This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea, the infections TestSmart tests for, are bacterial infections treated with antibiotics. Here's what happens after a positive result, step by step.
Step 1: Your Clinician Will Contact You
At TestSmart, every positive result is reviewed by a clinician who will contact you directly to explain what your result means, answer your questions, and walk through your options.
Step 2: You’ll Be Prescribed Treatment
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are bacterial infections treated with antibiotics.
For chlamydia, the standard treatment is a seven-day course of doxycycline, or a single dose of azithromycin in some situations. For gonorrhoea, treatment is a single injection of ceftriaxone combined with a single oral dose of azithromycin.
With TestSmart, where treatment can be prescribed remotely, your clinician will arrange this with you — no in-person visit needed. For infections that require a clinic visit (such as gonorrhoea treated by injection), your clinician will advise you on the best next step.
Step 3: Avoid Sex Until Treatment Is Complete
You should avoid all sexual contact for seven days after starting treatment, or until your course is completed and any symptoms have resolved — whichever is later. This is to avoid passing the infection on to a partner or becoming reinfected before treatment has had time to work.
Step 4: Let Your Recent Partners Know
Recent sexual partners should be notified so they can be tested and treated if needed. For chlamydia, this means partners from the past six months; for gonorrhoea, partners from at least the past two months. Your clinician will confirm the right timeframe for you.
You don’t have to do this alone or in person. Options include:
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Telling them directly — a conversation, text, or call
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Anonymous notification via Let Them Know (letthemknow.org.au) — a free Australian service that sends a discreet message on your behalf without revealing your identity
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Your clinician can assist with partner notification if you’re unsure how to approach it
Step 5: Retest at Three Months
The Australian STI Management Guidelines recommend retesting three months after treatment for a chlamydia or gonorrhoea result, to check for re-infection, which is common. Re-infection doesn’t mean treatment failed; it means a partner or new contact was carrying the infection.
You can do your three-month retest at home with a TestSmart kit - no clinic visit needed.
If you’re finding it difficult to process the result or want to talk to someone, a GP or sexual health clinic can provide support beyond the clinical side of things.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell my current partner?
Yes — if you’ve had sexual contact with them within the notification period (six months for chlamydia, at least two months for gonorrhoea), they need to be notified. Your clinician will discuss this with you and can help if you’re unsure how to approach it.
What if I don’t know how to contact a past partner?
Do what you reasonably can. If you have a phone number or email for them, Let Them Know can send an anonymous message for you. If you genuinely have no way to reach someone, that’s something to discuss with your clinician.
Will my result be reported anywhere?
In Australia, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are notifiable conditions, which means positive results are reported to the relevant state or territory health authority. This is a routine public health process.
Can I get reinfected after treatment?
Yes. Treatment clears your current infection but doesn’t provide immunity. If a partner hasn’t been treated, or if you have a new exposure, you can be reinfected. This is why a retest at three months is recommended, even after treatment.
Does a positive result mean my partner cheated?
Not necessarily. Many STIs have no symptoms. According to the Australian STI Management Guidelines, 85–90% of people with chlamydia have no symptoms, so it's often not possible to know when or from whom an infection was acquired.
The Bottom Line
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are treated with antibiotics. After a positive result, a TestSmart clinician will contact you to discuss treatment. Your recent partners should be notified, and you should retest three months after treatment.
If you haven’t tested recently, you can order an at-home STI test kit and know your status without a clinic visit.
Haven't tested recently? Our at-home kit tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea with a simple urine sample. No clinic, no collection centre, discreet delivery.
Need throat and rectal testing too? See the Comprehensive Kit
This article is general information only and does not replace individual medical advice — your circumstances, symptoms, and test results should always be discussed with your reviewing clinician.