When Can You Have Sex After STI Treatment? A Practical UK Guide

When Can You Have Sex After STI Treatment? A Practical UK Guide

One of the most common questions people ask after being diagnosed and treated for a sexually transmitted infection is: when can you have sex after STI treatment? It is a practical, important question — and one that deserves a clear, honest answer. The timing depends on several factors, including the type of infection you were treated for, the treatment you received, and whether your sexual partner has also been tested and treated. In most cases, clinicians advise a waiting period after treatment before resuming sexual activity. This is not about judgement — it is about reducing the risk of reinfection and protecting both you and your partner. Getting the timing right also helps ensure that your treatment has had enough time to work effectively. In this guide, we explain the recommended waiting periods for common STIs, why waiting matters, and what to do if you are unsure.

Why Waiting After STI Treatment Matters

Taking a short break from sexual activity after STI treatment is recommended for several important reasons:

• Preventing reinfection — if you resume sexual contact before the infection has been fully cleared, or before your partner has completed treatment, you risk becoming reinfected with the same STI. Reinfection is one of the most common reasons people test positive again shortly after treatment.
• Allowing antibiotics to work — antibiotic treatment does not clear an infection instantly. The medication needs time to eliminate the bacteria from your body. Having sex during this period means the infection may still be present and transmissible.
• Protecting your partner — resuming sex before treatment has taken full effect means you could transmit the infection to your partner, even if you are feeling better.
• Avoiding "ping-pong" transmission — if both partners are not treated simultaneously, there is a risk of passing the infection back and forth between each other. This is a common pattern with infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Understanding why the waiting period exists can help it feel less like an inconvenience and more like a practical step in your recovery. For more about reinfection, see our guide on can you get the same STI twice.

General Rule: The 7-Day Waiting Recommendation

For many common bacterial STIs — including chlamydia and gonorrhoea — clinicians commonly advise waiting at least 7 days after starting treatment before having any sexual contact. This applies to all forms of sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

It is important to note that this is a general recommendation, not an absolute rule. The specific advice may vary depending on:

• The type of infection being treated
• The treatment regimen prescribed (single-dose versus multi-day course)
• Whether your sexual partner has also been tested and treated
• Any individual clinical considerations

In all cases, both you and your partner should have completed treatment before resuming sexual activity. Having sex before the recommended waiting period — even if you feel well — may increase the risk of reinfection or onward transmission. Your GP or sexual health clinician can provide specific guidance based on your circumstances.

When Can You Have Sex After Chlamydia Treatment?

Chlamydia is one of the most commonly diagnosed STIs in the UK, and the question of when to resume sex after treatment is one that clinicians hear frequently.

The typical advice is:

• After completing your prescribed course: clinicians commonly recommend waiting at least 7 days after finishing treatment before having any sexual contact
• Ensure your partner has been treated: both partners should have completed treatment before resuming sex. If your partner has not yet been treated, avoid sexual contact until they have finished their course and the waiting period has passed

Retesting for chlamydia may be recommended approximately three months after treatment, particularly for individuals under 25 or those considered at higher risk of reinfection. This is a routine precaution rather than an indication that treatment has failed.

When Can You Have Sex After Gonorrhoea Treatment?

Gonorrhoea treatment is prescribed by your GP or sexual health clinician based on current clinical guidelines. The waiting period after gonorrhoea treatment follows similar principles to chlamydia.

In most cases, clinicians advise:

• Wait at least 7 days after treatment before having any sexual contact
• Confirm that your partner has been treated — partner treatment is essential to prevent reinfection
• A test of cure may be recommended in certain cases, particularly given growing concerns about antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea. Your GP or sexual health clinician may advise a follow-up test to confirm that the infection has been cleared

Antibiotic resistance is a separate but related concern with gonorrhoea. For more information about resistant strains, read our guide on super gonorrhoea explained.

If your GP or sexual health clinician recommends a test of cure, it is advisable to wait for those results before resuming sexual activity where possible.

What About Herpes?

Herpes requires a different approach because it is a viral infection that remains in the body rather than being cured with antibiotics. The guidance around sex and herpes focuses on outbreak management rather than a fixed post-treatment waiting period.

Key points include:

• Avoid sexual contact during an active outbreak — this means avoiding sex when blisters, sores, or ulcers are present, and also during the prodromal phase (tingling or burning sensations that may precede an outbreak)
• Wait until sores have fully healed — do not resume sexual contact until all lesions have completely crusted over and healed. Broken skin or open sores significantly increase transmission risk
• Condom use reduces but does not eliminate risk — herpes can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered by a condom. Consistent condom use reduces transmission risk but does not eliminate it entirely
• Antiviral medication can help — your GP or sexual health clinician may recommend antiviral medication to help manage outbreaks and reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of transmission

For practical guidance on managing outbreaks, see our article on how to treat herpes sores.

What About Syphilis?

Syphilis treatment depends on the stage of infection, and your GP or sexual health clinician will advise on the appropriate approach. The advice regarding sexual activity after syphilis treatment is:

• Avoid sexual contact until your GP or sexual health clinician confirms it is appropriate — the waiting period for syphilis may be longer than for chlamydia or gonorrhoea, depending on the stage and treatment given
• Follow-up blood tests are usually required — syphilis treatment is monitored through serial blood tests to confirm that the infection is responding to treatment. Your GP or sexual health clinician will advise on the appropriate testing schedule
• Partner treatment is important — as with other STIs, ensuring that sexual partners are tested and treated helps prevent reinfection

Because syphilis can present differently at various stages, the clinical advice may vary. Always follow the specific guidance provided by your treating clinician. For more about syphilis testing, see our syphilis testing page.

Can You Have Sex While Still Taking Antibiotics?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and the answer requires some nuance:

• In general, clinicians advise waiting the full recommended period — even if you are still partway through your course of antibiotics. The medication needs time to clear the infection from your body, and having sex during treatment means the infection may still be transmissible.
• Antibiotics do not clear an infection immediately — even if symptoms improve quickly, the bacteria may still be present in your system. Feeling better is not the same as being clear of infection.
• Follow the specific advice from your treating clinician — the waiting period may vary depending on the antibiotic prescribed and the infection being treated. Your GP or sexual health clinician's guidance takes priority over general advice.

The safest approach is to wait the full recommended period and ensure that your partner has also completed treatment before resuming any sexual activity.

Does Using a Condom Make It Safe Sooner?

Condoms are an important tool for reducing STI transmission risk, but they do not replace the recommended waiting period after treatment.

• Condoms significantly reduce risk — they provide a physical barrier that prevents the exchange of bodily fluids during sex
• Condoms are not 100% protective — some STIs, such as herpes and HPV, can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in areas not covered by a condom
• The waiting period is still advised — even with condom use, clinicians generally recommend completing the full waiting period before resuming sexual activity

Using a condom after the waiting period has passed adds an additional layer of protection, particularly if there is any uncertainty about partner treatment. For more on this topic, read our guide on can you get STDs while using a condom.

What If Your Partner Hasn't Been Treated Yet?

If your sexual partner has not yet been tested and treated, it is important to avoid sexual contact until they have completed their treatment and the recommended waiting period has passed.

This is one of the most common causes of reinfection — one partner completes treatment successfully, but the other has not been treated, leading to the infection being passed back. This cycle can be frustrating, but it is entirely preventable with coordinated treatment.

If you find it difficult to discuss STI treatment with your partner, many sexual health clinics offer partner notification services that can help facilitate this conversation in a sensitive and confidential way. There is no blame attached to needing to notify a partner — it is a responsible and important part of managing sexual health.

When Should You Retest After Treatment?

Retesting after treatment may be recommended in several situations:

• Test of cure — for infections such as gonorrhoea, a follow-up test may be recommended to confirm that the infection has been successfully cleared. This is particularly relevant given concerns about antibiotic resistance.
• Routine retesting at three months — UK sexual health guidance recommends retesting for chlamydia approximately three months after treatment, particularly for individuals at higher risk of reinfection. This is a precautionary measure to catch any reinfection early.
• Ongoing symptoms — if symptoms persist or return after completing treatment, retesting is advisable. Persistent symptoms could indicate treatment failure, reinfection, or a different condition.

Retesting provides reassurance and ensures that any reinfection is identified and treated promptly. For more about how testing works, see our guide on STI test results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to have sex before 7 days?

The 7-day recommendation is based on the time needed for antibiotics to clear the infection. Having sex before this period carries a higher risk of transmitting the infection to your partner or being reinfected if your partner is untreated. While individual circumstances may vary, following the recommended waiting period is the most cautious approach. Your GP or sexual health clinician can advise if different timing applies to your specific situation.

Can I reinfect my partner?

Yes. If you have sex before the infection has been fully cleared by treatment, you can transmit the STI to your partner. Similarly, if your partner was the source of the original infection and has not been treated, they can reinfect you. Coordinated treatment and a shared waiting period help prevent this.

What if we both finished antibiotics?

If both you and your partner have completed the full course of prescribed treatment and the recommended waiting period has passed, the risk of transmission between you is significantly reduced. However, if either of you has had any additional sexual contact with other partners during the treatment period, further testing may be advisable.

Do I need a negative test before sex?

For most bacterial STIs, a negative test result is not required before resuming sex — the recommended waiting period after treatment is generally sufficient. However, for gonorrhoea, a test of cure may be recommended in certain cases. If you have any doubts, discussing your situation with a clinician can provide clarity.

Can symptoms come back after treatment?

In most cases, symptoms resolve following successful treatment. If symptoms return, this could indicate reinfection (if you have had further sexual contact), treatment failure (uncommon but possible), or a different underlying condition. If symptoms recur after treatment, seek clinical advice for further assessment.

When to Seek Medical Advice

You should seek clinical advice if you experience any of the following after completing STI treatment:

• Persistent symptoms — if symptoms such as discharge, pain, or irritation have not resolved within the expected timeframe after completing treatment
• Worsening symptoms — any symptoms that are becoming more severe rather than improving
• New symptoms after treatment — the development of symptoms you did not have before treatment may indicate a co-infection or a different condition
• Fever or severe pain — these may warrant prompt clinical assessment

These situations do not necessarily indicate a serious problem, but seeking advice ensures that any concerns are addressed appropriately.

Confidential STI Testing & Follow-Up in the UK

If you have recently completed STI treatment and would like follow-up testing or further advice, confidential appointments are available at our UK clinic. Recommendations depend on the infection type and your individual circumstances.

Whether you need a test of cure, retesting after the recommended interval, or guidance on next steps, our nurse-led team provides practical, non-judgemental testing support. If treatment is required, we will advise you on the appropriate next steps with your GP or sexual health service. Book a confidential appointment at a time that suits you.