People can consult a sexual health clinic to discuss any concerns and ensure they receive appropriate testing.
How to prevent STDs
For example, while using a condom does not eliminate the chance of contracting an STD completely, it provides substantial protection and reduces the risk.
A person can also undergo regular STD tests to reduce the chance of unknowi
How long does it take for STD symptoms to show?
Incubation period
How soon
Different STIs
Dormant STIs
Importance
Summary
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), usually pass from person to person through sexual contact. Testing can help make sex safer and ensure people receive proper treatment for STIs
Each STI has its own incubation period, which is how long it takes for symptoms to appear. In some cases, it can take months for an STI to show up on tests. In other cases, it may only take days.
This article explores the incubation periods of different STIs, how soon people can get tested, and the importance of testing.
STI incubation period
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The incubation periodTrusted Source is how long it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure. The window period is how long it takes to get a positive test result for the infection after exposure. These periods are often similar.
Some general symptoms that indicate a person might have an STI includeTrusted Source:
genital itching or burning
pain during intercourse or urination
a new or unusual discharge
bumps or growths on or around the genitals
a foul smell coming from the genitals or after sex
However, some STIs do not cause symptoms Kolkata escorts service VIP for many years, even though a person can still get a positive test result. This is why it is important to rely on testing, not just symptoms.
How soon can a person get tested?
In most cases, a person can get an STI test within a few weeks of exposure. If a person has a curable STI, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, they may need a retest after treatment.
People at high risk of certain STIsTrusted Source should ask for a retest, even after a negative result. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend annual HIV testing for people at risk, such as those whose partners have HIV or people who share needles.
STI testing table
The testing window for common STIs is as follows:
Type of STI Pathogen type Testing window Type of test When to retest after treatment
HIV virus 10–33 days for a nucleic acid test.
18–45 days for an antigen/antibody test.
23–90 days for an antibody test Blood or saliva test. Blood nucleic acid test gives earliest results None
Chlamydia bacteria 1–2 weeks Blood or urine sample, or swab of the throat, rectum, cervix, or vagina 3 months
Trichomonas protozoa (parasite) 1 week to 1 month Swab of rectum, penis, or vagina 2 weeks
Syphilis bacteria Within 3 weeks after sores appear. Sores appear usually 1 week after exposure Blood test 6 and 12 months
Gonorrhea bacteria 5 days to 2 weeks Blood or urine test. Swab of the anus, urethra, cervix, or throat Test 2 weeks after treatment, or 2 weeks later after exposure if the first test is negative
Herpes virus 1–4 months Blood test or swab of a sore None
HPV virus 3 weeks to a few months Pap smear in females only — no approved test for males None
Hepatitis virus 3–6 weeks for hepatitis B. 2–6 weeks for hepatitis C Blood test Retest 6 months later
HIV A nucleic acid test analyzes a blood sample for HIV. It can indicate a positive result 10–33 days after exposure. The antigen/antibody test, also a blood test, looks for HIV antibodies. It also looks for an antigen that the body produces before antibodies appear. It can get results 18–45 days after exposure.
The antibody test uses a blood or saliva sample to look for HIV antibodies. It takes the longest to get a reliable result, at 23–90 days after exposure. A person can be confident they do not have HIV if they get a negative test during the window period and have no subsequent contact with someone who could have the virus.
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