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.

Most people picture an STI as something that shows up in the genitals. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can also be present in the throat after oral sex. Because the throat often stays quiet, these infections are easy to overlook.

This guide explains why that happens and walks you through getting the right kind of test in Orlando. It covers the symptoms of std in throat infections, what to prepare, what to say, and what results can and cannot tell you.

Why throat infections are so easy to miss

The CDC's 2021 STI Treatment Guidelines say that most throat infections with gonorrhea cause no symptoms. The same is true for many chlamydia infections elsewhere in the body. No symptoms does not mean no infection, and it does not mean there is one. It means symptoms alone cannot answer the question.

There are three more reasons these infections slip through.

The symptoms look like everyday illness. When the throat does hurt, it feels like a cold, allergies or strep.
Standard tests often skip the throat. A urine sample checks the urinary and genital tract. It does not check the throat.
Many people are never asked. A visit may focus on one body site unless oral sex comes up.

None of this is a personal failing. It is how these infections behave, and it is why a short, honest conversation with a clinician matters.

What the symptoms of std in throat infections can look like

When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild and nonspecific. Possible signs include:

A sore throat that lingers
Redness in the back of the throat
Pain when swallowing
Swollen glands in the neck

Many other things cause these signs, including viruses, strep, allergies and acid reflux. Only a test can say whether a throat infection is present. A clinician can help you sort out the likely causes.

A sore throat that fades does not settle the question either. An infection can be present without any symptoms at all.

How to get a throat infection checked: step by step

Materials you will need

A photo ID. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County says a picture ID is required at its STD clinic.
A short written list of the types of sex you have had (oral, vaginal, anal) and roughly when.
A list of any medicines you take, and any allergies.
A way to pay, or a question ready about cost. The county says clinic fees start at $20 and up, with a sliding scale after an eligibility screening.
Your phone, so you can receive results or follow-up messages.

Step 1: Write down which body sites were involved

Testing follows exposure. The CDC guidelines describe testing at each site where sex happened, because a result from one site says nothing about another. A urine test cannot find a throat infection.

Jot down the sites in plain words. For example: "oral sex, giving, in the last two months." Specific notes help the clinician choose the right swab.

Step 2: Choose a testing site and ask about throat swabs

Not every clinic collects throat samples. Call ahead and ask one clear question: "Do you do a throat swab for gonorrhea and chlamydia?"

Here are a few Orlando-area details worth knowing:

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County STD Clinic is at 832 West Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805. Its phone number is 407-858-1400. The county page describes it as walk-in and first come, first served. Hours listed on the county STD page are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 12 to 1 p.m. for lunch. Other pages show different hours, so call before you go.
Miracle of Love says on its Test & Treat page that it does not perform swabs for gonorrhea or chlamydia and points swab testing to the Department of Health. Its (407) 843-1760 line can tell you what it offers.
The Center Orlando lists STI testing by NPS Healthcare, walk-in only. Its page does not say whether throat swabs are offered, so ask before you visit.

The full local list is on our Orlando testing options page, with hours and what each place offers.

Step 3: Tell the clinician about oral sex directly

Clinicians hear this every day. You can say, "I'd like my throat tested too." You do not need to explain more than you want to.

Florida law also protects privacy for younger patients. Under Florida Statute 384.30, a minor does not need a parent's or guardian's consent for examination or treatment for a sexually transmissible disease. The statute also makes the fact of the visit confidential.

Step 4: Know what the sample looks like

A throat test is usually a swab of the back of the throat. It takes a few seconds and can make you gag briefly. Many labs run it with a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), the method the CDC guidelines describe for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

The CDC notes that testing for gonorrhea at the throat is recommended for people who report oral exposure, with a clinician guiding the choice. For chlamydia, the CDC says the evidence on throat screening is less settled. That is why your clinician's judgment, based on your history, matters here.

Step 5: Ask when and how results arrive

The county STD page says results take about one week. They are given in person or by coded text with signed consent. If you want text results, ask about signing the consent form at the visit.

Ask which tests were actually run. Then you will know whether the throat was included.

Step 6: Plan follow-up before you leave

Bacterial STIs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia are curable with treatment from a clinician. If a test is positive, the clinician decides on the medicine. Do not use leftover antibiotics or someone else's prescription.

The CDC guidelines also say that people treated for gonorrhea in the throat should have a follow-up test, because throat infections can be harder to clear. The CDC lists a window of about 7 to 14 days after treatment for that check. Your clinician will say whether it applies to you.

Partners may need testing and treatment too. Florida allows expedited partner therapy under Statute 384.27 in certain cases, per the CDC. Ask your clinician whether it fits your situation.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call first. Hours and services change, and the county notes that different pages list different hours.
Say the word "throat." Do not assume it will be added to the order.
Avoid brushing or gargling right before the swab if the clinic asks. Follow any instructions the clinic gives.
Ask what was tested. Results for one body site do not cover another.
Bring your questions in writing. It is easy to forget them in the room.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for symptoms. Throat infections often cause none, so waiting for a sore throat can mean missing them.
Assuming a urine test covers everything. It checks a different site.
Treating a sore throat on your own. If symptoms are bothering you, a clinician can look at all the possible causes.
Skipping the follow-up test. Ask whether one is advised after treatment.
Taking leftover medicine. Only a clinician can choose the right treatment.

What results can tell you

A negative throat swab suggests the lab did not detect gonorrhea or chlamydia in that sample, at that moment. It may not reflect very recent exposure. Ask the clinician how timing affects your result, since the CDC does not give one window that fits every test.

A positive result means the lab detected the bacteria. With treatment from a clinician, these infections are generally curable. Treatment is usually followed by a recheck plan, and partners are often advised to be tested.

Either way, you will know more than you did before. Many people find that part a relief.

Why this matters in Orange County

FLHealthCHARTS, from the Florida Department of Health, reports a 2025 gonorrhea rate of 193.7 per 100,000 people in Orange County (2,975 cases). The statewide rate was 156.5 per 100,000. The Orange County chlamydia rate was 516.7 per 100,000 (7,937 cases), against 410.8 for Florida.

These figures count reported cases. They do not say how many infections went untested, which is part of the throat problem.

Where to read more

For a full overview of chlamydia in general, see our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Orlando. For anything specific to your health, a clinician is the right person to ask.

Oral Gonorrhea and Chlamydia: Why They're Often Missed