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STD Testing for Men: Which Tests and How It Works

By Richard D. Porter, Patient Advocate Updated

Quick answer

For men, STD testing usually means a urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea plus blood tests for HIV and syphilis, with throat or rectal swabs if you've had oral or anal sex. Which tests you need depends on your partners and sexual practices. The CDC says there is insufficient evidence for routine chlamydia or gonorrhea screening of low-risk heterosexual men, but recommends regular testing for men who have sex with men. There is no routine HPV test for men.

The test you need

Test
Chlamydia and gonorrhea NAAT, plus HIV and syphilis blood tests as advised
Sample
First-void urine, blood, and throat or rectal swabs if you've had oral or anal sex
When
Differs by infection. For HIV, a lab antigen/antibody test detects it 18 to 45 days after exposure (CDC). Use the window-period calculator for the rest.
Results
STDCheck says results are ready in 1 to 2 days

Which of these sound like you?

The more of these that apply, the wider the testing that makes sense. This isn't a diagnosis. A clinician or the test finder can help you choose.

If you search for an STD test for guys, you’ll find everything from a quick urine cup to a full blood panel. Here is how to sort out which parts apply to you.

Which STD tests do men need?

It depends on your partners, your sexual practices and your age. The usual building blocks are:

  • Urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The CDC says first-void urine is an optimal sample in men.
  • Blood test for HIV. The CDC says everyone aged 13 to 64 should get at least one.
  • Blood test for syphilis. The CDC says to screen adults at increased risk, and men who have sex with men at least annually.
  • Hepatitis B and C blood tests. The CDC recommends each at least once for all adults 18 and older.
  • Herpes antibody blood test. The CDC says it can be considered for men presenting for an STI evaluation, particularly those with multiple partners. It does not recommend herpes testing for people without symptoms in most situations.

Do all men need chlamydia and gonorrhea tests?

Not necessarily. The CDC says there is insufficient evidence for routine screening of heterosexual men at low risk, and the USPSTF reached the same conclusion for chlamydia and gonorrhea. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t test. It means routine yearly screening isn’t recommended when you’re low risk. The CDC’s increased-risk examples, such as a new partner, multiple partners or a partner with an STI, are written in its guidance for women, so ask a clinician how they apply to you.

How is STD testing different for men who have sex with men?

More sites, and more often. The CDC recommends that sexually active men who have sex with men get tested at least yearly for:

  • Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea
  • HIV

The CDC also says all men who have sex with men should be tested for hepatitis B.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea testing should cover the sites of contact, including the urethra, rectum and throat for gonorrhea, regardless of condom use. If you’re at increased risk, the CDC says to test every 3 to 6 months.

If you’re a transgender man or nonbinary, the CDC says screening should be adapted to your anatomy and sexual behaviors.

Do men need throat and rectal swabs?

If you’ve had oral or anal sex, ask. The CDC says infections at these sites should be tested at the site of exposure. Urine can’t tell you about them. Rectal chlamydia screening is recommended yearly for men reporting receptive anal sex, while routine throat screening for chlamydia isn’t recommended. For gonorrhea, the CDC says to test the throat when someone with a genital or rectal infection reports oral sex.

Is there an HPV test for men?

No routine one. The CDC says HPV tests are FDA cleared only for cervical specimens, not oral or anal specimens, and that HPV tests shouldn’t be used as a general STI test. Sex partners don’t need to be tested for HPV, the CDC adds. For men who have sex with men, the CDC lists a digital anorectal exam as part of anal cancer screening in some groups. Talk with a clinician about your own situation.

What does the test involve?

You’ll usually give a urine sample and/or a blood sample. If swabs are needed, a clinician takes them or may let you swab yourself. The CDC says self-collected rectal swabs are a reasonable alternative. STDCheck says its results are ready in 1 to 2 days, though its panel pages don’t mention throat or rectal swabs.

Does insurance cover STD tests for men?

Healthcare.gov lists HIV screening for everyone 15 to 65, hepatitis C screening for adults 18 to 79, and syphilis screening for adults at higher risk among covered preventive services. It says these are generally covered at no cost when provided by an in-network provider, though $0 isn’t guaranteed. Coverage for other tests varies by plan, so check with your insurer or the clinic before you go.

Where can I get tested?

Options include a clinician or urgent care, a clinic you find through the CDC’s GetTested site, or an online service with a local lab visit. If a panel or kit leaves out a site you need, a clinic visit may be a better fit.

Get care now if

  • You may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours: go to an ER or urgent care now and ask about PEP
  • You have painful testicular swelling, severe pain, or a fever: get care today
  • You have new sores, discharge, burning when you urinate or rectal pain: see a clinician or urgent care

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

When to test

  1. Within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposureGo to an emergency room or urgent care now and ask about PEP. The CDC says PEP must be started within 72 hours and is for emergencies only. Test afterward.
  2. At least yearly if you're a man who has sex with menThe CDC says to test for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at least annually, and for chlamydia and gonorrhea every 3 to 6 months if you're at increased risk. Gonorrhea testing covers urethral, rectal and throat sites.
  3. After a new exposureTiming differs by infection, and a test taken too soon can miss one. Use the window-period calculator and plan a repeat test if you go early.

Common questions

Is an STD test for guys just a urine test?

Often that's part of it, since first-void urine is an optimal sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea. But HIV and syphilis need blood, and throat and rectal infections need swabs. A urine test alone can miss them.

How often should men get tested?

The CDC says everyone aged 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. For men who have sex with men, it recommends at least yearly testing for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV, and every 3 to 6 months for those at increased risk.

Do men need throat or rectal swabs?

Possibly. The CDC says people who have had oral or anal sex should talk with a healthcare provider about throat and rectal testing options. It recommends annual rectal chlamydia screening for men who report receptive anal sex.

Is there an HPV test for men?

Not a routine one. The CDC says HPV tests are FDA cleared only for cervical specimens, not oral or anal specimens, and that sex partners do not need to be tested for HPV.

Next: Chlamydia and gonorrhea NAAT, plus HIV and syphilis blood tests as advised.

First-void urine, blood, and throat or rectal swabs if you've had oral or anal sex. Differs by infection. For HIV, a lab antigen/antibody test detects it 18 to 45 days after exposure (CDC). Use the window-period calculator for the rest.

Read next

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.