This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Oral sex can pass some infections to the throat, and most of the time they cause no symptoms at all. That is why testing, not symptoms, is how people find out. These answers cover what the CDC says about throat infections, how a throat swab works, and how to ask about testing in New York City.

The Basics

What is an STD in the throat?

It is a sexually transmitted infection that settles in the throat, usually after oral sex. The CDC lists gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and HPV among the infections that can be passed this way. Only a clinician and a lab test can say whether an infection is present.

Which infections can affect the throat?

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the two most often checked with a throat swab. Syphilis, herpes and HPV can also involve the mouth or throat. The CDC describes the risk of HIV from oral sex as low, and HIV is found with a blood test, not a throat swab.

Who can get an infection in the throat?

Anyone who has oral sex can, whatever their gender, orientation or number of partners. An infection is about contact, not about who a person is. Testing is routine health care for everyone.

How are these infections passed on?

They pass through mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anus contact. Herpes can also pass through kissing and other skin contact. A partner with no symptoms can still pass an infection on.

Oral STD Symptoms

Does an STD in the throat cause symptoms?

Often it does not. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that gonorrhea and chlamydia in the throat usually cause no symptoms. For that reason, feeling fine does not tell you what a test would show.

What oral STD symptoms can happen?

When symptoms appear, they can include a sore throat, redness, or pain when swallowing. Blisters or sores on the lips, mouth or tongue can also happen. These signs overlap with colds, strep throat and allergies, so a clinician has to look and test.

Is a sore throat a sign of an STD?

Not by itself. Most sore throats come from common viruses or other causes. If a sore throat lingers, or you have had a recent oral sex partner whose status you are unsure of, a clinician can help sort out the reason.

What do mouth sores from herpes or syphilis look like?

Herpes often causes small, painful blisters that crust over. The CDC describes the first sign of syphilis as a firm, usually painless sore, which can appear in the mouth. Neither can be confirmed by looking alone, so a clinician examines the sore and orders tests.

Can oral HPV cause symptoms?

Usually no. The CDC says some HPV types can lead to cancers of the back of the throat years later, but there is no routine screening test for HPV in the throat. A clinician can talk through your own situation and the HPV vaccine.

Can I pass something on if I feel fine?

Yes. Because throat infections so often have no symptoms, a person can pass one on without knowing. This is a good reason to test on a regular schedule, and to tell recent partners if a result comes back positive.

Throat Swab Testing

How does a throat swab work?

A clinician or you, with guidance, rubs a soft swab across the back of the throat. It takes a few seconds and is not painful, though it can make you gag briefly. The swab goes to a lab that looks for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Does a urine test or genital swab check the throat?

No. The CDC recommends testing each site that was exposed, because an infection can be in the throat without being anywhere else. If you have oral sex, ask for the throat to be included.

Who should ask for a throat test?

The CDC recommends that men who have sex with men be screened at every exposed site, including the throat, at least once a year, and more often with higher risk. Others can ask a clinician whether a throat swab makes sense based on their own exposure. For a broader look at genital signs, see STD symptoms in women and when to test.

Does a blood test cover syphilis and HIV?

Yes, those infections are found with blood tests, not throat swabs. A visit that includes a throat swab can also include blood work if you ask. Herpes testing is usually done on a sore, so it is best to be seen while a sore is present.

How long after exposure should I test?

The best timing differs by infection, and the CDC gives different windows for different tests. A clinician can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or both. The CDC also runs a testing locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

What does a negative throat swab mean?

It means that test, at that time, did not find the infection it checks for. If you were exposed very recently, a clinician may suggest testing again. Ask what your result covers and which sites were tested.

Testing in New York City

Where can I get tested in New York City?

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene runs Sexual Health Clinics in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Community clinics such as Callen-Lorde also test. See the full guide to STD testing in New York City and the local clinic list.

Do New York City clinics test the throat?

The clinic pages list STD testing, but they do not say which body sites each clinic swabs. When you check in or call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), ask for a throat swab by name. Callen-Lorde Chelsea at 212-271-7200 can answer the same question.

What does it cost?

NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics are low or no cost. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee, no proof of income is required, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Most services are walk-in, and clinics may close early once capacity is reached.

Can teens get tested without a parent?

NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status. New York Public Health Law section 2305 also lets young people under 21 be diagnosed and treated for STIs without parental consent. Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, at 312-320 East 94th Street, serves ages 10 to 26 and says its services are completely free.

Are results reported to the city?

Under the NYC Health Code, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis must be reported to the Health Department within 24 hours. Clinicians file those reports as part of public health work. Ask the clinic how your information is handled if you have concerns.

How common are these infections in New York City?

The NYC DOHMH STI Surveillance Annual Report for 2024 lists gonorrhea at 398.27 cases per 100,000 people and chlamydia at 760.16 per 100,000. These figures count all sites of infection, not only the throat. They show why routine testing is part of ordinary sexual health care here.

Treatment and Prevention

Can a throat infection be treated?

Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician. Herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are manageable. The CDC recommends a follow-up test after treatment for gonorrhea in the throat, so ask your clinician about it.

How can I lower the chance of an oral infection?

Condoms and dental dams can reduce contact during oral sex, and regular testing helps. Talking with partners about testing also helps. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, NYC Health lists a 24/7 PEP Hotline at 844-373-7692, and a clinician can discuss other options such as PrEP and doxy-PEP.

Oral and Throat STDs: Symptoms and Testing