Sexually transmitted diseases panel (throat swab)

In about 80% of cases, sexually transmitted diseases occur without any symptoms. Therefore, without taking a test, an infected person may not even be aware that they are contagious, and may infect their partner. If you have had unprotected intercourse, we always recommend that you take the test.

In women, the symptoms include vaginal itching, painful urination and increased vaginal discharge, smelly discharge from the vagina, itching of the external genital area, heavy frothy and smelly discharge from the vagina or urethra, bleeding outside the menstrual period, post-intercourse contact bleeding, pain in the lower abdomen, urinal tract inflammation, increased frequency of and pain during urination, vaginal bleeding, rectal pain, pain during passing stool, rectal discharge or itching in the rectal area.

In men, the symptoms include stinging or itching in the urethra and painful urination, urethral discharge, inflammation in the urethra, recurrent urethritis and prostatitis, burning pain while urinating and purulent urethral discharge, rectal pain or discharge (incl. blood).

• The sample collection material for this panel is throat swab.
• Before giving the sample, read the instructions HERE.
• You can get a container for collecting the sample from a SYNLAB testing point. If you order the panel as a TEST YOURSELF service, the sample collection kit will be sent to you by Smartpost.

• The results will be displayed in minu.synlab.ee and terviseportaal.ee.
• A positive result indicates that there are pathogens in the sample material, and you need to make an appointment with a urologist or gynaecologist, who will prescribe relevant treatment.
• In the case of a positive M. genitalium DNA and/or N. gonorrhoeae DNA result the laboratory will automatically perform additional free of charge resistance mutation analysis, which provides important information for the treating physician regarding the antibiotic susceptibility/resistance of these pathogens. Performing resistance mutations takes up to 2 business days.
• The result reflects the current situation. If infection occurs subsequently, testing should be repeated.

The Sexually transmitted diseases panel with throat swab as sample collecting material helps you to detect the presence of 4 sexually transmitted diseases – chlamydia, gonorrhea or the clap, mycoplasma genitalium, and trichomoniasis.

The test should be ordered based on your sexual behaviour. In nearly 25% of cases, pathogens can be detected from a throat or rectal swab.

When ordering the panel, please keep in mind that sexually transmitted diseases have an incubation period. This is a period of time when you have been infected, but the test result may not yet indicate it. We recommend that you order the panel approximately 2-4 weeks after possible infection, or when symptoms occur.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in Estonia. It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. 

In women, the main symptoms of illness include painful urination and increased vaginal discharge. Bleeding outside the menstrual period and post-intercourse contact bleeding may also occur. In men, the symptoms include stinging or itching in the urethra and painful urination, occasionally also urethral discharge. In case of rectal infection, symptoms such as rectal pain or discharge (incl. bleeding) may develop.

If left untreated, urogenital chlamydia may cause severe complications and lead to problems later on, such as prostate infection.

Gonorrhea or the clap is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is usually transmitted sexually, occasionally also through contact with the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx. In women, the most frequent complaints include smelly vaginal discharge and inflammation of the internal genital organs (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries), which manifests with pain in the lower abdomen and increased body temperature, or urinary tract infection, expressed by the need to urinate more frequently and pain during urination. When gonorrhea infects the cervix, the symptoms may include vaginal bleeding and bleeding during or after intercourse. Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include rectal pain, pain during passing stool, rectal discharge or itching in the rectal area.

The most common complaints in men include burning pain while urinating and purulent urethral discharge. Sometimes the only complaint is painful urination. Gonococci can sometimes spread further from the urethra to the urinary tract and internal genital organs, and cause infection in the prostate, seminal vesicles and epididymis.

It is important to note that about 50% of infected women and 10-20% of infected men do not develop any symptoms. Even without any symptoms, those infected can still pass on the disease and may develop complications later on.

If gonorrhea is left untreated for a long period of time, it leads to the chronic inflammation of internal genital organs, which may cause infertility.

Mycoplasma genitalium is caused by mycoplasmas – the smallest medically relevant bacteria, which are divided into several species. In this panel, we focus on Mycoplasma genitalium, which is spread through sexual contact.

Mycoplasma genitalium can cause urethral inflammation in men and cervical and urethral inflammation in women (similarly to chlamydia and gonorrhea infections). In women, the main symptoms include itching in the vagina, increased vaginal discharge, pain when urinating and during intercourse.
In men, the main symptoms include painful urination and (purulent) urethral discharge.

The infectious disease often occurs without any symptoms.

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.

In women, the infection usually leads to vaginal inflammation, which is expressed by swelling and redness of the vaginal mucosa. Possible symptoms include itching of the external genital area, heavy frothy and smelly discharge from the vagina or urethra, pain when urinating and during intercourse. About 25% of infected women do not develop any symptoms.
In men, trichomoniasis causes urethral inflammation. Typical symptoms include heavy transparent discharge and pain during urination. Most infected men do not develop any symptoms of trichomoniasis at all.
Usually, symptoms develop 5-28 days after infection.

Infection mainly occurs by sexual contact, and the disease often occurs without any symptoms. The symptoms may also develop up to 6 months after infection.

Recovery from the disease does not give immunity to trichomoniasis, and it can be contracted again. As with any sexually transmitted disease, it is very important to treat sexual partners also.

Laboratory tests provide an overview of the body's current state, and normal results do not guarantee the absence of all health issues. If symptoms persist, we recommend consulting your general practitioner or booking a consultation with a laboratory doctor.

1. Chlamydia
2. Gonorrhea
3. Trichomoniasis
4. Urogenital Mycoplasma genitalium