STI Symptoms in Men and Women: Find Your Symptom and the Right Test in Nairobi
Discharge, pain when you pee, a sore or an itch? Find your symptom below to see what it could mean and which test to take. Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called STDs) cause no symptoms at all, so a test is the only way to know.
- Same-day doctor consultation
- Private and confidential
- Walk-ins welcome
Sudden, severe pain in a testicle, or severe pain low in your tummy? Go to an emergency department now, especially if you could be pregnant.
Find your symptom
Choose where you have symptoms. Tests use urine, a swab or a little blood; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests find a germ's genetic material.
More detail: STI symptoms in men · STI symptoms in women
Mouth and throat
Sore throat or mouth sores after oral sex
- Could be
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Herpes
- Other causes
- Colds and other common throat infections.
- Test
- A throat swab, added at your visit if you ask, and for a mouth sore, a syphilis blood test. Urine tests and vaginal swabs only check the genitals.
Skin and whole body
A rash, a flu-like illness or yellow skin
- Could be
- Syphilis: a rash, often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. HIV: fever, rash, sore throat and swollen glands, 2 to 4 weeks after infection. Hepatitis B: yellow skin or eyes, and dark pee.
- Other causes
- Many viral illnesses and skin conditions.
- Test
- Blood tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B (Bronze). Soon after infection, HIV tests can still be negative, so the doctor may suggest our lab HIV test now and another test later.
Genitals
Discharge from the penis
- Could be
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia
- Mycoplasma genitalium
- Trichomonas
- Test
- A urine PCR test (Silver).
Unusual vaginal discharge
- Could be
- Trichomonas
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Other causes
- Bacterial vaginosis and thrush, two of the most common causes. They aren't classed as STIs, though sex can trigger bacterial vaginosis.
- Test
- A vaginal swab for PCR (Silver), and a test for bacterial vaginosis and thrush (KES 1,300).
Pain or burning when you pee
- Could be
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Trichomonas
- M. genitalium
- Herpes
- Other causes
- A urine infection, or thrush.
- Test
- A PCR test on urine, or on a vaginal swab for women (Silver), and a urine test for infection.
Sores, blisters or ulcers
- Could be
- Herpes: painful blisters or sores. Syphilis: a sore that usually doesn't hurt, so it's easy to miss.
- Test
- A swab from the sore (herpes PCR, in Gold and Platinum) and blood tests for syphilis and HIV. Come in while the sore is there. Early on, the syphilis test can be negative, so the doctor may treat you straight away.
Lumps, bumps or warts
- Could be
- Genital warts (human papillomavirus, HPV)
- Molluscum contagiosum
- Other causes
- Harmless bumps that many people have naturally, which a doctor can tell apart.
- Test
- A doctor looks at them. There's no blood or HPV test for genital warts.
Itching
- Could be
- Trichomonas
- Herpes
- Pubic lice
- Scabies
- Other causes
- Thrush, or irritation from soaps and washes.
- Test
- A doctor's check and swab tests.
Bleeding after sex or between periods
- Could be
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Other causes
- Changes on the neck of the womb (cervix), polyps or hormonal contraception. Occasionally it's a sign of cervical cancer, so always get it checked by a doctor.
- Test
- A vaginal swab for PCR (Silver), and a doctor's check of the cervix.
Lower tummy
Pain low in the tummy, or pain during sex (women)
- Could be
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the womb and fallopian tubes, usually caused by chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Untreated, it can make it harder to get pregnant.
- Test
- A doctor's check and a vaginal swab for PCR. The doctor may treat you before the results are back.
Go to an emergency department straight away if the pain is severe or getting worse, or you have a very high temperature, feel shivery or are being sick.
Could you be pregnant? Pain low down on one side of the tummy, or vaginal bleeding, needs checking today, even if you haven't done a pregnancy test: it can be an ectopic pregnancy. Sudden, severe pain or feeling faint: go to an emergency department.
Testicles
Pain or swelling in a testicle
- Could be
- Inflammation of the tube behind the testicle (epididymitis), often caused by chlamydia or gonorrhoea in men under 35.
- Test
- A doctor's check, a urine PCR test (Silver) and a urine test for infection.
Go to an emergency department now if the pain is sudden or severe, or comes with tummy pain or being sick. It can be a twisted testicle (testicular torsion), which needs treatment within hours.
Anus
Pain, discharge or bleeding from the anus
- Could be
- After anal sex or other anal contact:
- Gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
- Syphilis
- Other causes
- Piles and small tears (fissures).
- Test
- A rectal swab, which isn't available at our clinic: please get a rectal test at a clinic that offers one. Our doctor can still examine you and test your blood for HIV and syphilis, but a urine test won't find an infection in the anus.
Heavy bleeding, or bleeding that won't stop? Go to an emergency department.
No symptoms? You could still have an STI
You can pass an infection on without knowing, and untreated chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause pelvic infection and problems getting pregnant. A test is a good idea if:
- You have a new partner, or more than one
- You had sex without a condom, or a condom broke
- A partner has symptoms or has tested positive
- It's been more than a year since your last test
Each test needs time before it can find an infection: see when to test after unprotected sex.
Get tested at CA Medlynks
Have symptoms? Choose a package with a doctor's consultation. The doctor examines you, chooses the tests and can usually treat you the same day.
| Package | Test only | With a doctor |
|---|---|---|
| BronzeBlood tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Results the same day | 5,000 | 6,500 |
| SilverPCR for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, M. genitalium and trichomonas. Results in 48 hours | 15,500 | 19,500 |
| GoldSilver, plus herpes PCR and a urine test for infection. Results in 48 hours | 25,000 | 30,000 |
| PlatinumEverything above, in one visit. Results in 48 hours | 30,000 | 35,000 |
Single tests include a test for bacterial vaginosis and thrush (KES 1,300, result in 1 day), a urine test (KES 750), syphilis (KES 750) and our lab HIV test (KES 2,200). Pay after your test by M-Pesa, cash, Visa or Mastercard. See every package in our guide to STI testing in Nairobi.
Your visit, step by step
Message or walk in
Book on WhatsApp or by phone, or just walk in.
A private chat
Tell us your symptoms and when they started. Everything stays confidential.
Quick samples
Urine and/or a swab, and a small blood sample. The visit takes about 20 minutes.
Private results
By WhatsApp, email or in person, as you choose. If anything is positive, a doctor explains it in a private room.
Please don't treat yourself. Antibiotics bought from a chemist without a test can hide an infection without curing it, and they help gonorrhoea become resistant to treatment. Kenya's 2026 national guidelines no longer recommend treating STIs on symptoms alone. If you have symptoms, avoid sex until you've been checked, and if you're treated, until you and your partners have finished treatment.
Bring an identity card or passport for our records. Under 18? Please call or WhatsApp us on +254 741 669 175 before you visit.
Find us
- Daykio Plaza, Ground Floor, off Ngong Lane, Kilimani, Nairobi
- Mon–Fri 8am–8pm · Sat 8am–5pm
Closed Sundays and public holidays - +254 741 669 175 (call or WhatsApp)
- On-site parking
This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional about your individual circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of an STI?
Often there are none. When there are, common first signs are unusual discharge, pain or burning when you pee, sores or blisters, lumps, itching, or bleeding after sex. A test is the only way to know whether you have an STI.
What are the symptoms of STIs in men?
Discharge from the penis, burning when you pee, pain or swelling in a testicle, and sores, blisters or lumps on the genitals. Many men with chlamydia or gonorrhoea have no symptoms at all.
What are the symptoms of STIs in women?
Unusual vaginal discharge, burning when you pee, pain low in the tummy or during sex, bleeding after sex or between periods, and sores or lumps. Many women with chlamydia have no symptoms, and untreated infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Can you have an STI without symptoms?
Yes. Most people with chlamydia have no symptoms, and the same goes for many people with gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis B. You can still pass an infection on, so test after a new partner or sex without a condom.
Is it an STI, thrush or a urine infection?
You can't tell from the symptoms alone. Thrush, bacterial vaginosis and urine infections can cause similar symptoms but aren't classed as STIs. A doctor can test for all of them in one visit.
Should I wait to test if I have symptoms?
No. See a doctor and test now. If the first result is negative, you may need another test later. Don't treat yourself with antibiotics from a chemist: they can hide an infection without curing it.
How soon do STI symptoms appear?
It varies. Gonorrhoea symptoms often start around 2 weeks after sex, chlamydia from 1 week to several months, a syphilis sore after about 3 weeks, and HIV's flu-like illness after 2 to 4 weeks. Herpes and genital warts can take weeks to months or longer, and many infections never cause symptoms.
How much does an STI test cost in Nairobi?
At CA Medlynks, packages start at KES 5,000, and PCR tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and similar infections start at KES 15,500. With a doctor's consultation, packages cost KES 6,500 to 35,000.
Medically reviewed by
Written for patients by the CA Medlynks team and reviewed by the doctor below, following Kenya's 2026 national guidelines for HIV, STIs and viral hepatitis, and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the UK National Health Service (NHS). Last reviewed 22 October 2026; we review it at least once a year.
Dr. Paul Yonga
Medical Director and Infectious Disease Specialist
MBChB, MSPH, FRCP (Edin)
Sources
- NHS. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (urethritis and cervicitis, vaginal discharge, proctitis, anogenital warts).
- World Health Organization. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): fact sheet.
- NHS. Symptoms of syphilis.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About HIV.
- NHS. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- NHS. Ectopic pregnancy.
- NHS. Vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex.
- NHS. Testicle pain, and Epididymitis.
- NHS. Bleeding from the bottom (rectal bleeding).
- Ministry of Health, Kenya, National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP). Integrated Guidelines for Prevention, Treatment and Management of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, 2026.
- UN Women Africa. Kenya's national toll-free helpline 1195, 2024.