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Lauren Dobischok
STI in the throat: symptoms and how to test yourself
STIs can be transmitted through different types of sexual activity, which means they can also manifest in different parts of the body. Certain STIs can be transmitted through unprotected oral-genital contract and can infect the mouth or throat.
Oral STIs can be transmitted through oral sex, such as oral-penile or oral-vaginal contact. An oral STI may cause symptoms of a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with an oral STI, it is recommended to contact your doctor or a sexual health clinic (GGD) (CDC, 2024).
As STIs do not always cause symptoms, a self-test may be advisable if you have had unprotected oral sex or have been warned by a partner about a potential STI.
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Chlamydia in the throat
Oral chlamydia can be transmitted during oral sex when infected genital fluids come into contact with the mouth or throat, or when the bacteria pass from the mouth or throat to the genitals or anus (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Pharyngeal chlamydia infections are relatively uncommon and often remain unnoticed because they usually do not cause symptoms. In some cases, however, they may lead to a mild sore throat or slight throat discomfort (NVDV, 2024).
Gonorrhoea in the throat
Oral gonorrhoea can be transmitted through oral sex with an infected person (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Pharyngeal gonorrhoea often causes no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include an itchy or scratchy throat, a sore throat, difficulty swallowing and, in rare cases, inflammation of the throat with pus (Cleveland Clinic, 2024; NVDV, 2024).
Do you want to test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea from home?
If you are concerned about oral chlamydia or gonorrhoea, an at-home STI test can help determine whether either infection is present. The kit includes the materials needed to collect a sample at home, which is then returned to a certified laboratory for analysis. Once processed, the results can be viewed online. Any positive result should be discussed with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate treatment and next steps.
At-home testing with laboratory accuracy
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