ARTICLES

Can You Get Tested for STDs a Week After Unprotected Sex?

You had unprotected sex, and now a wave of anxiety has kicked in—not just about pregnancy, but about STDs. Maybe it was a one-time mistake. Maybe you trusted someone and now feel uncertain. Either way, you’re asking the right question: Is it too soon to get tested a week after?

The truth is, testing for STDs isn’t always as straightforward as people assume. You might be ready to get answers immediately, but your body doesn’t always show results that fast. Some infections take time to show up in tests—even if they’re already inside you.

This article breaks down exactly what you can and can’t detect at the 7-day mark, which infections take longer to appear, and how to protect your health without guessing or waiting too long.

What Happens in Your Body After Exposure?

After unprotected sex, your body may have been exposed to bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause sexually transmitted infections. Some of them start multiplying quickly, while others stay dormant before symptoms—or test results—appear.

Your immune system might not respond right away. And most tests work by detecting either the infection itself (via swab, urine, or blood) or the antibodies your body produces in response. If your body hasn’t produced those antibodies yet, the test might come back negative—even if you’re infected.

Can You Test for STDs a Week After Sex?

Yes, but there’s a catch. You can take an STD test 7 days after exposure, but not all infections will show up that soon. This period is often called the “window period”—the time between exposure and when a test can detect an infection accurately. Some STDs can be detected within a week. Others take longer. Here’s how it breaks down:

What STDs Can Show Up After 7 Days?

Chlamydia

Chlamydia can sometimes be detected as early as 5 to 7 days after exposure using a urine or swab test. But testing closer to 14 days is more reliable.

Gonorrhea

Like chlamydia, gonorrhea can show up within 5–7 days, especially with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which are highly sensitive. Still, waiting 1–2 weeks improves accuracy.

Trichomoniasis

This parasite-based STD can occasionally be picked up within a week but often requires 7–14 days for reliable detection.

Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2)

Herpes testing is tricky. A swab test can detect the virus if you have active sores within a few days of exposure. But blood tests for antibodies may not show anything until 3 to 12 weeks later.

Syphilis

Too early. Antibodies usually won’t appear in your blood until 3–6 weeks after exposure.

HIV

Testing after just 7 days is too soon. Most HIV tests, including antibody/antigen combo tests, become accurate at 2–4 weeks, with some early RNA tests detecting the virus sooner—but not usually within 7 days.

Hepatitis B and C

Blood tests for these viruses are not reliable until 4–6 weeks post-exposure, and in some cases, it can take up to 3 months to show a positive result.

So, Should You Get Tested After a Week?

If you’re extremely anxious and want to take control now, a test at 7 days can be a useful starting point, especially for bacterial STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. But it shouldn’t be your only test. Most clinics will recommend a follow-up test after 2 weeks, and possibly again at 6–12 weeks depending on the infection you’re concerned about. Think of it like this: testing now can offer early peace of mind, but follow-up testing is the only way to be sure.

What If You Have Symptoms Already?

If you’re feeling anything unusual—such as:

Burning during urination
Unusual discharge
Itching or irritation
Genital sores or bumps
Pelvic pain
Flu-like symptoms (especially with early HIV)

You should get tested immediately. Even if it’s only been a few days, symptoms are a sign that something is already happening in your body.

Many clinics will treat bacterial STDs based on symptoms and risk factors, even before test results are back. Don’t wait it out or self-medicate.

What If You Feel Totally Fine?

Most STDs don’t show symptoms right away. In fact, some infections—like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV—can stay completely silent for weeks or even months. So even if you feel healthy, you could still be carrying something that can be passed on to others or cause complications later.

That’s why testing is recommended for anyone who’s had unprotected sex with a new or unknown partner.

Where Can You Get Tested?

STD testing is available at:

Public clinics and hospitals
Private labs and diagnostic centers
Sexual health clinics
Some pharmacies
Online/at-home test kits (some approved for early detection)

If privacy is your concern, at-home kits allow you to collect your sample privately and send it to a lab. But not all of them are approved for very early testing—read the instructions carefully before you trust the results.