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.

Many infections that spread through sex cause no signs at all. Others cause signs that look a lot like everyday irritation. That is why this guide pairs STD symptoms in men with the testing options that can answer the question.

It covers what each infection can look like, what the organisms are, what research suggests, why a urine test is not the same as a throat or rectal swab, and when to see a clinician the same day. It ends with where to get an STD test for men in Austin, Texas.

Nothing here is a diagnosis. Only a clinician and a lab test can say what is going on.

What is causing STD symptoms in men? The organisms behind them

This is the "composition" of the problem. The infections fall into three biological groups, and the group decides how they are treated.

Bacteria: chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) say these are curable with treatment from a clinician.
A parasite (protozoan): trichomoniasis. The CDC guidelines say it is also curable with treatment from a clinician.
Viruses: HIV, herpes simplex virus and human papillomavirus (HPV). These are not curable. They are treatable or manageable, and a clinician can explain the options.

Different organisms infect different tissues. Chlamydia and gonorrhea bacteria can infect the urethra, the rectum and the throat. Herpes and syphilis can show up on skin or mucous membranes. HIV moves through the blood and is found with a blood test.

That tissue difference is why one test does not cover everything. It comes up again below.

Signs by infection

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe the usual patterns below. A sign can come from many causes, and having none does not tell you anything either way.

Chlamydia

The CDC says chlamydia in men often causes no symptoms. When it does, people may notice a discharge from the penis, burning when urinating, or pain and swelling in one or both testicles.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea in the urethra can cause a discharge that is white, yellow or green, along with burning during urination. Like chlamydia, it can also cause testicular pain. The CDC notes that infections in the throat and rectum are often silent.

Syphilis

The CDC describes syphilis in stages. The first sign is often a single sore, usually painless, where the bacteria entered the body. That can be on the penis, in the rectum or in the mouth, so it is easy to miss.

Later, a rash may appear, sometimes on the palms and soles, along with fever or swollen glands. The CDC says these signs can fade without treatment while the infection continues. A blood test is how clinicians look for it.

Genital herpes

Herpes can cause tingling or itching, then clusters of small blisters that break into painful sores. Many people have mild signs or none. The CDC says the virus can be passed even when no sores are present.

Austin Public Health notes that its Sexual Health Clinic can test for genital herpes only when someone has active symptoms.

HPV and genital warts

Some HPV types cause warts: small, flesh-colored bumps or clusters near the genitals or anus. Most HPV infections cause no signs. The CDC says there is no approved HPV test to check the health status of men. A clinician can look at any bump and decide what to do next.

Trichomoniasis

The CDC says most men with trichomoniasis have no symptoms. Some notice irritation inside the penis, a discharge, or burning after urinating or ejaculating.

HIV

Some people have a flu-like illness, with fever, sore throat, rash or tiredness, a few weeks after HIV enters the body. Others feel nothing. The CDC says the only way to know is to test. HIV is treatable, and a clinician can explain the care options.

Why throat and rectal tests are separate

A standard urine sample checks the urethra. It does not check the throat or rectum.

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) recommend testing at each site of sexual contact. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can live in one site without appearing in another. Someone could have a negative urine result and still have an infection in the throat or rectum that nobody has looked for.

Research suggests infections in these sites are often silent. A person may have no sore throat and no rectal pain, so there is no prompt to test. The swab is how they get found.

The CDC recommends that sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV at least once a year. For chlamydia and gonorrhea, that means testing the sites of contact. The CDC says more frequent screening, every 3 to 6 months, may be right for people with higher likelihood of exposure. A clinician can help decide what fits a given situation.

Anyone, of any gender or orientation, can ask a clinician for site-specific testing. Say which kinds of sex you have had. You do not need to explain more than that, and a good clinician will not judge it.

What research suggests about testing and prevention

These are observations from public health sources, not promises.

Silent infections are common. The CDC reports that many bacterial STIs cause no symptoms in men. Research suggests this is a main reason infections go unnoticed and untreated.
Doxy-PEP. In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex. Clinical studies it reviewed suggest it can lower the chance of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea in some groups. The CDC guidance focuses on men who have sex with men and transgender women who had a bacterial STI in the past year. A clinician decides whether it fits and writes the prescription.
HIV prevention. The CDC describes PrEP and PEP as medicines a clinician can prescribe to lower the chance of getting HIV.
Treatment of partners. The CDC supports expedited partner therapy in many settings. It lets a clinician provide treatment for the partner of a patient with certain infections without a separate visit.

Window periods: when a test can read accurately

A window period is the time between exposure and the point a test can detect an infection. The CDC publishes these windows for HIV:

A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test done on blood from a vein can usually detect it 18 to 45 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test using a fingerstick can take 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests, including self-tests, can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, the CDC does not give one simple window that fits every test. Ask the clinician how soon after a recent exposure to test, and whether a repeat visit makes sense. No test is perfect, and a clinician can explain what a result means for you.

When to see a clinician the same day

Most STD concerns can be handled with a prompt appointment. A few situations call for faster care.

Sudden, severe testicular pain or swelling. This can have causes unrelated to infection, and some need emergency care. Go to an emergency department.
Pain with fever, chills or a feeling of being very unwell along with genital or urinary signs.
Sores, blisters or a new rash that are painful, spreading, or come with fever.
Recent sexual exposure to HIV. The CDC says PEP works best when started as soon as possible and must start within 72 hours. Call a clinic promptly or go to an emergency department. Kind Clinic and ASHwell both list PEP among their services, so call them early.
A partner has told you they were diagnosed with an STI.

Fewer urgent signs, such as mild burning or an unusual discharge, still deserve testing soon. Waiting does not make them easier to sort out.

Safety, privacy and what to tell the clinician

Testing itself is low risk. A urine sample, a swab or a blood draw is quick. Some people feel brief discomfort from a swab or needle.

Tell the clinician about any medicine allergies, current medicines, and whether you could be a partner of someone recently diagnosed. If a clinician prescribes treatment, take only what they prescribe and follow their directions. Do not use leftover medicine from someone else.

Reporting. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions in Texas. Labs and clinicians report positive results to public health. The 2026 DSHS notifiable conditions list gives reporting timeframes: chlamydia and gonorrhea within 1 week, and primary or secondary syphilis within 1 work day. This is a public health function that supports follow-up and partner notification.

Age. Under Texas Family Code Section 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease, which covers reportable STIs. DSHS says this includes HIV. Parent or guardian consent is not required. The same statute lets a physician tell a parent or guardian about the treatment, so a teen should ask the clinic about its practice before the visit.

Quality indicators: choosing a trustworthy place to test

You can judge a testing source the way a clinician would. Look for these signs:

It follows CDC guidance and can explain which infections its tests cover and which they do not.
It offers swabs for the throat and rectum as well as urine, when your history calls for it.
It can say what happens to results, who sees them, and how treatment is arranged.
It is open about price. If a price is not posted, it will tell you when you call.
It is run by a health department, a community health center, a university or a nonprofit.

The CDC also runs a locator at gettested.cdc.gov. Enter a ZIP code to find testing sites for HIV, other STIs and hepatitis.

Where to get an STD test for men in Austin

These are the options Austin offers. Hours and fees can change, so confirm by phone before you go. Austin Public Health notes that updates to its website can lag.

The full guide to STD testing in Austin goes deeper on costs. The quick list is also on the local clinic list.

Austin Public Health Sexual Health Clinic

The clinic is at the RBJ Health Center, 15 Waller Street, Austin, TX 78702. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Call 512-972-5430 or schedule online.

Austin Public Health states, "The fee for testing and treatment is only $30." Its standard tests are HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Genital herpes testing is only for people with active symptoms.

Austin Public Health also lists a Red Ribbon program with free HIV counseling and testing for people without symptoms, plus a free 20-minute express service. Schedule at 512-972-5430. The page does not state where that service is located, so ask when you call.

Kind Clinic, Austin Koenig

Kind Clinic is at 101 W Koenig Lane, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78751. Phone: 833-937-5463. It lists walk-in testing for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis C. Walk-in testing hours differ from its general hours, so call first.

Its general hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and certain Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kind Clinic is closed on observed holidays and the first Friday of every month.

Kind Clinic says patients with health insurance must use their insurance for lab work. People who are uninsured or cannot afford lab costs can ask about its Kind Patient Assistance Program. Its South Austin location does not offer walk-in STI testing.

Kind Clinic also lists PrEP, PEP and doxy-PEP. It says doxy-PEP is not a standalone appointment and requires ongoing care at the clinic.

CommUnityCare IDEALhealth Program

This program is at the Hancock Health Center, 1000 E. 41st St., Suite 700, Austin, TX 78751. Phone: 512-978-9015. It lists STI and HIV testing and prevention, doxy-PEP and the HPV vaccine.

CommUnityCare says its sliding fee scale is set in a meeting with a Financial Eligibility Specialist. The page does not list a walk-in policy, so call to ask.

ASHwell Sexual Health + Wellness

ASHwell is at 3100 Red River St, Suite 3, Austin, TX 78705. Phone: (512) 900-3116. It provides counseling, testing, diagnosis and treatment of STIs. ASHwell says these services "are always free although there are potential costs relating to medication." Treatment is for ASHwell patients.

ASHwell does not accept walk-ins. Call or email [email protected] to arrange a visit.

Vivent Health Austin

Vivent Health is at 104 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78752. Phone: (512) 458-2437. Vivent says it offers free and confidential HIV testing. A CDC directory listing also shows free STI and hepatitis C tests at this site. Call for walk-in testing hours or to make an appointment.

University Health Services at UT Austin

For UT Austin students, University Health Services runs an STI testing clinic in the Student Services Building, 100 West Dean Keeton Street, Room 1.400. Phone: 512-471-4955. Options include chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis.

Drop-in visits need no appointment but are for people without symptoms. Anyone with symptoms needs a provider appointment.

Free home testing through the state

DSHS runs Test for Texas, which offers free mail-order self-testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Orders go through testfortexas.org. A self-test may not cover the throat or rectum, so ask a clinician if that matters for your situation.

How common are these infections in Travis County?

Rates help show why testing matters locally. All figures below come from the Texas DSHS surveillance reports for the same years, so the comparison is like for like.

Infection	Travis County rate per 100,000	Texas rate per 100,000
Chlamydia (2022)	712.6 (9,452 cases)	519.9
Gonorrhea (2022)	351.4 (4,661 cases)	207.0
Primary and secondary syphilis (2022)	31.5 (418 cases)	15.5
New HIV diagnoses (2021)	17.3 (226 cases)	14.8

Source: Texas DSHS STD Surveillance Report (2022) and HIV Surveillance Report (2021). These are counts of reported cases among all residents, not a measure of any one person's chance.

Next steps

If something feels off, or you simply have not tested in a while, pick one clinic above and call. Ask which tests they run, whether they swab the throat or rectum, and what it costs. Then book the visit.

Getting tested is routine health care. It gives you information, and if treatment is needed, a clinician can provide it.

STD Symptoms in Men: Signs, When to Test and Where in Austin