STI Test Kit for Men
Order a test kit online
We offer two types of STI home test kits specifically designed for men. One is a basic sexual health screen which checks for gonorrhea and chlamydia of the genitals, throat and anus as well as syphilis and HIV.
The full screen checks for all STIs covered in the basic screen plus hepatitis C and hepatitis B as well as *genital herpes and several less common infections.
These test kits are especially recommended for men.
Use our online assessment to order. A Superdrug Online Doctor will complete your prescription for collection at your local pharmacy.
How our service works
- You will receive your test kit 5-7 working days after you have placed your order.
- Your test results will be available 3-5 days after your sample reaches the laboratory.
The test requires a urine sample, a rectal swab, a throat swab and a small blood sample. It allows you to get tested for several common sexually transmitted diseases in the comfort of your own home. It is recommended that you get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year. If you change partners or have sex without condoms, you should get tested at least every three months.
More information
What does the basic screen test for?
Gonorrhea
The sexual health test kit checks for gonorrhea in the throat, urinary tract and anus. Gonorrhea is increasingly common in men who have sex with men. You will provide a throat swab, a rectal swab and a urine sample for analysis. In most cases, anal gonorrhea remains asymptomatic, which means that you may have it and not be aware of the infection. Undiagnosed and untreated gonorrhea can cause complications and you are likely to pass it on to your sexual partners.
Chlamydia
As a part of your sexual health test, the oral and rectal swab as well as urine sample you have provided will also be checked for chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, which can be transmitted during vaginal, oral and anal sex. If left untreated, it can not only cause complications but it also makes you more susceptible to other STIs, including HIV.
HIV
You will provide a small blood sample using the needle provided with your test kit. The blood sample will be analysed for syphilis and HIV.
The human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted via oral, anal and vaginal sex. In some patients, it does not cause any symptoms in the early stages and in others it may cause flu-like symptoms. Early treatment is essential to prevent AIDS and minimise the risk of infecting future sexual partners. If you have recently been exposed to HIV (or have had unprotected intercourse with someone who may have it) you should wait until four weeks after the incident. It can take up to four weeks for the virus to become detectable. If you get tested earlier, you may receive a false negative.
Syphilis
The number of syphilis diagnoses has been rising in the last few years. The illness is particularly common in men who have sex with men. When diagnosed in the early stages of infection, syphilis can effectively be treated with antibiotics. If the infection goes unnoticed it can progress and cause a variety of complications, including death. Being infected with syphilis can make it up to five times more likely for you to catch HIV. This is because it causes sores which bleed, allowing other infections to enter your bloodstream.
Most STIs can be prevented by using condoms during oral, anal and vaginal sex. Even if infection can not entirely be prevented by using a condom, it will still reduce your risk of infection significantly.
What does the full screen check for?
The full screen checks for all infections included in the basic test, plus the following:
Hepatitis C is a viral infection which can be transmitted during sexual intercourse. Many patients fail to identify their symptoms as signs of hepatitis C, as they can be relatively unspecific. Hepatitis C can cause flu-like symptoms and tiredness. While some patients will successfully fight the virus and be clear of the infection thereafter, others develop chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C can result in scarring of the liver, liver failure and cancer of the liver. The hepatitis virus is treated with antiviral medication.
Hepatitis B is also transmitted during anal, oral and vaginal sex. It tends to cause symptoms within the first months of infection. In most cases, patients recover from hepatitis B after a period of illness. Like hepatitis C, hepatitis B can become chronic. In most patients, it does not cause liver damage. However, a small number of patients will develop liver cirrhosis over several years after a hepatitis B infection. Acute hepatitis B is treated with painkillers. If the condition becomes chronic, antiviral medications may be given. Patients are usually referred to a specialist, who will carry out regular blood tests to check whether the virus is still present and whether it is causing damage to the liver. If you’ve recently received a hepatitis B vaccination, you should wait 8 weeks before taking this test. You may get a false positive result if you take this test sooner.
Other Infections
The full screen also checks for *herpes, trichomonas, gardnerella, ureaplasma and mycoplasma.
Genital herpes causes sores/blisters (cold sores) to appear. It is a viral infection caused by the Herpes Simplex or cold sore virus.
Trichomoniasis is a bacterial infection, which is treated with antibiotics. It can cause symptoms such as discharge and pain when urinating in both men and women.
Ureaplasma are bacteria which often live in the genital tract of both men and women. Treatment is only necessary when symptoms occur. If you or your partner are experiencing symptoms of a ureaplasma infection and you test positive, you may need to get treated.
Mycoplasma are bacteria which can be transmitted during sex. If you test positive you need to visit a sexual health clinic to get treated.
Gardnerella are a type of bacteria which can cause symptoms such as discharge and a bad smell in women. Men do not usually experience symptoms. If your partner experiences symptoms of gardnerella and you both test positive, you may need to get treated.
*Note: The full STI test might not detect herpes if you do not have active lesions at the time you take the test. It is best to take a swab test that is only designed to detect herpes if you are worried.
Use our online assessment to order. A Superdrug Online Doctor will complete your prescription for collection at your local pharmacy.