Short answer
If a partner tells you they have an STI, do not treat it as a generic "get a full panel" question. The useful next step depends on the exact infection, when sex happened, which body sites were exposed, whether you have symptoms, whether pregnancy is possible, and whether HIV exposure could have happened within the 72-hour PEP evaluation window. Some exposures call for testing and repeat testing; others may also call for presumptive treatment, partner services, or urgent care.
Start with the infection name
| Partner result | What to ask about | Why timing matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia or gonorrhea | Evaluation, testing at exposed body sites, and whether presumptive treatment or EPT applies. | CDC chlamydia and gonorrhea guidance uses recent partner windows and emphasizes partner evaluation and treatment to prevent reinfection. |
| Syphilis | Syphilis blood testing, exposure timing, symptoms, pregnancy status, and health department or clinician partner guidance. | CDC partner guidance depends on the stage of syphilis and timing of sexual contact. |
| HIV | Urgent PEP evaluation if the exposure was within 72 hours, plus baseline and follow-up HIV testing. | PEP is time-sensitive and should be evaluated quickly after a possible exposure. |
| Trichomoniasis | Testing and treatment guidance for partners, especially if symptoms are present or pregnancy is possible. | Testing menus vary, so a generic STI panel may not include trichomoniasis. |
| Herpes, HPV, or sores/rash | Symptom-aware evaluation, lesion swabs when sores are present, and counseling about what tests can and cannot prove. | Routine blood screening is not the same as diagnosing a lesion or understanding future transmission risk. |
| Hepatitis B or C | Blood tests, vaccination status for hepatitis B, and whether other exposure routes are relevant. | Blood-test interpretation can depend on vaccination, prior infection, and follow-up testing. |
Testing may not be enough by itself
For some STIs, waiting for symptoms or relying on a one-time test can leave an exposure untreated. CDC guidance for chlamydia and gonorrhea says recent sex partners should be referred for evaluation, testing, and presumptive treatment. CDC also describes expedited partner therapy, or EPT, as a way to treat certain chlamydia or gonorrhea partners without first examining the partner when permitted by law and when timely care is unlikely. EPT is not a universal STI treatment, legal guarantee, or replacement for HIV, syphilis, pregnancy, allergy, symptom, or body-site evaluation.
When to seek care promptly
- The partner has HIV, or HIV exposure may have occurred within the past 72 hours.
- The partner has syphilis, especially if pregnancy is possible or symptoms are present.
- You have pelvic pain, testicular pain, rectal pain, fever, eye symptoms, neurologic symptoms, severe rash, sores, ulcers, or discharge.
- You might be pregnant, are pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant.
- The partner was treated but you had sex again before both of you were cleared to resume sex.
- You are not sure which infection the partner had or whether the result was confirmed.
Ask about body sites, not just infections
If the exposure included oral sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, front-hole sex, genital contact, shared toys, fingering, hand jobs, or contact with sores, the sample type matters. A urine test may not check the throat or rectum, and a blood test does not replace swabs for localized chlamydia or gonorrhea. Ask whether you need urine, vaginal, cervical, urethral, throat, rectal, lesion, or blood testing based on the actual exposure. For site-specific detail, see the extragenital STI testing guide, the STI testing after oral sex guide, the STI testing after anal sex guide, the STI testing after sharing sex toys guide, and the STI testing after genital touching or fingering guide.
Baseline testing versus repeat testing
A test right after the partner disclosure can be useful, especially if symptoms are present or you need a baseline result. But a negative result does not always end the question. HIV tests have window periods, syphilis blood tests can require follow-up depending on timing, and some exposure plans include retesting after treatment or after a window period. If you were treated for an STI, CDC retesting guidance can differ from exposure testing; see the STI retesting after treatment guide.
What to ask the partner, if it is safe
- Which STI was diagnosed, and was it chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, trichomoniasis, herpes, hepatitis, HPV, or something else?
- When were they tested, when did symptoms start, and when were they treated?
- Which body site was positive, such as urine, vaginal, throat, rectal, blood, or lesion swab?
- Did their clinician mention partner notification, EPT, or a no-sex interval after treatment?
- Were there any other recent partners or exposures that affect timing?
Questions to ask a clinic
- Based on the specific STI and exposure date, do I need testing, treatment, or both?
- Is any part of this urgent, such as HIV PEP within 72 hours or pregnancy-related care?
- Which body sites should be tested?
- If chlamydia or gonorrhea is involved, is EPT allowed and appropriate here?
- Should I also test for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, pregnancy, or other infections?
- When should I repeat testing if today's result is negative?
- When is it safe to resume sex, and what should happen if symptoms appear?
Related Lab Intel guides
For partner treatment and EPT detail, see the partner notification and EPT guide. For immediate result follow-up, see the positive STI result guide. For chlamydia and gonorrhea samples, see the chlamydia and gonorrhea testing guide. For syphilis blood testing, see the syphilis testing guide. For HIV timing, see the HIV testing window period guide and the PrEP vs PEP testing timelines guide. For access, see the free and low-cost STI testing guide.