Fast chlamydia & gonorrhoea testing in London

You are right to be cautious. These are the two most common STIs in the UK, and because they are frequently asymptomatic, you cannot rely on feeling "unwell" to know if you are infected.

If you have had unprotected sex, or a condom broke, here is exactly how to handle it:

1. Watch your timing

Both infections typically take 14 days after contact to become detectable. Testing sooner than this can result in a "false negative." If your potential exposure was less than two weeks ago, please wait until the window has passed to ensure your result is accurate.

2. Test the right areas

These bacteria don't just infect the genitals; they frequently reside in the throat or rectum. Standard urine or vaginal swab tests will miss infections in these areas. For total certainty, ensure you choose a test that covers every site where you had contact.

3. Get treated quickly

The good news is that both infections are bacterial and easily cured with antibiotics. The priority is simply to detect them early to prevent passing them on.

Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. It can infect the genital area, throat and rectum. Many people with chlamydia feel completely well and only find out through a test, which is why routine testing is so important.

Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms at all. That’s true for people of any gender, and is a big reason it spreads so easily.

When symptoms do occur, they can be quite mild and easy to ignore. They may affect how you pee, cause unusual discharge, pain in the lower tummy or testicles, bleeding after sex or between periods, or discomfort in the rectum if that area is infected.

We break this down separately below for people with a penis, and people with a vagina or cervix.

Chlamydia is one of the most commonly diagnosed STIs in the UK, particularly in people under 25. Because so many people have no symptoms, lots of infections are only picked up when someone gets tested as part of a check-up, rather than because they feel unwell.

Chlamydia is passed on through sexual contact, including:

• Vaginal or anal sex without a condom
• Oral sex
• Sharing sex toys that aren’t cleaned or covered with a new condom each time

It can be passed on even if there is no ejaculation and even if sex is brief. You can’t catch it from toilet seats, sharing cutlery, hugging or everyday contact.

Possible symptoms can include:

• Pain or burning when you pee
• White, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis
• Itching, irritation or discomfort inside the urethra (the tube you pee through)
• Pain or swelling in one or both testicles
• Pain, discharge or discomfort from the bum if the rectum is infected

Many people with a penis have no symptoms, so a normal-feeling penis doesn’t rule chlamydia out.

Possible symptoms can include:

• Pain or burning when you pee
• Unusual vaginal discharge (for example, a change in colour, smell or amount)
• Pain in the lower tummy or pelvis
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain, discharge or discomfort from the bum if the rectum is infected

Again, many people with a vagina or cervix have no symptoms at all, so testing is often the only way to be sure.

If chlamydia is picked up and treated, most people make a full recovery with no long-term problems. If it’s left untreated, it can sometimes lead to complications such as:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with a uterus – an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries
• Fertility problems or ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb) after PID
• Long-term pelvic or testicular pain
• Epididymo-orchitis – painful swelling around the testicle in people with a penis
• Reactive arthritis – joint pain and swelling, sometimes with eye symptoms

These complications are not inevitable, but treating chlamydia promptly is the best way to reduce the risk.

At DocTap, chlamydia is usually checked as part of a combined chlamydia & gonorrhoea test. The test is a highly sensitive PCR (NAAT) test run on samples such as:

• Urine
• Vaginal swab (often self-taken)
• Throat swab (if you’ve had oral sex)
• Rectal swab (if you’ve had anal sex)

Your clinician will talk through the type of sex you’ve had and make sure the right sites are tested in one visit.

Samples from our four London clinics with on-site labs are run in-house, with a 4-hour results money-back guarantee at those lab sites. Other clinics are linked into the same lab network, with fast turnaround.

Results are reported discreetly, and a DocTap GP is available to explain what they mean and what to do next.

Chlamydia doesn’t just affect the genitals. It can also infect:

• The throat, after oral sex
• The rectum, after anal sex or if infected genital fluids reach that area

These infections often cause no symptoms, but sometimes you can get a sore throat, rectal discomfort, pain on opening your bowels or discharge from the rectum.

At DocTap, your clinician will ask about the kind of contact you’ve had and can arrange throat and/or rectal swabs alongside urine or vaginal testing where appropriate, so that important sites aren’t missed.

Untreated chlamydia can sometimes lead to infection spreading upwards in the reproductive organs and causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can increase the risk of:

• Difficulty getting pregnant in the future
• Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)
• Ongoing pelvic pain

In people with a penis, chlamydia can cause painful swelling in the testicles (epididymo-orchitis), which in some cases can affect fertility if not treated.

In pregnancy, untreated chlamydia can increase the risk of complications such as premature birth or passing the infection to the baby during delivery. Testing and treatment are safe in pregnancy – your doctor will choose antibiotics that are suitable for you and your baby.

DocTap GPs can arrange chlamydia testing if you’re planning a pregnancy, already pregnant, or have any concerns about fertility or complications, and can coordinate care with NHS services where needed.

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. For most uncomplicated infections, this is usually a short course of tablets.

Key points:

• It’s important to finish the full course, even if you feel well.
• You’ll usually be advised to avoid sex (including oral sex) until you and your partner(s) have finished treatment and any symptoms have settled.
• Your clinician may discuss testing for other STIs at the same time.

At DocTap, treatment can usually be prescribed by the GP who reviews your result, so you don’t need to start again with a separate service.

If your chlamydia result is positive, a DocTap GP will:

• Explain what the result means and which site(s) are affected
• Go through treatment options and prescribe antibiotics where appropriate
• Advise you on how long to avoid sex and when it’s safe to resume
• Talk about partner notification – who needs to know and how they can be tested or treated
• Discuss whether you should be tested for other STIs at the same time
• Arrange any follow-up needed (for example, repeat testing in certain situations)

The aim is to give you a clear plan, not just a lab report.

Yes. If you have chlamydia, recent sexual partners should be informed so they can be tested and treated if needed. This matters because:

• They may have chlamydia and not know it
• You can easily be re-infected if a partner is not treated
• Treating partners helps reduce the overall spread of infection

Typically, partners from the last 6 months (or since your last negative test, if that’s more recent) are included. They can be checked through DocTap, an NHS sexual health clinic or their own GP. Your DocTap GP can talk through how to handle these conversations and what to say.

Re-testing depends on your situation:

• A test of cure (a repeat test to check the infection has cleared) isn’t always needed, but may be recommended if you’re pregnant, had a rectal infection, symptoms haven’t settled, or there’s a concern about treatment not being completed.
• Even if everything has gone well, many people are advised to re-test around 3 months after a positive result, especially if they’re under 25 or at ongoing risk of STIs.

At DocTap, your clinician can advise on if and when you personally should re-test, based on your result, treatment and sexual activity.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can infect the urethra, cervix, vagina, rectum, throat and eyes. Many people have no symptoms, which means it can easily be passed on without anyone realising. In recent years it’s become one of the more commonly diagnosed STIs in the UK, especially in London.

Gonorrhoea is passed on through sexual contact, including:

• Vaginal sex without a condom
• Anal sex without a condom
• Oral sex
• Sharing sex toys that aren’t cleaned or covered with a fresh condom between partners

It can be passed on even if sex is brief, and even if there is no ejaculation. It can also be passed from a pregnant person to their baby around the time of birth. You cannot catch it from toilet seats, sharing towels, cutlery, or everyday contact like hugging.

Gonorrhoea has been rising sharply in recent years. Young people (roughly 15–24) have the highest rates of diagnosis, but it affects all age groups. In London, gonorrhoea is now one of the most frequently diagnosed STIs.

For DocTap patients, that simply means: if you’re sexually active, especially with new or multiple partners, gonorrhoea is something worth taking seriously and testing for.

A key point: many people with gonorrhoea have no symptoms, or symptoms so mild they’re easy to miss. That’s true for people with a penis and for people with a vagina or cervix.

When symptoms do happen, they usually appear within about 2 weeks of infection, but they can take longer. Typical problems include:

• Changes to discharge from the penis or vagina
• Pain or burning when you pee
• Pain or swelling in the testicles
• Lower tummy or pelvic pain
• Bleeding after sex or between periods
• Rectal discomfort or discharge if the rectum is infected
• Sore throat if the throat is infected

Because symptoms are unreliable, the only way to know for sure is to test.

Possible symptoms can include:

• Pain or burning when you pee
• Unusual discharge from the tip of the penis (often white, yellow or green)
• Pain, tenderness or swelling in one or both testicles
• Swelling or irritation of the foreskin
• Pain, discharge or discomfort from the rectum if there’s anal infection

Many people with a penis still have no symptoms, even with an active infection, so a normal-feeling penis doesn’t rule gonorrhoea out.

Possible symptoms can include:

• Unusual vaginal discharge (change in amount, colour or smell)
• Pain or burning when you pee
• Pain in the lower tummy or pelvis
• Pain during sex
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding between periods
• Rectal pain, discomfort or discharge if the rectum is infected

Again, a large number of people with a vagina or cervix have no symptoms at all, which is why testing is recommended when there’s any risk.

Gonorrhoea doesn’t just affect the genitals. It can also infect:

• Throat – usually after oral sex. Often no symptoms, but sometimes a sore or scratchy throat.
• Rectum (back passage) – after anal sex or if infected genital fluids reach that area. This can cause pain, itching, discharge or bleeding, but is often silent.
• Eyes – if infected semen or vaginal fluid gets into the eye. This can cause a red, painful eye with discharge and needs urgent treatment.

At DocTap, we can test any of these sites using swabs where appropriate, alongside the usual urine or vaginal testing.

If gonorrhoea is diagnosed and treated promptly, most people recover fully. Left untreated, it can sometimes lead to more serious problems, such as:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in people with a uterus – an infection of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries
• Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant later on
• Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb)
• Chronic pelvic or testicular pain
• Epididymo-orchitis – painful swelling around the testicle
• Joint problems and more widespread infection (disseminated gonococcal infection) in rare cases
• In pregnancy, infection can be passed to the baby around birth, causing serious eye problems

These complications are not inevitable, but treating gonorrhoea quickly is the safest option.

Because gonorrhoea can quietly inflame the reproductive organs, it can sometimes affect fertility if it’s not treated. This is usually through:

• PID and scarring of the fallopian tubes (making it harder for an egg to travel)
• Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
• Long-term pelvic discomfort

In people with a penis, gonorrhoea can cause epididymo-orchitis, which can affect sperm production or transport in some cases.

In pregnancy, untreated gonorrhoea can increase the risk of complications and can be passed to the baby, often affecting the eyes. Testing and treatment in pregnancy are safe; your doctor will choose antibiotics suitable for you and your baby.

At DocTap, if you’re pregnant or trying for a baby, your GP will discuss how best to coordinate testing and treatment, and when NHS maternity or sexual health services should be involved alongside us.

At DocTap, gonorrhoea is usually checked as part of a combined chlamydia & gonorrhoea test. This is a modern laboratory test (NAAT) that looks for the genetic material of the bacteria.

Depending on the type of sex you’ve had, testing can include:

• Urine sample
• Vaginal swab (often self-taken with clear instructions)
• Throat swab (if you’ve had oral sex)
• Rectal swab (if you’ve had anal sex or there’s risk to the rectum)

Your clinician will talk through what’s happened and make sure the right sites are tested in one visit.

Samples taken at our London clinics with on-site labs are run in-house, with very fast turnaround on results and a 4-hour results money-back guarantee at lab sites. Other DocTap clinics are fully integrated into the same lab network, with results typically back by the next day.

Results are delivered discreetly, and a DocTap GP can advise on any next steps, including treatment, partner notification and whether further STI testing is recommended.

Gonorrhoea has a long track record of developing resistance to antibiotics. Over time it has become resistant to several older treatments, which is why current UK guidance emphasises:

• Using highly effective first-line antibiotics
• Taking a culture sample before treatment wherever possible
• Monitoring resistance patterns closely

A culture is a swab that’s grown in the lab so the bacteria can be tested directly against different antibiotics. This tells us which drugs still work if standard treatment fails or if you acquired the infection in a region with known resistance issues.

At DocTap, if gonorrhoea is suspected or confirmed, your GP can take a culture swab before giving treatment, so that there’s a back-up plan if the infection doesn’t respond as expected.

For uncomplicated gonorrhoea, current UK guidance recommends ceftriaxone by injection as first-line treatment, because it remains highly effective against most strains when used correctly.

At DocTap:

• You can book a specific treatment appointment once gonorrhoea has been diagnosed (or is very strongly suspected).
• The doctor will usually give a single dose of ceftriaxone 1g as an intramuscular injection (into the muscle), in line with national guidance.
• If there’s a chance you also have chlamydia or it hasn’t been ruled out, you may be offered additional tablets to cover this.
• Your GP will advise you to avoid sex (including oral and anal sex) until you and any partners have completed treatment and the recommended time has passed.

If your infection is more complicated (for example, affecting the joints, eyes, or if you’re pregnant with other risk factors), your DocTap GP may discuss involving NHS sexual health or hospital services alongside us to make sure you get the right level of care.

A gonorrhoea treatment appointment at DocTap typically includes:

1. Brief review of your history and results
   The doctor confirms your diagnosis or why gonorrhoea is strongly suspected, and checks for any allergies, medications and relevant medical conditions.

2. Culture swab before antibiotics
   A culture swab is usually taken from the infected site(s) before treatment, so the lab can test which antibiotics work against your particular strain if needed later.

3. Ceftriaxone injection
   You’ll be given ceftriaxone 1g as an intramuscular injection, usually into the buttock or thigh. The injection is quick; some people find it briefly uncomfortable, but it’s over in seconds.

4. Discussion about partner notification
   Your GP will explain which partners need to be informed and how this can be done.
   DocTap offers an optional anonymous partner notification service, where partners can be contacted without your name being shared.

5. Plan for follow-up and further tests
   You may be advised to have a test of cure (a repeat test to check the infection has cleared), depending on the site of infection and the treatment used.
   You’ll usually be offered testing for other STIs such as chlamydia, syphilis and HIV if that hasn’t already been done.
   Your doctor will explain how long to avoid sex and when it’s safe to resume.

You can use the appointment to ask any questions, including how to reduce your risk in future.

If your test shows gonorrhoea, DocTap won’t just send you a lab report and leave you to figure it out. The usual process is:

• A DocTap GP reviews your result and your notes.
• You’ll be advised to book a treatment appointment for a ceftriaxone injection and culture swab if that hasn’t already been done.
• The doctor can talk through what the result means, including which site(s) are positive and whether any other STIs were found.
• You’ll get clear instructions on:
  • Which partners need to know
  • How long to avoid sex
  • When (and if) you should have a test of cure or repeat testing later
• If there’s any concern about complications, pregnancy, or symptoms that don’t settle, your GP will discuss whether additional tests or referral to an NHS sexual health or hospital clinic is sensible.

The aim is for you to leave with a clear plan, not just a diagnosis.

Yes. If you have gonorrhoea, it’s important that your recent sexual partners are informed, so they can be tested and treated if needed. This matters because:

• They may have gonorrhoea and not know it, especially if they have no symptoms.
• You can easily be re-infected if a partner is not treated.
• Treating partners helps reduce complications and the overall spread of infection.

Your DocTap GP will normally focus on partners from the last few months (often guided by national partner notification recommendations and your specific history).

DocTap can support you with this by offering an optional anonymous partner notification service. With your consent, partners can receive a message advising them to get checked, without your name being revealed. You can also choose to inform partners yourself if you prefer; your GP can help you decide what to say.

There are two main reasons to re-test: test of cure and checking for re-infection.

• Test of cure
  A repeat test to confirm the infection has cleared.
  This is always recommended in certain situations – for example, for throat infections, if alternative antibiotics were used, if you’re pregnant, or if symptoms haven’t fully settled.
  Your DocTap GP will tell you if you personally need a test of cure and when to do it (often a couple of weeks after treatment).

• Re-infection check
  Even when treatment has worked, people can catch gonorrhoea again if they have unprotected sex with an infected partner or a new partner.
  Many people are advised to re-test around 3 months after a diagnosis, especially if they’re under 25 or at ongoing risk of STIs.