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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Sometimes. Chlamydia and herpes treated online after testing; some STIs need in-person care.
- Testing comes first: STIs are confirmed by a test, not by symptoms, and some (such as syphilis and gonorrhoea) are treated in person, not by online prescription.
- Many STIs cause no symptoms at all, so testing after a new or unprotected partner matters even when you feel fine.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests are reliable from about two weeks after exposure, HIV from about four weeks.
- If pain is sudden and severe, you cannot pass urine at all, or someone collapses, call 112 immediately.
Book urgent in-person care instead if you have severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain with fever, a painful, swollen testicle, or you feel very unwell with a high fever after a recent exposure. These need a physical examination the same day. For everything else, an online consultation is a good place to start, and the doctor tells you plainly what can be done online and what cannot.
Can an online doctor treat STIs?
Some, yes, and some need in-person care. STIs are confirmed by testing, not by symptoms, so the pathway is test first, then treat. Infections such as chlamydia and genital herpes can often be managed by video, while others, including syphilis and gonorrhoea, usually need injections and blood tests given in person.[1] Prescribing rules vary by country.
Mobi Doctor, an online healthcare service with licensed doctors, is deliberately honest about that split. A trustworthy online service treats what it safely can, arranges the right test where you need one, and refers the infections that genuinely require a clinic, rather than promising a simple online cure for everything.
How an online consultation helps with STIs
because symptoms overlap and many STIs are silent, the doctor helps you choose the correct test and where to get it, rather than treating blind.
with a confirmed result, infections such as chlamydia can be treated by video, with a prescription sent to a local pharmacy in most EU countries.
syphilis, gonorrhoea and some complications need in-person injections, bloods or examination, and the doctor arranges that clearly instead of glossing over it.
who needs to know, when you can have sex again, and when to retest, handled in the same confidential consultation.
Which STIs can be treated online?
Whether an STI can be treated online depends on how it is treated. Oral treatments can be prescribed by video after the right test; injectable treatments and procedures cannot. This is the framework our doctors use, aligned with European guidance:[1]
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| Infection | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When referral or in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia (confirmed by test) | Oral antibiotics, usually doxycycline for seven days | Usually yes, after a positive test | Pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, or a painful testicle |
| Genital herpes | Antiviral tablets for outbreaks or daily suppression | Usually yes | Severe first episode, or unable to pass urine |
| Gonorrhoea (confirmed by test) | Antibiotic, usually given as an injection | Assessment and referral for treatment in person | Treatment is given in person; complications need clinic care |
| Syphilis (suspected or confirmed) | Penicillin injection(s), given in person, after blood tests[2] | Assessment and testing direction only | Testing and treatment are done in person |
| Genital warts | Topical treatment, or clinic procedures to remove them | Partly, depending on treatment chosen | Procedures such as freezing are done in person |
Availability of individual medicines and who may prescribe them vary by country; your doctor confirms what applies where you are.
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See available times →STIs and related conditions we cover
Each infection has its own page with detailed treatment, testing and partner-notification advice. Start with the one that fits your situation:
- Chlamydia: the most common bacterial STI in Europe, usually silent, cured with a short antibiotic course after a positive test.[4]
- Gonorrhoea: often symptomless, treated with an antibiotic injection given in person; the online role is assessment and testing direction.
- Syphilis: diagnosed by blood test and treated with penicillin injections in person, with online assessment, testing direction and follow-up.
- Genital herpes: managed, not cured, with antiviral tablets that work best started early.[5]
- Genital warts: caused by HPV, treated with topical medicines or clinic procedures.
- HIV: testing and referral into specialist care; modern treatment is highly effective.
- Urethritis: inflammation of the urethra, often caused by chlamydia or gonorrhoea, needing testing first.
- Pubic lice: treated with insecticide lotions, with a full STI check advised alongside.
Symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge or suspected thrush can overlap with STIs, which is one reason testing matters. Trichomoniasis, mycoplasma and hepatitis B are also sexually transmitted, and the doctor can advise on testing for these where relevant.
How soon after sex can I test for STIs?
Each STI has a "window period" before a test becomes reliable, because it takes time for the infection or the body's response to become detectable. Testing too early can give a false reassurance, so the timing below matters. These are typical windows; the doctor advises what applies to your situation, and some tests need repeating.[1][3]
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| Infection | Usual test | When the test becomes reliable |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia and gonorrhoea | Urine sample or swab (NAAT) | From about 2 weeks after exposure |
| HIV | Blood test (antigen/antibody) | From about 4 weeks; a negative result is confirmed with a test at 6–8 weeks |
| Syphilis | Blood test | From about 2–4 weeks after a sore appears; confirmed by 12 weeks |
| Genital herpes | Swab taken from an active sore | While blisters or sores are present (test the sore, not a window) |
| Hepatitis B | Blood test | From about 6 weeks up to 3 months |
If a current partner has already tested positive for something like chlamydia, treatment may be started without waiting for your own result, which is standard practice in that situation. Otherwise, the honest order is test first, then treat, and the doctor helps you time it right.
What are the symptoms of an STI?
Many STIs cause no symptoms at all, which is exactly why testing after a new or unprotected partner matters even when you feel completely fine. When symptoms do appear, common ones include unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, pain or burning when passing urine, sores, blisters, lumps or ulcers around the genitals or anus, itching, unusual bleeding, or pain during sex.[1]
Because these symptoms overlap between infections, and with non-sexual conditions, they cannot tell you which STI you have on their own. A burning sensation when urinating might be chlamydia, gonorrhoea, urethritis or a urine infection; a sore might be herpes or syphilis. That overlap is the reason the pathway runs through a test rather than a guess, and the doctor's job is to match the right test to your symptoms and exposures.
What the doctor checks in an online STI consultation
The consultation is structured to get you to the right test and the right treatment quickly. The doctor will typically check:
- Your symptoms and their timing: what you have noticed, where, and how long ago the exposure you are worried about was.
- Any test results you already have: a positive result changes the consultation from testing to treatment.
- The sites and type of contact: genital, oral or anal, because tests and treatment must match the sites involved.
- Red-flag symptoms: pelvic pain with fever, a painful, swollen testicle, or feeling systemically unwell, which point to in-person care.
- Pregnancy, medicines and allergies, which affect which treatments are safe and appropriate.
- Partners and exposures, so notification and retesting advice is realistic and complete.
When we treat STIs online, and when we refer you
We treat online: confirmed, uncomplicated chlamydia; genital herpes outbreaks and suppression; pubic lice; assessment of symptoms to work out which test you need; and review of results with a clear treatment or referral plan. The doctor also arranges wider testing, including HIV, where that is sensible.
We refer or redirect you: gonorrhoea and syphilis, whose treatment (injections) and blood tests are given in person; suspected pelvic inflammatory disease or a painful testicle, which are urgent; genital warts needing a clinic procedure; and any situation where you have symptoms but no test yet, in which case the honest next step is a test, not a blind prescription. In those cases the consultation buys you the right test and the right referral, quickly.
Do I need to tell my partner?
Yes, and it matters for your health as much as theirs. If a current partner is not tested and treated, many STIs simply pass back and forth. As a general rule, recent partners should be advised to test, and the doctor can help you work out who that covers and what to say.
Partner notification does not have to be a confrontation. A short, factual message is enough: that they should get tested because they may have been exposed. Several countries run anonymous notification services that contact partners without naming you, and the doctor can tell you what exists where you live. A positive result also does not prove when or from whom an infection came, because many STIs can sit silently for a long time, so it is rarely worth turning into a question of blame.
When to get in-person care
Most STIs are not emergencies, but some situations are. Seek urgent in-person care for severe lower abdominal or pelvic pain with fever (possible pelvic inflammatory disease), sudden severe pain or swelling in a testicle (which can be a surgical emergency), or feeling very unwell with a high fever after a recent exposure. If pain is sudden and severe, you cannot pass urine at all, or someone collapses, call 112 immediately.
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Listen · 23 Feb 2026 →How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: open daily 7am–11pm, often the same day, with the exact price, €47, shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about STIs: a private video consultation, from anywhere in Europe.
- Get your plan: treatment where it fits online, the right test where you need one, and a clear referral for anything that needs a clinic. If we can’t help you online, you get a full refund.
Frequently asked questions about STIs
Can an online doctor prescribe STI treatment in Europe?
For some STIs, yes, after a consultation and usually a positive test. Chlamydia and genital herpes can often be treated by video, with a prescription sent to a pharmacy near you in most EU countries. Others, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, are treated with injections given in person, so the online role is assessment and referral. Prescribing rules vary by country.
How much does an STI consultation cost?
A video consultation costs €47. The exact price is shown before payment, and there is no subscription. Tests and any medication are paid for separately. If the doctor can’t treat you online, you get a full refund and clear directions to the right care.
How quickly can I speak to a doctor?
Appointments are available daily from 7am to 11pm, often the same day. That means you can get advice on which test you need, or discuss a result, without waiting for a clinic appointment.
Can I get an STI test through Mobi Doctor?
The video consultation does not include a physical test, and an honest service says so. What the doctor does is tell you exactly which tests you need and where to get them where you live, then review the results with you and treat or refer as appropriate.
How soon after unprotected sex should I test?
The right timing depends on the infection: chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests are reliable from about two weeks, HIV from about four weeks with confirmation later, and syphilis by about twelve weeks. The doctor advises the right timing, and if a partner has already tested positive, treatment may start sooner.
Which STIs cannot be treated online?
Syphilis and gonorrhoea are treated with injections given in person, and their blood tests and swabs are done in person too, so the online role is assessment, testing direction and follow-up. Genital warts often need a clinic procedure. The doctor will tell you clearly which applies to you.
Do I have to tell my partner?
Yes, for your own sake as much as theirs, because untreated partners often reinfect you. Recent partners should be advised to test, and the doctor can help you decide who to contact and what to say. Many countries also offer anonymous notification services that do not name you.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) fact sheet, World Health Organization (WHO), 2024.
- European guidelines on the management of sexually transmitted infections, IUSTI Europe (International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections), 2020–2023.
- Sexually transmitted infections: facts and surveillance, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 2024.
- Chlamydia infection, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), accessed August 2026.
- Herpes simplex virus: fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, accessed August 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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Listen · 23 Feb 2026 →Speak to a doctor about sexually transmitted infections-(stis) today
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