How Long After Sex to Test for STIs?

If you’re sexually active — even if you use protection, like condoms or dams — you’re at risk for contracting an STI. Some people have a higher risk of getting an STI, including those who have multiple sex partners.

Regular testing is key to catching common STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, early on. Early detection not only helps prevent the spread of infections but also wards off potential long-term health issues like infertility, chronic pain, and organ damage.

An annual STI panel is a good idea for anyone who is sexually active. This group of tests can include a number of STI screenings, depending on your particular risk factors. Your doctor may also recommend more frequent testing for certain STIs if you have a high risk of contracting them.

You may want to test for a particular STI after having unprotected sex with someone who has a chance of testing positive for an STI. Since different STIs have different testing windows after exposure, it’s important to know how long you should wait after sex to get tested — getting tested too early can result in a false negative, which means you tested negative for an STI when you do, in fact, have one. Read on to learn about STI incubation periods and how long to wait before testing for specific infections.

What is an STI incubation period?

The incubation period of an STI is the time between being exposed to an infection and the appearance of symptoms, or the ability to detect the infection through testing. 

The incubation period of STIs varies, depending on the type of infection and other factors. In general, it ranges from a few days to several months.

For the most accurate test results possible, it’s important to follow the recommended guidelines for the timing of STD tests. Testing too early might not detect the infection while waiting too long can increase the spread — and the risk of complications. It’s important to note that this guidance is for those who want routine testing when asymptomatic — if you are symptomatic and have sex with someone who has tested positive, you should see a healthcare provider for testing as soon as possible. 

Here’s how long to wait after unprotected sex to get tested for the eight most common STIs.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI in Canada, with more than 104,000 new cases in 2021. A highly contagious bacterial infection, chlamydia may or may not cause symptoms. Regular testing is important for catching it early and preventing the spread. Chlamydia is easy to treat with antibiotics, but it can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated.

Chlamydia is tested using a urine or swab sample. While you can get tested 24 to 48 hours after unprotected sex, results are most accurate after 14 days.

Gonorrhea

The second most commonly reported UTI in Canada, gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that’s easily treated with antibiotics — for now. Gonorrhea infections are steadily becoming antibiotic-resistant and could one day become incurable. 

Gonorrhea is tested using a urine sample or swab of body fluid. You can get tested 24 to 48 hours after sex, but for the most accurate results, wait seven to 14 days after sex before testing.

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus or HSV. Although the majority of people with herpes don’t experience symptoms — and most don’t know they have it — it can cause periodic outbreaks of painful sores in and around the genitalia, anus, or nearby areas of skin. Herpes is a chronic condition, meaning it can’t be cured, but outbreaks are manageable with antiviral medications. 

Due to a high risk of false results in people with a low risk for HSV, healthcare providers only recommend HSV testing for people who have developed sores or who think they have been exposed to the virus. 

For those with genital lesions, a viral culture or DNA test is performed on a swab sample of a sore to confirm an HSV infection.

For those who don’t have symptoms but think they may have been exposed to the virus, a blood test is used to detect HSV antibodies, which the body produces to fight an infection. Around 80% of HSV infections produce detectable antibodies within four weeks of exposure, but it can take three months or longer.

Syphilis

Syphilis cases in Canada were few and far between a couple of decades ago but began creeping back up in the early 2000s. In 2022, nearly 14,000 cases were reported nationwide, an increase likely due in part to a lack of access to healthcare — especially among marginalized communities.

Syphilis is curable with antibiotics, but leaving it untreated can lead to devastating health problems, including brain damage, seizures, and heart disease. It can also cause severe health issues in infants and small children if an infected mother passes it to the fetus during pregnancy.

In general, syphilis can be detected through blood tests within three to four weeks after infection, but healthcare professionals often recommend re-testing after three months to confirm the results.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, has more than 100 types. Most of the types do not cause any symptoms and will go away on their own without treatment. Around 50 types of HPV are considered “low-risk” and can cause genital or anal warts, and there are two types in particular that cause the most cases of genital warts, which are flat or cauliflower-like bumps that occur in the genital area. Around 25 types are considered “high-risk” and, if left untreated, can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis or anus. Fourteen types cause cancers of the cervix, plus some less common cancers of the throat, anus, penis, vagina and vulva. HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and sexual activity. 

Most people who have HPV are asymptomatic and never know they have it. There is no HPV screening for men, but women can be screened with a swab of cells from the cervix, either during a Pap smear or as a stand-alone test. Since HPV infections are very common in women under 30 years old — and around 90% of all HPV infections clear up on their own within two years — healthcare experts generally recommend testing only after the age of 30. An HPV vaccine is available in Canada and recommended for children and adults between nine and 45 years old.

Although the incubation period of HPV can vary from four weeks to several years, it’s usually detectable within three weeks to eight months after exposure. 

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can be sexually transmitted or spread through contact with infected blood. Many people with HBV don’t experience symptoms, and the infection may go away on its own. But if it doesn’t clear up naturally — and the infection is left untreated — it can cause irreversible liver damage and liver cancer, or other serious health problems.

The incubation period of HBV is one to six months. A blood test can usually detect the virus as early as one to nine weeks after exposure — on average, it’s detected around four weeks after exposure.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

HIV is a potentially fatal infection if it’s not treated. Some people with HIV don’t experience any symptoms — and when symptoms do occur, they’re often mistaken for other illnesses, like a cold or flu. While HIV is manageable with antiviral medications, it will likely turn into AIDS within eight to 15 years if it’s left untreated.

The best window for testing for HIV after unprotected sex ranges from 10 to 90 days, depending on the type of test being used:

• Nucleic acid test: 10 to 33 days after exposure
• Antigen/antibody lab test: 18 to 45 days after exposure
• Rapid antigen/antibody test: 19 to 90 days after exposure
• Antibody test: 23 to 90 days after exposure 

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection that most commonly affects women, causing symptoms like foul-smelling vaginal discharge and genital itching. Men don’t typically experience symptoms. Trichomoniasis is treatable with antibiotics — but all partners need to be treated at the same time to prevent swift reinfection.

A urine test is commonly used to diagnose trichomoniasis — the incubation period for the parasite that causes the infection ranges from three to 28 days.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Many people living with hepatitis C have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, and in some adults, Hepatitis C will go away on its own within six months — called an acute infection. Most hepatitis C infections happen in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past. 

Symptoms of an acute infection can include:  

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dark urine
• Pale stools
• Loss of appetite
• Flu-like symptoms
• Pain or tenderness on the right side of the abdomen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or the whites of the eyes)

If the infection lasts longer than 3 months — a chronic infection — this can lead to more long-term health problems, such as liver scarring, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C chronic infection can include: 

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in stool or vomit
• Fluid build-up (in your abdomen)
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Hepatitis C is detected through a blood test. It’s possible for pregnant women to pass on HCV to their baby during pregnancy and childbirth, so discussing Hepatitis C and other STIs during a prenatal visit is important. 

How often should you get tested for STIs?

Since the incubation period of STIs varies widely by the infection and the individual, annual STI testing is recommended for anyone who is sexually active. Not everyone needs to be tested for every STI — your doctor will recommend which tests are right for you based on factors like your age, STI history, number of sex partners, and how many other risk factors you have. 

Around 50% of Canadians don’t get tested for STIs, partly due to fear of a positive result, embarrassment around talking about sex, or the lack of a primary care provider. 

If you’re one of the 6.5 million Canadians without a family doctor — or you don’t want to see your usual doctor for STI screenings — Maple makes it easy to get the tests you need. We can connect you with a Canadian-licensed doctor or nurse practitioner in minutes, who can ask a range of questions to determine your risk factors and which tests you should get. Primary care providers are available over secure text, audio, or video call 24/7/365, so you can get the care you need when it’s convenient for you.

If required, practitioners on Maple can send you to a lab near you for blood, urine, or swab samples and provide you with the results once they come in.

Taking charge of your sexual health is essential for your well-being and the well-being of your partners. Regular STI testing is a proactive way to catch infections early, prevent their spread, and avoid long-term health complications. Whether it’s an annual STI panel or targeted testing after potential exposure, staying informed about testing windows and incubation periods ensures that you get accurate results when you need them most.

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulties breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.