Home Anal Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea Test
Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhoea with our at-home test kit. Our tests arrive in discreet packaging and are available with free delivery.



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Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by bacteria. You can get them in the genitals, throat, or anus after unprotected sexual contact. Most people do not have symptoms but leaving them untreated can cause long-term health problems, and you risk passing it on to your sexual partners.
You can test for anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea at home by taking a swab of your anus, 2 weeks after sexual contact. You’ll send your sample to our partner lab, and your confidential results will be available through your ZAVA patient account.



About the anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test kit
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A home anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test kit is a simple way to take your test sample yourself, at home, without the need for seeing a healthcare professional in person.
This test checks for the presence of the 2 most common STIs, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, in your anus. It involves taking a swab of the area before sending it confidentially to our partner lab, where it’ll be tested. Your results will be available in your ZAVA online account when ready, with instructions on what to do next.
Our home anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test kits are sent to your chosen address in discreet packaging, and the whole process is completely confidential. Our doctors will help you with your test results and can tell you where to get treatment if you need any.
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You should get tested for anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea if:
- you believe you might have caught the infection, such as if you’re getting symptoms or a partner has told you they’ve got the infection
- you’ve had unprotected anal sex with a new or casual partner
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are particularly common in people under the age of 25, so it’s recommended to get tested for them at least once a year. As you can catch it in the throat, genitals, and anus, you may need to do separate tests depending on whether you engage in oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
You may be at a higher risk of catching anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea if you:
- have another STI, such as HIV
- have had chlamydia or gonorrhoea before
- are a man who has sex with men (MSM)
In studies, anal chlamydia was found to be the most common type of chlamydia in MSM, as opposed to chlamydia of the genitals or throat.
Why should I get tested for anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea?
Anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea often have no symptoms, so testing is usually the only way to make sure you do not have the infection. They’re also very common, so should be routinely tested for if you’re having unprotected sex.
Leaving anal chlamydia or gonorrhoea untreated increases the risk of:
- passing it on to other sexual partners and further spreading the infection
- long-term health problems
- catching another STI
- HIV transmission, especially in MSM
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If you’re taking an anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test, you’ll need to wait 2 weeks from the last time you had anal sex, including oral-anal sex. You can take a test straight away if you have symptoms of either infection (anal discharge, pain or itching), even if it’s not been 2 weeks.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea have an incubation period, which is how long it takes the bacteria to multiply enough that the infection will show up on a swab test. Gonorrhoea can be tested for 1 week after sex, while chlamydia needs 2 weeks.
When testing for both infections together, waiting 2 weeks will mean your results are much more likely to be accurate. If you have taken the test too early, you might need to repeat it after 2 weeks to make sure you are not infected.
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Your anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea home test kit will come with instructions on how to use it, along with a swab and packaging to send the sample to our partner lab once you’re done.
Using the anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test at home is the same for everyone. If you need to pass a stool, it’s best to do this first and wait a little while to make sure your anal passage is clean.
Using the test kit:
- Wash and dry your hands before starting the test. Unpack the kit. Read the instructions carefully, and get everything ready.
- Get in a comfortable position so that you will be able to insert the swab into your anus. This could be bending over or sitting on a toilet.
- Twist the cap to break the seal of the swab test, being careful to not let the tip touch anything.
- Point the swab toward your anus and slowly guide it in. It does not need to go deep – around 2 or 3 cm is enough to collect the sample.
- Rotate the swab for around 10 to 15 seconds (or 5 to 10 times) around the inside walls of your anus.
- Continue rotating the swab as you gently remove it.
- Place the swab in the tube provided, snapping it at the break line and sealing it securely.
- Wash your hands before putting the label with your details on the tube. Don’t forget the label or the lab will not know who the sample belongs to when they receive it.
- Place and seal it in the prepaid envelope.
Your sample can now be posted in any UK post box. Do this as soon as possible to avoid delays and make sure your results are accurate.
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Our anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test is around 90 to 95% accurate. Unfortunately, no STI test is 100% accurate, but you may improve the accuracy of your results by:
- following the instructions in the test kit exactly, such as swabbing for long enough and going far enough into your anus (2 to 3cm)
- waiting for 2 weeks after unprotected sex before testing
- sending the sample quickly (ideally as soon as you’ve done it)
Studies also show thathome test kits are just as accurate as those done in STI clinics, so doing it at home is unlikely to make it less accurate.
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Once your sample has reached the partner lab, your anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test results will be available within 2 to 3 working days through your online ZAVA patient account.
It’s best to take the test when you can go to a post box immediately afterwards. The sooner you do the test and post it, the sooner your results will be ready.
Our home STI testing service is completely confidential: Each test kit is sent in discreet packaging, so nobody will know what's inside. We’ll never email or text your results. Instead, you’ll get an email asking you to log in when they’re ready for you to view. Any further questions can be sent to our doctors through your online account.
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Once our doctors have reviewed your results, they will let you know what they mean, and what to do next.
What does a negative anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test result mean?
A negative result means at the time of testing, there was no presence of the infection found in your anus.
You do not need to do anything else and will not need a follow-up test, although it’s important to test again if you have unprotected anal sex or you develop symptoms.
What does a positive anal chlamydia and gonorrhoea test result mean?
A positive result means that you have one or both infections in your anus.
Gonorrhoea treatment typically involves an antibiotic injection, so you’ll need to speak with your GP or a sexual health clinic and book an appointment. As you’ve already had a test, you just need to let them know you’ve tested positive. They may ask for a copy of your results.
Chlamydia treatment is an oral antibiotic called doxycycline. You can get it online from ZAVA, and one of our doctors can prescribe it for you if you’ve tested positive. You can also get treatment for chlamydia from NHS services.
Avoid having sexual contact with anyone until you’ve finished your treatment course. You’ll also need to let any sexual partners you’ve had in the last 6 months know you’ve tested positive for anal chlamydia or /gonorrhoea. If you’re worried about this, you can usually speak to a sexual health clinic about sending an anonymous text message for you.
Around 6 weeks after treatment, you’ll usually be invited for a follow-up test to make sure the infection has gone.
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Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection or (STI). It’s caused by bacteria, which can be treated with antibiotics. It usually does not cause any symptoms, which is possibly one reason why it is the most common STI in the UK.
Chlamydia symptoms
Most people don’t get symptoms. If you do get chlamydia symptoms, this may include:
- unusual discharge from the anus or genitals
- pain when peeing
- bleeding between periods and after sex (in women)
- pain in the stomach (in women)
- testicle swelling and pain (in men)
In one study among men who have sex with men (MSM), 85% of anal chlamydia infections caused no symptoms.
If you do get anal chlamydia symptoms, this may include:
- anal pain
- anal discharge
- anal bleeding
- an urgent or frequent feeling that you need to pass stools, even if you cannot
How is chlamydia spread?
Chlamydia is spread through unprotected sex or contact with genital fluids in the anus, throat, genitals, and less commonly, the eyes.
In particular, anal chlamydia may be spread by:
- unprotected anal sex, even without full penetration or ejaculation
- unprotected oral sex with someone who has chlamydia of the throat
- sharing sex toys that have not been washed or covered with a condom between partners
Doctors still aren’t sure if chlamydia can be spread on fingers if they come into contact with the infection. Chlamydia cannot be spread through sharing towels, baths, toilet seats, or by kissing or hugging.
The risks of leaving chlamydia untreated
No matter where you have a chlamydia infection, leaving it untreated can cause the bacteria to spread to other parts of your body, causing possible long-term health problems.
Men
Untreated chlamydia can cause epididymitis, an inflammation or infection in a part of your testicles called the epididymis. This is rare but left untreated may affect your fertility.
Men are also more at risk of a condition called sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA). This causes inflammation in the joints, urethra, or eyes. It’s most likely to happen in the first few weeks of catching the infection.
Women
Untreated chlamydia can spread to the female reproductive organs, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Like chlamydia, this is often symptomless, but it can lead to more health issues, including:
- ectopic pregnancy (a medical emergency in which the egg implants itself outside of your womb)
- difficulty getting pregnant, or in some cases, infertility
- pelvic pain that does not go away
Women can also get sexually acquired reactive arthritis.
Pregnant women
If you give birth and are infected with chlamydia, there’s a chance it can be passed to your child. This may cause an eye or lung infection that needs treating straight away.
Having chlamydia during pregnancy also increases the risk of:
- premature labour
- the baby being born with a low birth weight
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Gonorrhoea is also an STI and is the second most common in the UK. It’s caused by bacteria and is usually treated with an antibiotic injection. Just like chlamydia, gonorrhoea does not cause symptoms for a lot of people.
Gonorrhoea symptoms
Like with chlamydia, most people don’t get symptoms. When they do appear, gonorrhoea symptoms can be slightly different for men and women and may include:
- unusual discharge
- burning or pain when peeing
- testicle pain or tenderness (in men)
- foreskin swelling (in men)
- heavier periods, or bleeding between periods and after sex (in women)
In a study among MSM, 85% of anal gonorrhoea infections caused no symptoms.
If you get anal gonorrhoea symptoms, they may include:
- pain in and around the anus
- unusual anal discharge
- bleeding from the anus
- an urgency or frequent feeling that you need to pass a stool, even if you cannot
How is gonorrhoea spread?
Gonorrhoea is spread through unprotected sex or contact with genital fluids in the anus, throat, or genitals.
In particular, anal gonorrhoea can be spread by:
- unprotected oral sex with someone who has a gonorrhoea infection in their throat
- unprotected anal sex, even without full penetration or ejaculation
- sharing sex toys that have not been washed or covered between users
Gonorrhoea cannot be spread through hugging, or by sharing towels, baths, or toilet seats. This is because the bacteria cannot live outside the body for long.
The risks of leaving gonorrhoea untreated
If you have gonorrhoea and do not get treatment, the bacteria can spread to other parts of your body, causing further complications. The more you have gonorrhoea, the higher the risk of complications. In rare cases, the bacteria gets into the bloodstream, causing a life-threatening infection called sepsis.
Men
Untreated gonorrhoea can cause:
- infertility (in rare cases)
- a painful infection in a part of the male reproductive system, such as the prostate gland, testicles, or the Mullerian or Cowper glands
- urethral stricture, which is a build-up of scar tissue that causes a narrow urethra, making it harder to pee
Women
If gonorrhoea spreads to the female reproductive system, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in around 10 to 20% of women. PID can also cause:
- chronic pelvic pain
- infertility
- ectopic pregnancy
Pregnant women
Pregnant women with untreated gonorrhoea are at risk of:
- miscarriage
- premature labour
- passing the infection onto the baby during birth, causing an eye infection called conjunctivitis
If you find out you have gonorrhoea, you must tell your midwife straight away. If your baby gets conjunctivitis and it is not treated fast enough with antibiotics, it can cause permanent blindness.

Brenda studied medicine at St Georges University of London and has most recently worked in John Radcliffe Oxford University Hospitals, covering acute and general medicine.
Meet our doctorsArticle created: 30 Apr 2024
Last reviewed: 20 Nov 2024
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Chlamydia, NHS [accessed 31 October 2024]
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Getting tested for an STI: Your guide to how it works, GOV.UK [accessed 31 October 2024]
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Gonorrhoea, NHS [accessed 31 October 2024]
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Prevalence of Rectal, Urethral, and Pharyngeal Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Detected in 2 Clinical Settings among Men Who Have Sex with Men: San Francisco, California, 2003, Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal. Available at Oxford Academic [accessed 31 October 2024]
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Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England: 2023 report, GOV.UK [accessed 31 October 2024]



ZAVA offers a convenient and discreet service to test for sexually transmitted infections. You will receive your test kit by post. Follow the instructions provided with the test kit and collect a sample (depending on the test kit this could be a blood, saliva, urine sample or genital swab). The test kit comes with an envelope, ready to send to our partner laboratory which will analyse your sample. Once your result has come back, you will be able to view it in your secure ZAVA account. We will never send medical or personal information via email.
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