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 sexually transmitted infections cause no symptoms in men. Others cause signs that are easy to mistake for something minor. This guide covers what each infection can look and feel like, why testing different parts of the body matters, when to be seen the same day, and where to get an STD test for men in Los Angeles.

You will not find a checklist here that tells you what you have. Only a clinician and a lab test can do that. What follows explains what the CDC and the California health department say, so you know what to ask for.

Why symptoms are an unreliable guide

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) note that chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, herpes, HPV and HIV can all be present without any signs, especially early on. A person can pass an infection to a partner without knowing about it.

That is why public health groups talk about screening. Screening means testing people who feel fine. The signs below are useful to know, but they are not the only reason to get tested.

The reverse is also true. A symptom does not point to one infection. Burning with urination, a sore or a rash can have several causes, including causes that are not sexually transmitted. A test sorts this out.

Signs by infection

Here is what the CDC describes for men, one infection at a time. Not everyone has these signs, and having one does not mean you have a particular infection.

Chlamydia

The CDC says most men with chlamydia have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can include:

Burning or discomfort when urinating
Discharge from the penis, which may be watery, white or cloudy
Pain or swelling in one or both testicles

Rectal chlamydia is also often silent. When it causes symptoms, the CDC lists rectal pain, discharge or bleeding.

Chlamydia is curable with antibiotics prescribed by a clinician. Untreated, it can sometimes lead to inflammation of the tube behind the testicle, called epididymitis.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea in the urethra is more likely to cause symptoms in men than chlamydia is. The CDC describes:

Burning with urination
A white, yellow or green discharge from the penis
Painful or swollen testicles

Gonorrhea in the throat usually causes no symptoms, according to the CDC. Gonorrhea in the rectum may cause discharge, itching, soreness or pain with bowel movements, or it may cause nothing at all.

Gonorrhea is curable with treatment from a clinician. A clinician chooses the treatment, because antibiotic resistance is a concern the CDC tracks closely.

Syphilis

Syphilis moves through stages, and the CDC describes each one differently. The first sign is often a single sore, called a chancre. It is usually firm, round and painless. That is why it can go unnoticed, especially when it is inside the rectum or mouth or under the foreskin.

In the secondary stage, the CDC describes a rash that can show up on the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may be rough, reddish-brown and usually does not itch. Other signs can include fever, swollen glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss and tiredness.

Signs of early syphilis can fade without treatment, but the infection stays in the body. Syphilis is curable with treatment from a clinician. Testing is by blood.

Genital herpes

The CDC says many people with herpes have mild symptoms or none. When there are signs, they can include small blisters or open sores on or around the penis, rectum or mouth. Some people feel tingling, itching or burning before a sore appears. A first outbreak may come with fever, body aches or swollen glands.

Herpes is not curable, but it is treatable. A clinician can prescribe medicine that shortens outbreaks or lowers how often they happen. Many people live with it with few problems.

HPV and genital warts

Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and clear on their own, according to the CDC. Some types cause genital warts, which are small, flesh-colored or gray growths on or around the penis, scrotum, groin or anus. Other types can, over time, lead to certain cancers.

There is no routine HPV test for men that the CDC recommends for screening. A clinician can look at warts and discuss options. HPV is not curable, but the warts can be treated and the CDC recommends HPV vaccination.

Trichomoniasis

The CDC says most men with trichomoniasis have no symptoms. Some have irritation inside the penis, burning with urination or a discharge. It is curable with treatment from a clinician.

HIV

Some people have a flu-like illness within a few weeks of HIV infection, according to the CDC. It can include fever, sore throat, rash, swollen glands, muscle aches and tiredness. Many people have no early symptoms.

Because these early signs look like many other illnesses, the CDC recommends testing rather than guessing. HIV is not curable, but it is very treatable. The CDC says people who take HIV medicine as prescribed and reach an undetectable viral load do not pass HIV to partners through sex.

Why throat and rectal tests are separate

A common urine test checks the urethra, the tube inside the penis. It does not check the throat or the rectum. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) explain that chlamydia and gonorrhea can live in each of these sites on its own.

A person can have a negative urine test and still have an infection in the throat or rectum. For that reason, the CDC recommends testing at each site of sexual contact. That means:

A urine test or penile swab for the urethra
A throat swab if there has been oral sex
A rectal swab if there has been receptive anal sex

Throat and rectal infections are often silent, so the swab is often the only way to find them. Many clinics collect these swabs in the same visit. Some give you a swab to collect yourself in private.

Tell the clinician which types of sex you have, with any gender of partner. This is not about judgment. It lets them pick the right tests. A clinician can also order blood tests for syphilis and HIV at the same visit.

Who should consider testing, and how often

The CDC and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both give screening advice. Here are the main points.

HIV: The USPSTF recommends HIV screening for everyone aged 15 to 65, and the CDC recommends testing at least once as part of routine care.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: The CDC recommends at least yearly testing for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. Testing every 3 to 6 months is advised for people with more partners or other factors that raise the chance of infection.
After a new partner, or if a partner has been diagnosed: A clinician can tell you which tests make sense and when.

If you are heterosexual and have had a new partner, or more than one, a test is still reasonable. The infections above do not follow orientation. They follow contact.

Window periods

A window period is the time after an exposure when a test may not yet detect an infection. The CDC publishes HIV window periods:

A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody lab test on blood from a vein can usually detect it 18 to 45 days after exposure.
Rapid antigen/antibody tests on a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days.

For chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and other infections, ask the clinician how timing affects your test. They can tell you whether to test now, test again later, or do both.

When to see a clinician the same day

Most symptoms call for an appointment within days. A few call for care the same day, at an urgent care, an emergency department or a clinic that can see you quickly.

Sudden or severe testicle pain or swelling. This can be a sign of epididymitis, and the CDC also notes that sudden testicular pain can be a sign of testicular torsion, which needs emergency care.
Pain that is getting worse, fever, or chills along with genital symptoms.
Trouble urinating or being unable to urinate.
Changes in vision, eye pain or hearing changes along with a rash or a recent syphilis exposure. The CDC says syphilis can affect the eyes and ears at any stage, and these signs need prompt attention.
A possible HIV exposure in the last 72 hours. The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a clinician-prescribed medicine that should start as soon as possible, and within 72 hours. Do not wait for a test result.

If you are not sure whether something is urgent, call a clinic or a nurse line and describe what is happening. A clinician can help you decide.

What treatment and prevention look like

Treatment is decided by a clinician after an exam or test results. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis are curable with the right treatment. Herpes and HIV are not curable, but both are treatable and manageable. This page does not give doses or schedules, because a clinician matches treatment to the person, the site of infection and current guidance.

The CDC lists several prevention tools that a clinician can discuss with you:

PrEP: A clinician-prescribed medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Sexual Health Clinics say they provide PrEP, as pills or as a monthly injection, at no patient charge.
Doxy-PEP: In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to lower the chance of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The CDC recommends that clinicians offer it to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and to transgender women, who have had a bacterial STI in the past 12 months. Only a clinician can say whether it fits your situation. DPH lists DoxyPEP among its clinic services.
Vaccines: The CDC recommends HPV, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines for many people. Ask a clinician which apply to you.
Condoms: The CDC says condoms lower the chance of many infections when used correctly every time. They do not remove all risk, because some infections spread through skin contact outside the condom.

California also allows expedited partner therapy. Under Health and Safety Code section 120582, as summarized by the CDC, a clinician can give a patient treatment or a prescription for a partner for chlamydia, gonorrhea and some other STIs, even if the partner has not been seen. Ask the clinician whether this applies to you.

Why this matters in Los Angeles

These infections are common here. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's 2024 STI Surveillance Snapshot reports, for the county outside Long Beach and Pasadena, provisional rates of:

Chlamydia: 493 per 100,000 people (45,459 cases)
Gonorrhea: 252 per 100,000 people (23,272 cases)
Early syphilis: 36 per 100,000 people (3,344 cases)

The county's 2025 HIV Snapshot reports 1,454 new HIV diagnoses among people aged 13 and older in 2024, a rate of 17 per 100,000. Those numbers are provisional.

Numbers like these are a reason for routine testing. They are not a reason for worry or blame. Most of these infections can be treated or managed once found.

One note on privacy. Under California's Title 17 rules (17 CCR 2500 and 2505), clinicians and labs report gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV, and labs report chlamydia, to the local health department. This is how public health tracks infections and offers partner services. DPH also says it will not report immigration status.

Where to get an STD test in Los Angeles

You have several options. The list below comes from DPH and from each clinic's own information. Hours and walk-in policies can change, so call before you go. For a longer list of places and how to compare them, see this guide to STD testing in Los Angeles and where to get tested.

LA County Department of Public Health Sexual Health Clinics

DPH runs sexual health clinics with no patient fees. DPH says it bills insurance if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance. All appointments go through one scheduling line, (213) 449-7009. DPH says appointments are preferred and walk-ins are limited. Telehealth visits can be booked by phone.

Central Health Center: 241 Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. DPH lists STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP and treatment. Registration hours are Tuesday through Friday, and the clinic is closed Monday.
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health: 11833 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059. DPH lists the same set of services.
Pacoima Health Center: 13300 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331. This site offers screening only. DPH says people with symptoms or a possible exposure are asked to book at another DPH clinic for evaluation and treatment.

DPH says results come through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days.

Other community clinics

Los Angeles LGBT Center, McDonald/Wright Building: 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. DHSP lists walk-ins accepted and same-day appointments available, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm. The phone is (323) 993-2997. The Center lists STD and HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, DoxyPEP and treatment. Its page states that PrEP care is free or low-cost and does not state the cost of STI testing, so ask when you call.
AHF Wellness Center, Western: 1811 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. AHF says testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV is free, with no appointment needed. DHSP lists hours Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 8 pm and Saturday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. It is closed Sunday and Monday. The phone is 1 (855) 783-2434. AHF says it can help you find affordable treatment, but does not say that treatment is offered on site.
APLA Health, Gleicher/Chen Health Center Annex (Out Here Sexual Health Center): 3741 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90016. The phone is (213) 201-5000. APLA says its Out Here locations offer free or low-cost sexual health services, and its pages direct patients to book an appointment. It does not list sliding-scale details, so ask about cost.
Watts Health Center: 10300 Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002. The phone is 1 (323) 564-4331. DHSP lists STD screening and treatment, open daily from 9 am to 2 pm. Cost and walk-in policy are not published in the listing, so check with the clinic.

If you are 12 to 24

California Family Code section 6926 lets a minor aged 12 or older consent to STI testing and treatment. DPH says its clinics tell patients 12 and older they can be tested and treated without their parents knowing. Children's Hospital Los Angeles lists STD services for youth aged 12 to 24 at 3250 Wilshire Blvd., 3rd Floor, with the phone number 1 (323) 361-7550. The listing shows weekday hours, and cost is not published, so call to confirm.

Hotlines and the CDC locator

DHSP lists a county STD hotline for finding free testing at 800-758-0880, and an HIV hotline at 800-367-AIDS (2437). The CDC also runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov that lets you enter your ZIP code and find nearby STD and HIV testing sites.

Long Beach and Pasadena have their own city health departments. If you live there, check with them as well.

How to get ready for a visit

Think about which types of sex you have had, so the clinician can choose urine, throat, rectal and blood tests.
Note any symptoms, when they started and whether they have changed.
Bring a list of medicines you take, and any past test results you have.
Ask when results will arrive and how you will get them.
Ask what to do about partners. In California, a clinician can talk through partner notification and expedited partner therapy.

Avoid urinating for about an hour before a urine test if the clinic asks you to. Ask the clinic when you call, because instructions differ.

A visit takes less time than many people expect. Clinic staff see these concerns every day. You can ask questions without needing to explain yourself.

Key points

Many infections in men have no symptoms, so testing is the only way to learn more.
Urine tests do not cover the throat or rectum. The CDC recommends testing each site of sexual contact.
HIV window periods published by the CDC range from 10 to 90 days depending on the test type.
Severe testicle pain, trouble urinating, vision changes, or a possible HIV exposure in the last 72 hours call for same-day care.
Los Angeles County DPH Sexual Health Clinics offer testing at no patient charge, and other community clinics offer free or low-cost options. Call first to confirm hours and cost.

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