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 men never notice anything when they have a sexually transmitted infection. Others notice a small change and wonder if it matters. This guide covers the signs of each infection, why a urine test is not always enough, which symptoms call for a same-day visit, and where to get an STD test for men in Houston.

You will not find a self-diagnosis checklist here. Symptoms overlap, and only a clinician and a lab test can say what is going on. The goal is to help you decide what to do next. If you want costs and a wider comparison of sites, the Houston testing and cost guide goes deeper.

Why STD symptoms in men are easy to miss

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that chlamydia and gonorrhea often cause no symptoms in men. Syphilis, herpes, HPV and HIV can also go unnoticed for long stretches.

That is why guidelines lean on testing, not on how you feel. A person can feel well, have a normal-looking body, and still benefit from a test. The reverse is also true. A rash, a sore or burning with urination can have causes that are not an STD at all.

So treat symptoms as a reason to be seen, not as an answer. Treat a lack of symptoms as ordinary, not as proof of anything.

Signs by infection

The signs below come from the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) and CDC patient pages. Any of them can also be caused by something else, and each one may be absent.

Infection	Signs some men notice	Good to know
Chlamydia	Discharge from the penis, burning when urinating, pain or swelling in one or both testicles	Often no symptoms. Curable with treatment from a clinician.
Gonorrhea	Discharge from the penis, burning when urinating, testicular pain or swelling	Often no symptoms. Can infect the throat and rectum. Curable with treatment from a clinician.
Syphilis	A sore that is usually firm and painless, later a rash that can show up on the palms and soles, and other body-wide signs	Sores can be inside the mouth, rectum or on the genitals, where they are easy to miss. Curable with treatment from a clinician.
Trichomoniasis	Itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urinating or ejaculating, discharge	Most men have no symptoms, according to the CDC. Curable with treatment from a clinician.
Genital herpes	Blisters or sores that crust over, tingling or itching before an outbreak	Many people have no recognized symptoms. Not curable, but treatable and manageable.
HPV	Genital warts in some people	Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and often clear on their own, per the CDC. The CDC notes there is no approved HPV test for men. Manageable, not curable.
HIV	Some people have flu-like illness (fever, tiredness, sore throat, swollen glands) a few weeks after infection, and many have nothing	Not curable, but treatable. With treatment, people can live long, healthy lives, the CDC says.

Urethral symptoms

The urethra is the tube inside the penis that carries urine and semen. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis can all inflame it. That can show up as discharge, a burning feeling, or a frequent urge to urinate. Discharge can be clear, white, yellow or greenish. The color does not tell a clinician which infection is present, so a lab test is how it gets sorted out.

Testicular pain or swelling

Pain or swelling in a testicle can come from infection of the epididymis, the tube behind the testicle. The CDC lists chlamydia and gonorrhea as common causes in sexually active men. It can also come from other conditions, including ones that need urgent care. More on that in the same-day section below.

Sores, bumps and rashes

A sore that does not hurt can still matter. The CDC describes the first sign of syphilis as a sore that is often painless, which is why some people never register it. Herpes sores are more often painful, but not always. Genital warts are soft, flesh-colored growths linked to certain HPV types.

A clinician can look at a sore, take a swab or order blood work. Photos shared online cannot sort these out.

Why throat and rectal testing are separate

Many people expect one urine sample to cover everything. For chlamydia and gonorrhea, it does not.

These bacteria can infect the throat and the rectum as well as the urethra. An infection in one place can be absent in another. According to the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines, a urine test checks only the urinary tract. Throat and rectal infections need swabs from those sites.

The CDC recommends that testing follow the kinds of sex a person has had. That means a clinician may suggest testing at one, two or three sites:

Urethra (urine): for penile sex.
Rectum (swab): for receptive anal sex.
Throat (swab): for oral sex.

Throat and rectal infections often have no symptoms. When the rectum is involved, some people notice discharge, pain, bleeding or a feeling of needing to go. A sore throat can come from many causes. This is why a person with no symptoms at all may still be offered a swab.

It is fine to tell a clinician exactly what kind of sex you have had. The question is routine. It exists only to pick the right tests, and it applies to every gender and orientation. If a clinic does not list throat and rectal swabs, ask before you go, since sites differ and some focus on blood tests and rapid screening.

When to see a clinician the same day

Most STD concerns can wait for a regular appointment. A few should not. Seek care the same day, at an urgent care center or emergency room if a clinic cannot see you, if you have:

Sudden, severe pain in a testicle or scrotum. Some causes, such as testicular torsion, need treatment within hours. This should not be assumed to be an STD.
Fever or chills along with testicular swelling, pelvic pain or sores.
Pain, redness or vision changes in the eyes after possible exposure to genital fluids.
Difficulty urinating or being unable to urinate.
A recent sexual assault. Emergency departments can offer medical care, evidence collection and preventive medication. You choose what you want to do.

If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 3 days

The CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) works best when started as soon as possible, and within 72 hours of exposure. A clinician prescribes it, and a clinician decides whether it fits your situation. The Houston Health Department offers nPEP by appointment at its health centers. Call 832-395-9800. If you cannot reach a clinic, an emergency department can evaluate you.

Who should get an STD test, and how often

Testing is not only for people with symptoms. Guidelines focus on exposure and routine screening.

HIV: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV screening for everyone ages 15 to 65, and for younger and older people at increased risk. The CDC recommends at least one HIV test as part of routine health care.
Syphilis: The USPSTF recommends screening for people at increased risk, a group that includes men who have sex with men.
Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: The CDC recommends testing at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. For people with multiple or anonymous partners, the CDC suggests testing more often, every 3 to 6 months.
After a new partner or a partner's diagnosis: A test is reasonable. A clinician can tell you which tests fit.

For men who have sex only with women and have no symptoms, routine screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea is not a blanket recommendation. That is a good reason to talk with a clinician about your own history, rather than assume a test is or is not needed. Your risk is something a clinician can help weigh. This guide cannot.

Window periods

A window period is the time after an exposure when a test may not yet detect an infection. The CDC gives these ranges for HIV:

An antigen/antibody test on blood drawn from a vein can usually detect HIV 18 to 45 days after exposure.
An antigen/antibody test using a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days.
Antibody tests, including most rapid tests and self-tests, can take 23 to 90 days.

For other infections, ask the clinician when to test and whether to repeat. Window periods depend on the test used. If you have symptoms, do not wait for a window to pass before being seen.

What an STD test for men usually involves

Visits vary, but a clinic visit often includes:

A short, private conversation about symptoms, partners and the kinds of sex you have had.
A urine sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Swabs of the throat or rectum when your history calls for them.
A blood draw or finger stick for HIV and syphilis.
A look at any sore, rash or discharge, with a swab if needed.

If a result is positive for a bacterial infection or trichomoniasis, treatment from a clinician cures it. For HIV and herpes, treatment controls the virus and manages symptoms. A clinician decides what is prescribed. Please do not take leftover or borrowed medication, since the wrong choice can hide symptoms and delay a correct diagnosis.

Why this matters in Houston

Houston sits in Harris County, and the numbers show testing is worth doing. These are the latest local figures published by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Houston Health Department. They count reported cases from many causes and are not about any one person.

Chlamydia: The Texas DSHS STD Surveillance Report for 2022 lists 31,406 cases in Harris County, a rate of 656.9 per 100,000 people. The Texas rate that year was 519.9.
Gonorrhea: The same DSHS report lists 12,935 Harris County cases in 2022, or 270.6 per 100,000. The Texas rate was 207.0.
Syphilis: DSHS reports 1,082 primary and secondary cases and 5,670 cases across all stages in Harris County in 2022. The report's county tables do not give rates for these.
HIV: The Houston Health Department's 2026 HIV epidemiologic supplement reports 1,343 new diagnoses in the Houston/Harris County area in 2023, a rate of 27.5 per 100,000.

Year and source differ across these figures, so they should not be compared with each other. Read them as a sign that infections are common here, and that testing is a normal part of health care.

Where to get an STD test in Houston

Several Houston options are free or sliding scale. The local testing list on this site gathers them in one place. Below is what each organization publishes about itself. Services, hours and walk-in rules change, so call before you go.

Houston Health Department health centers

The Houston Health Department says it offers STD walk-in services, HIV testing, syphilis testing and treatment at three locations. Cost is on a sliding scale. The department notes that walk-ins are accepted as capacity permits, and that appointments have been encouraged since September 1, 2026. All three share the phone number 832-393-4220.

Northside Health Center: 8504 Schuller Rd., Houston, Texas 77093.
Sharpstown Health Services: 6201 Bonhomme Rd., 3rd Floor, South Tower, Houston, Texas 77036.
Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center: 4410 Reed Rd., Houston, Texas 77051.

PrEP and nPEP are offered by appointment at 832-395-9800. The health department's own page does not list exact fees, so ask when you call.

Harris County Public Health Antoine Clinic

Harris County Public Health lists free testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, along with PrEP and STI treatment, at 5815 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77091. Its End HIV program says walk-ins are welcome. The listed hours are Monday to Thursday 8am to 7pm, closed Friday, and every other Saturday 8am to 2pm. Confirm before you visit by calling 832-927-7350.

Legacy Community Health, Montrose

Legacy Community Health at 1415 California St., Houston, TX 77006 offers HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C testing at no charge, and walk-ins are accepted for those. It also lists a full STI panel as appointments allow, doxy-PEP, PrEP and PEP. Legacy says its services are open to everyone regardless of ability to pay, and it lists an express STI testing option for uninsured people without symptoms. The full panel price is not stated on its page, so ask when you call (832) 548-5100.

Avenue 360 Health and Wellness

Avenue 360 lists free walk-in rapid HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis testing at two central Houston locations, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm:

Heights: 2150 West 18th Street, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77008.
Midtown: 2920 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77002.

Both use (713) 426-0027. Its testing page does not describe a full STI panel, so ask what is available if you need a swab test.

The Montrose Center

The Montrose Center, an LGBTQ+ community center at 401 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006, offers free walk-in rapid HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis testing Monday to Thursday, 9am to 2pm. It says it does not offer a full STI panel or PrEP. Call 713-529-0037.

Free testing without a clinic visit

Test for Texas: Texas DSHS says anyone in Texas age 13 or older can order a free mail-order self-collection kit for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, with no insurance needed. Details are on the DSHS self-collection page. Check what sample types the program accepts if you think a throat or rectal swab may apply to you.
Harris County Public Health Testing123: Free mobile HIV and syphilis testing at a place you choose in Harris or Montgomery County. Text (281) 962-8378.

You can also look up other sites through the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Privacy, age and reporting in Texas

Under Texas Family Code Section 32.003, a minor of any age may consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious or communicable disease, which includes reportable STIs and HIV. Parent or guardian consent is not required. The same section says a physician may tell a parent about the treatment. It permits this but does not require it, so a teen should ask the clinic about its own practice before the visit. Houston Health Department also notes that a Texas law that took effect September 1, 2025 gives parents access to a minor's electronic health record, which is another reason to ask how a clinic handles messages and results.

Texas DSHS lists chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV as notifiable conditions. That means labs and clinicians report cases to public health. This is routine and is how health departments track trends and offer partner services.

Telling partners and preventing re-infection

If a test finds a bacterial infection, partners often need care too. The CDC describes expedited partner therapy (EPT), where a clinician may provide treatment for a partner without seeing them first. According to the CDC's legal status page for Texas, state administrative rules allow physicians and advanced practice nurses to prescribe for partners of an established patient. Pharmacists may dispense those prescriptions. Ask your clinician whether it applies to your situation.

On prevention, the CDC recommends condoms for lowering the chance of many infections, vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV where they apply, and PrEP for HIV prevention. The CDC's 2024 guidance also says clinicians can consider doxy-PEP, a prescribed medicine taken after sex, for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. It does not prevent every infection. Only a clinician can say whether it fits.

Questions men often ask

Can I have an STD with no symptoms?

Yes. The CDC says many infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes, HPV and HIV, can cause no symptoms. Only testing can show what is present.

Is one urine test enough?

It covers the urethra. Throat and rectal infections need swabs from those sites, according to CDC guidance. A clinician can suggest which sites to test based on your history.

How soon after sex should I test?

It depends on the infection and the test. The CDC window periods for HIV are listed above. For others, ask the clinician. If symptoms appear, get seen without waiting.

Will I have to tell someone about my partners?

Clinicians ask about partners to pick the right tests. You decide what to share, and health departments can offer confidential partner services. Ask the clinic how it works.

Next steps

If something feels different, or it has been a while since your last screening, a test is a practical step. Pick a site from the options above, call ahead, and ask which tests, including throat and rectal swabs, are offered. If you have severe pain or symptoms that worry you, seek same-day care.

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