A female STI test is a kit that is delivered to and completed in the comfort of your own home. It checks for the most common female STIs by taking a cotton swab of the vagina, throat, and anus (bottom). It may also include a small blood sample.

There are two different female STI tests, a basic and a full screening test. The basic test checks for some common STIs, while the full screening tests for a wider range, like genital herpes and hepatitis.

What does the basic female STI test check for?

The basic female STI test checks for a number of different STIs including:

• gonorrhoea of the genitals, throat, and anus
• syphilis
• chlamydia of the genitals, throat, and anus
• HIV

STIs can be spread through:

• unprotected sex
• contact with another person’s genitals
• infected semen or vaginal discharge coming into contact with your eyes
• sharing sex toys

If you are unsure how an STI can be transmitted, check with a doctor.

What does the full female STI test check for?

The full female STI test checks for:

• gonorrhoea of the genitals, throat, and anus
• syphilis
• chlamydia of the genitals, throat, and anus
• HIV
• genital herpes
• hepatitis B and C
• ureaplasma
• trichomoniasis
• gardnerella
• mycoplasma

What are these infections?

Chlamydia: One of the most common in the UK and most women do not know they have it. If you do get symptoms, the most common include pain when peeing, discharge from the vagina, and bleeding after sex. Chlamydia is treated with a course of antibiotics.

Gonorrhoea: This STI is caused by bacteria. Typical symptoms include pain when peeing and yellow discharge from the vagina. Almost half of infected women do not get any symptoms at all. This is usually treated with a single antibiotic injection.

Syphilis: This STI is also caused by bacteria. The most common symptoms include white patches in the mouth, fever, tiredness, headaches and ulcers on the vagina. It can cause serious issues if left untreated but can be cured with antibiotics.

HIV: Caused by a virus which damages the cells in your body, making it harder to fight off diseases and infections. If it is not treated, HIV can lead to AIDS. Treatment, such as PrEP, can be used to stop symptoms but there is no cure at present. The virus may cause flu symptoms 2 to 6 weeks after it enters the body, but many people do not develop any symptoms, meaning they do not know they have it.

Ureaplasma: Caused by bacteria that leads to infection commonly found in the genital area. The most common symptoms include pain when peeing, burning, or discharge from the vagina.

Genital herpes: Caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV) and is very contagious. HSV can also cause cold sores on the mouth area, which can also be transmitted to the genitals. The virus stays in the body and you may get outbreaks. While there is no cure, the symptoms of herpes can be managed with antiviral tablets to suppress or prevent outbreaks. The most common symptoms of an outbreak are tingling in the vagina, pain when peeing, and painful blisters around the vagina.

Hepatitis B and C: These are both STIs caused by a virus, which leads to liver infections. There is no cure for Hepatitis B and C, but there are treatments to stop symptoms. The most common symptoms include fever, stomach pain, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), and nausea (feeling sick). People who have HIV are more likely to get Hepatitis B or C. 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.

Mycoplasma: This STI is caused by bacteria and is found in around 1 in 100 adults. The most common symptoms are a watery discharge from the vagina and pain when peeing. Mycoplasma can be hard to treat, so you must get a doctor to advise on the best antibiotics.

Trichomoniasis: This STI is caused by a tiny parasite. Around 50% of people do not get any symptoms but this does not mean the infection cannot be passed on. The most common symptoms include pain when peeing, swelling or redness around the vagina, and discharge from the vagina. Trichomoniasis is treated with a course of antibiotics.

Gardnerella: This bacteria can cause bacterial vaginosis (BV) and is mainly found in women. It causes a change in bacteria balance in the vagina. Typical symptoms include white discharge and a fishy odour. BV is not an STI but you have more risk of catching it if you have sex. BV is treated with antibiotic tablets, creams, or gels.

The test works by taking a cotton swab in the vagina, throat, and anus, and also a small blood sample from a finger prick. You can take these samples yourself at home. You should take advice from your doctor about how long after unprotected sex you should take the tests. Your samples are then tested at a lab where results can be given in 2 to 3 days.

How accurate is the Female STI test?

The British Association of Sexual Health and HIV recommends that swabs collected by yourself (or a doctor) are the best way to test for these infections. If you follow the instructions in the kit, you are more likely to get accurate results. Some STIs can take a few weeks or months to show as a positive result on an STI test, this is called the incubation period. If you take a test during the incubation period, you could test negative but still have the STI. Each STI has its own incubation period, so speak with a doctor if you are unsure.

How to use the Female STI test

The female STI test kit includes instructions and is easy to use. You will need to take 4 samples:

The cotton swabs are used in the vagina, at the back of the throat, and in the anus. You must gently swab each area, for around 10 to 30 seconds to get the best results.

For blood samples, you must use the lancet. There will be a few lancets included if you need more than one. Clean the finger first with a sterile wipe and use the side of the fingertip for the lancet. Gently squeeze the fingertip to form droplets of blood, which you will collect into a small tube.

Using an STI test at least every 3 months if you change sexual partners or have unprotected sex (vaginal or oral) is recommended. If you have had unprotected sex, you may need to wait a some time to make sure any STIs are no longer in their incubation period and will come up accurately on the test. If you are unsure, speak with a doctor.

How soon after unprotected sex should I get tested?

Every 3 months is best if you have any unprotected sex or a new sexual partner. Each STI has its own incubation period, which means you may have to wait to get a test.

How long after exposure should I get tested?

• HIV: 45 days, but a retest will need to be done after 3 months
• Gonorrhoea and chlamydia: 2 weeks
• Syphilis: 12 weeks
• Ureaplasma: 2 weeks
• Genital herpes: 12 days, or when you get an initial outbreak
• Hepatitis B and C: between 4 weeks to 6 months
• Trichomoniasis: 4 to 6 weeks
• Bacterial Vaginosis: 2 to 21 days

If you have been exposed to an STI and are not sure, speak with a doctor who can recommend when it is best to get tested. If you have any symptoms, you should get a test right away.

How often should you get tested?

You should get tested if your sexual partner or you have symptoms, or you have had unprotected sex and have past the incubation period for common STIs. It is recommended to get tested at least every 3 months but you can get tested as often as you like. If you are unsure when to take an STI test, speak to a doctor first.

With Superdrug Online Doctor, you can order before 4pm for next day delivery. If you order after 4pm, the STI test will be sent the next working day. Results can be given 2 to 3 days after your sample reaches our lab. This means you can get results within 5 to 7 days, as long as you take your test and send it back straight away.

How long do you have to wait for a test?

When ordering a test, you can choose next day delivery at checkout. You can only choose this option before 4pm, otherwise it will be sent the following working day.

How long do Female STI test results take?

Your results will be given to you 2 to 3 days after your sample reaches our lab. Our doctors will then contact you through your Superdrug patient account. This is an encrypted channel, meaning it is completely private. In some cases, a doctor may call you. We will never contact you through email or text with your results, to maintain discretion.

Your results will let you know whether you have tested negative or positive for an STI. Positive results mean that you have an STI, our doctors can offer you advice and treatment for some STIs if this happens. If our doctors cannot treat the STI, they will help you to find a suitable clinic.

A positive result may also happen if you have received treatment and then take a test again before the infection has been completely cleared from your body. Negative results mean that you do not have an STI, or the STI may still be in its incubation period.

What does a negative test result mean?

A negative result means at the time of the test you do not have an STI. It may also mean that the STI was in its incubation period, so be sure to take your test at the right time, or every 3 months.

What does a positive test result mean?

A positive result means you have an STI. If you test positive, our doctors can offer treatment if possible, or tell you where to go to get specialist treatment.

What does a false positive test mean?

A false positive test is a test that says you have an STI when you do not. This can happen but is rare, you may be asked to take another test.

What causes a false positive test?

A false positive is usually caused by the test, as no test can be 100% accurate all of the time. It may also be caused if you did not take the test properly, which is why following the instructions is important. This is not common, but speak to a doctor if you think you have a false positive test. Occasionally, our doctors may suspect a false positive and will ask you to take further tests.

Our doctors can offer treatment where possible (this will depend on the STI), or can direct you to somewhere you can get specialist treatment. They will give you advice and can answer any questions you may have. You should contact your sexual partners if you test positive, as they also need to take an STI test. We can also contact sexual partners for you anonymously if you have a positive test from one of our test kits.

Do I need to contact my partners if I test positive?

Yes, you need to contact any partners you have had protected or unprotected sex with. This is so they can also get tested. This is an important step to stop the STI spreading to other sexual partners.