How Often Should You Get a Sexual Health Check-Up?

23 Sep 2025

In the UK, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are quite prevalent. Many STIs will not cause long-term harm if diagnosed and treated promptly. However, some infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and HPV, can have lasting health effects and may require long-term management. However, in order for treatment to take place, you need to know you have an STI in the first place. That is the reason regular testing for STIs is crucial.

If you are sexually active, doctors generally suggest testing for STIs once a year; regardless of whether or not you have any symptoms or are in a long-term, monogamous relationship. Some STIs don’t show any symptoms at all, so you may not even know you have one unless you get tested.

So how often you should be getting tested for STIs will depend on your personal situation, lifestyle factors and the type of STI you are contracting – read on to learn more.

So, who is most at risk for STIs?

If you are sexually active and engage in sexual intercourse, you can contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Your risk increases when having casual or new partners. Even if you use a condom, you are still at risk, because many STIs can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or other sexual activities such as oral sex and sharing sex toys. In short, all sexually active people are at risk for STIs!

Certain groups may be at higher risk of acquiring STIs due to a combination of behavioural, social, and structural factors. UK data suggest higher rates among people with multiple partners, men who have sex with men (MSM), young people aged 15–24, some ethnic minority groups, sex workers, and trans women.

There are different factors that may contribute to these groups exhibiting a higher risk, including the type of sex people are having and inconsistent availability to sexual health information and testing. For example, men who have sex with men may have a higher risk for getting STIs, since anal sex has higher risk associated with it in relation to other types of sex. The lining of the anus is thinner and may become damaged quickly which can lead to higher susceptibility to infection.

At the same time, younger individuals are often considered to be at a higher risk level overall, because this population has reportedly higher rates of partner change than older age groups.

How often should you get screened for STIs?

If you are sexually active, it is always a good idea to screen for STIs with every partner change, and encourage your partner to do the same. Otherwise, it is a good idea to get screened minimum once a year, or as soon as you show new symptoms.

But, if you’re a man who has sex with men or have sex without condom with new or casual partners, you should test for HIV and other STIs every 3 months. Sexual health specialists may recommend more frequent testing for people in groups shown to have higher rates of STIs in UK data, but testing frequency should always be tailored to personal risk factors:

• if you have multiple partners you should be tested every 3 months
• if you are beginning a new relationship, it is best practice that you and your new partner – both get tested
• if you have had STI symptoms like rashesor unusual discharge, you should get tested
• if you have had unprotected sexual contact with someone who does not know their STI status or has an STI, you must get tested

How long does it take for STIs to be detected in testing?

STIs do not show up in testing straight away. There is a time period between being infected and when it will show up in testing.

So there are a few weeks to wait after the sexual contact before the testing will be accurate. This is known as the window period. And window periods vary for different infections.

Healthcare providers advise you to wait to take your samples and send them for testing until the end of the window period. If a test is conducted within the window period, it may not be possible to detect an early infection that is not yet showing in the test.

Here are the window periods for different STIs:

• Chlamydia: 2 weeks
• Gonorrhoea: 2 weeks
• HIV: 7 weeks
• Hepatitis B: 12 weeks
• Hepatitis C: 12 weeks
• Syphilis: 12 weeks

How soon after unprotected sex can I test for STIs?

If you’ve had unprotected sex, it’s best to speak to a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. They may advise an initial test now (to check for infections already present) and repeat tests after the relevant window periods for conclusive results. Some infections take a few weeks, while others may take months before they can be detected with a test.This means you may have to wait a while after unprotected sex and may have to repeat tests at different times.

• Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be tested after 14 days
• HIV can be tested after 45 to 90 days (though some tests can identify HIV sooner than others)
• Syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be tested after 12 weeks

In the meantime, it is best to visit a private sexual health clinic in London as soon as possible after unprotected sex to discuss what you will need.

What symptoms of STIs should you be aware of?

There are multiple symptoms that could suggest STIs, including:

• Any unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or anus – it may be an unusual colour or consistency or have a strange smell
• Painful urination
• Lumps, growths or warts around the genitals and anus
• Rashes, blisters or sores around the genitals and anus
• Itching and irritation around the genitals and anus
• For women, bleeding between periods or after intercourse

Get tested for STIs with South Kensington MD

It is necessary to undergo routine sexual health check-ups as early detection, treatment and reassurance are beneficial. Given risks vary depending on lifestyle and partners, check-ups should be tailored to individual needs. By remaining informed, listening to your body, recognising symptoms, and seeking timely care, you have better protection for both you and your partner’s health.