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.

An STD in the throat is more common than many people expect, and it often goes unnoticed. Dallas County reported 10,696 gonorrhea cases and 22,073 chlamydia cases in 2022, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The county gonorrhea rate was 411.3 per 100,000 people, compared with 207.0 for Texas as a whole that year.

These answers explain which infections can affect the throat, what oral STD symptoms can look like, and how testing works in Dallas.

The basics

Which STIs can infect the throat?

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe gonorrhea and chlamydia in the throat. Syphilis and herpes can also show up in or around the mouth. HPV can affect the mouth and throat too.

How does an STD get into the throat?

The CDC says oral sex with a penis, vagina or anus can pass some infections. Herpes and syphilis can also spread through direct contact with a sore, including during kissing. Any gender and any orientation can be affected.

Is HIV a throat infection?

No. HIV is not a throat infection, and the CDC describes the chance of getting HIV from oral sex as low compared with some other types of sex. HIV is found with a blood test, not a throat swab.

Oral STD symptoms

What are the most common oral STD symptoms?

When symptoms appear, they can include a sore throat, redness, or sores, blisters or patches in or around the mouth. Many other things cause the same signs, such as colds and strep throat. Only a clinician and a test can tell what is behind them.

Why do most throat infections cause no symptoms?

The CDC guidelines note that gonorrhea and chlamydia in the throat usually cause no symptoms. The infection can sit quietly in the throat without a sore throat or any other sign. That is why a test is the only way to learn what is going on.

Could my sore throat be an STD in the throat?

It can be, but most sore throats have other causes. A sore throat that lasts, or that follows oral sex with a new or untested partner, is a fair reason to ask a clinician about a throat swab. The swab result, not the symptom, answers the question.

What do mouth sores from syphilis or herpes look like?

The CDC says the first syphilis sore, called a chancre, is usually firm and painless. It can appear in the mouth and may go unnoticed. Herpes sores often start as blisters that can be painful. Sores can look alike, so a clinician needs to test them.

Does HPV in the throat cause symptoms?

Usually not. The CDC says most HPV infections clear on their own, but some types can lead to cancers of the throat years later. The CDC does not recommend a routine HPV screening test for the throat. The CDC does recommend HPV vaccination, so ask a clinician whether it fits your age.

Testing

How is a throat STD test done?

For gonorrhea, a clinician rubs a soft swab along the back of the throat. The CDC says testing should sample the place where exposure happened. A urine sample or a genital swab does not check the throat, so tell the clinician about oral sex when you book.

Do clinicians test the throat for chlamydia too?

Sometimes. The CDC guidelines say the evidence for routine throat testing for chlamydia is limited, so the decision is made case by case. Ask the clinician what they recommend for your situation.

Is there a throat test for syphilis or herpes?

Syphilis is found with a blood test. If there is a sore, a clinician may swab it for herpes or syphilis. The CDC does not recommend routine herpes blood screening for people without symptoms, and the Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic page says it does not offer that screening.

How long after oral sex should I wait to test?

It depends on the infection and the test, so ask a clinician. For HIV, the CDC says a nucleic acid test can detect infection 10 to 33 days after exposure. A blood draw for an antigen/antibody test works about 18 to 45 days after exposure, and a fingerstick test about 18 to 90 days. If you are unsure, retesting later is a common plan.

How often should I test?

The CDC recommends testing at least once a year at every site of sexual contact for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The CDC says testing every 3 to 6 months may suit people with more partners. Ask a clinician what schedule fits your life.

Treatment and partners

Can an STD in the throat be treated?

Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician. Herpes, HPV and HIV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. For throat gonorrhea, the CDC suggests a follow-up test about 7 to 14 days after treatment.

What about my partners?

Partners may need testing or treatment too. CDC's Texas summary says state rules let a physician prescribe partner medication without seeing the partner. It also says pharmacists may fill those prescriptions. A clinician can explain how this works.

Are results shared with the health department?

Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions. That means clinics and labs report positive cases to public health. Reports are used to track infections and connect people to care.

Testing in Dallas

Which Dallas clinics test for STDs, and do they test the throat?

Several Dallas options are listed on our Dallas STD testing guide. None of the clinic pages we reviewed say whether throat swabs are offered. Call first and ask for a throat swab by name.

What does the Dallas County Sexual Health Clinic offer?

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) runs the clinic at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 100. It requires appointments, and the phone number is (214) 819-1819. Its page lists testing for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. It directs routine testing without symptoms to the DCHHS Mobile Medical Unit. The county page lists no fees, so ask when you call.

Are there free or low-cost choices?

Yes. Resource Center on Inwood Road lists its syphilis test as free. Its page lists the gonorrhea and chlamydia test as free with a $40 office visit. Prism Health North Texas lists a sliding scale based on household income and size. The CDC GetTested listings show sliding scale at AHF Healthcare Center, Foremost and Neighborhood Medical Center, and a free HIV test at Parkland.

Is there a free at-home option in Texas?

DSHS lists a free mailed self-test kit for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, called Test for Texas, for anyone 13 or older. The DSHS page does not say whether it includes a throat swab. For throat testing, ask a clinic.

Can a teenager get tested without a parent?

Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 says a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease. That covers reportable STIs and HIV. The same law allows a physician to tell a parent, so privacy is not guaranteed, and the Children's Health teen clinic says it asks for parent or guardian consent for general care.

Where to start

If you are unsure where to begin, the CDC GetTested locator at gettested.cdc.gov lists testing sites by ZIP code. Call the clinic you choose and ask about throat swabs, cost and hours. A short call can save you a trip.

Oral and Throat STDs: Symptoms and Testing