Hi

Yes, I think it would be good to get an STI test. Many STI do not show symptoms when passed to people, so it’s always a good idea if you are concerned about an experience you had.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two STI that can be tested for with either urine or swab tests. Three weeks would be a good time to visit the clinic for these tests. We find most of the time these tests would show a positive result by two weeks if something had passed to you. This is what we call the window period, the time it takes for a test to show a positive result after something has passed to you.

You also mentioned you were having flu like symptoms. I don’t know if this is concerning you but most people who come to the clinic concerned about flu like symptoms are concerned that HIV has passed to them.

There are no symptoms that are caused by just having HIV. The symptoms people get with a HIV illness are common symptoms that can be caused by many different conditions. The only way to find out if you have HIV is by doing a HIV test.

Blood tests for STI like HIV and syphilis typically have longer window periods. We find most results are accurate six weeks after you had sex but it can take up to 3 months for a final result. Just talk with the health care provider you see for the window period of the test they use.

If you are unsure of what tests to ask for just let them know about your concern and they would recommend what tests to get. You can also have a look at our STI testing checklist before you go.

Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.

Health Nurse

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