

If a partner has been told they have chlamydiaSee a clinician soon. The CDC says partners with sexual contact in the 60 days before symptoms or diagnosis should be evaluated, tested and treated presumptively.
After a possible exposure, no symptomsThe CDC gives no set waiting time. A very early test may miss an infection, so ask when to test and whether to repeat it.
Once a year, if you are a gay or bisexual manThe CDC advises testing every year. Ask for throat and rectal swabs if those sites were exposed.
About 3 months after treatmentThe CDC says people treated for chlamydia should be retested about 3 months later.

Common questions

Do men get a swab for chlamydia?

Often a urine sample is enough. The CDC says infection in the urethra can be diagnosed from first-void urine or a urethral swab. A throat or rectal swab is used for sites that were exposed.

Can I test for chlamydia with no symptoms?

Yes. The CDC says chlamydia often has no symptoms. The CDC says there is insufficient evidence for routine screening of heterosexual men at low risk, so ask what makes sense for you.

Should I pee before a chlamydia urine test?

Not right before. MedlinePlus says to avoid urinating for two hours before the test. Follow the instructions for your test.

Does STDCheck test the throat or rectum?

Its chlamydia page describes a urine test and does not mention throat or rectal testing. If you had oral or anal sex, ask a clinician about swabbing those sites.

Next: Chlamydia NAAT (urine or swab).

First-void urine or a urethral swab; a throat or rectal swab if those sites were exposed. The CDC gives no fixed waiting time after exposure. If you test early and it is negative, ask a clinician whether to repeat it

Sources

This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you whether you have an infection. Read how we write and check our guides.