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STIs, testing and safe sex: a guide for guys

6 min read

You can have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and feel completely fine. The CDC puts it plainly: "STIs often have no symptoms, so you may not know you have one." The NHS says the same about chlamydia, one of the most common: "Most people who have chlamydia do not have any symptoms."

That one fact is why testing matters more than watching your body for warning signs. This post covers what the CDC and NHS say about who should be tested, what condoms do and don't protect against, where to go, and how to tell a partner. It's general information, not medical advice. A doctor or sexual health clinic can look at your actual situation.

What the CDC says about testing

The CDC's "Getting Tested for STIs" page (dated March 17, 2026) lists who should be tested. Quoted as written:

The page's yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea advice for women applies to sexually active women under 25, and to some older women (for example, with new or multiple partners or a partner who has an STI). It gives no specific schedule for men who have sex only with women. That's a gap in the summary, not proof that testing isn't useful. If you've had a new partner, more than one partner, or a partner who tells you they have an STI, you can ask a clinician what screening makes sense for you. Guidelines are a starting point, and a clinician can adjust them.

Symptoms worth acting on

No symptoms doesn't mean no infection. But if something does show up, don't wait it out. The NHS lists these for chlamydia in men:

Its general STI page adds lumps or skin growths around the genitals or anus, itchy genitals or anus, and blisters, sores or warts. Many of these have causes that aren't STIs. You won't know which until someone tests. Pain, swelling or sores are a reason to see a doctor soon, not a reason to guess.

When a test works

Timing matters. The NHS says STIs "can take up to 7 weeks after you have unprotected sex to show up on a test" and that if you don't have symptoms, "it's best to wait 7 weeks before getting tested." (The NHS page was last reviewed on 13 May 2024.) A clinic can tell you whether a different window applies to the specific test, and some situations are urgent enough that you shouldn't wait. If you're worried about a recent exposure, call a clinic or urgent care and ask what to do now, rather than waiting for a routine slot.

Where to get tested

Cost and privacy worry plenty of people more than the test itself. Confidential clinics exist for exactly that.

What condoms cover, and what they don't

The CDC says correct and consistent condom use "reduces the risk of disease but does not eliminate it." Condoms protect against infections spread through genital fluids, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. They "will not provide protection against STDs spread by skin-to-skin contact (genital herpes or syphilis)," so they lower the risk of those but can't close it. The NHS puts the main point simply: using a condom every time you have sex is "the best way to protect you and your partner from HIV and other STIs."

The CDC's instructions include using a new condom for the entirety of every act of vaginal, anal or oral sex, and stopping immediately if you feel it break. Lambskin condoms are a separate issue. Planned Parenthood says they "do NOT protect against STDs", because the pores that stop sperm are too large to stop bacteria and viruses. More on condoms, including the numbers on how well they prevent pregnancy, is in condoms and contraception.

Telling a partner

This is the part guys dread. A few things hold up whatever the situation:

Before a new partner, many people find it easier to bring testing up early and neutrally: "I got tested recently. Have you?" If it's going somewhere, boundaries in a relationship covers saying what you need without it becoming a standoff. And if either of you is hesitant, that's a pause, never a point to push. Consent and respect applies here as much as anywhere, and hookups: honest expectations and staying safe covers protection in casual situations.

Alcohol and judgment

Condoms, testing and honest conversations all get harder after a few drinks. Plenty of people only decide what they want when they're sober. If you tend to make different calls drunk, drinking and dating has practical ways to plan around that. Someone who's very drunk can't consent, and that's true whatever the plan was earlier in the night.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor or clinic if you have any symptoms above, if a partner tells you they have an STI, if a condom broke or slipped and you're worried, or if it's been a while and you've never been tested. Don't use home guesses or search results to rule an infection in or out. Most STIs need treatment, and the NHS says to finish the course so it works properly.

What to do next

  1. Check when you last had a full STI panel, and what it included. If you can't say, book one this month.
  2. Find a clinic now, before you need one. Use the CDC's Get Tested site in the US, or search "sexual health clinic" plus your area in the UK.
  3. Keep condoms you actually trust on hand, and check the packet instructions and expiry date before each use.
  4. Write down one line for the "have you been tested" conversation and say it out loud once, so it's less awkward when it counts.
  5. If you test positive, tell recent partners within a day or two, or ask the clinic to do it for you. Skip sex until treatment is done.
  6. If you're not sure how your own situation changes any of this, ask a clinician. See dating with health concerns if you're wondering how and when to bring up a diagnosis.

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