All about LGV STI | Free LGV Home Testing Kit

What is LGV?

laboratory staff testing STI samples
  • LGV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a type of chlamydia
  • LGV is not very common in the UK. It’s most commonly found in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, especially people living with HIV or those taking PrEP.
  • LGV is rare in women and heterosexual men
  • LGV is most often found in the rectum (bum)
  • It sometimes affects the lymph glands and can make them swollen and painful
  • Less commonly, it is found in the penis
  • LGV can affect the vagina or throat, but this is rare in the UK
  • Having LGV can increase the chance of you getting or passing on HIV. But if you are living with HIV and on treatment with an undetectable viral load, then you cannot pass on HIV to a sexual partner

How is LGV passed on?


LGV can be passed on from:

  • Anal sex without a condom
  • Fisting (when a hand is put into a partner’s rectum/bum)
  • Anything that goes from one rectum/bum to another, such as sex toys, fingers, condoms, latex gloves or enema equipment
  • Vaginal or oral sex without a condom, but this is rare in the UK

Group sex can increase the chance of getting LGV, as LGV can be passed from one rectum to another.

LGV cannot be passed on by kissing or from any everyday contact.


What are the symptoms of LGV?


In the UK, most LGV is found in the rectum (bum).

Most people with LGV will get noticeable symptoms, but about 1 in 3 people will have no symptoms.

Symptoms usually appear within a few days or weeks after contact with LGV. They may include:

  • Pain in the rectum (bum)
  • Discharge or bleeding from the bum
  • Open sores (ulcers) or cuts on or around the genitals or anus (bum hole)
  • Feeling like you need to poo even when you know you don’t
  • Being unable to poo (constipation)
  • Lower tummy pain
  • Feeling unwell or very tired, often with a high temperature
  • Swollen glands in your groin, armpit or neck

LGV in the penis may cause ulcers, discharge, pain when weeing or swollen glands/painful lumps in the groin.

LGV in the mouth or throat is rare but can cause ulcers, a sore throat or swollen glands in the neck.


What problems can LGV cause?


Detecting LGV early and starting treatment is the best way to avoid serious health problems and stop LGV being passed on to sexual partners.

If it is not treated early on, LGV can cause problems like:

  • Arthritis (joint pain) in some people
  • Serious lasting damage to the rectum, genitals or bowel which may mean surgery is needed. Serious problems are very rare in the UK



How do you test for LGV?

testing vaginal swab sample for chlamydia in laboratory

An SH.UK home test kit does not test directly for LGV, but all LGV is chlamydia. You can order a free SH.UK chlamydia home testing kit. If your chlamydia test is negative, then you don’t have LGV.

If we ask you to do a rectal (bum) swab and this shows you have chlamydia in the bum, we may offer free postal treatment or advise you to go to a sexual health clinic for free treatment.

If needed, the clinic can check which type of chlamydia you have and whether you have LGV. To do this, they will usually swab your rectum (bum) but may sometimes swab the penis, vagina or throat, or a skin sore if you have one.

If you don’t have any symptoms, you may not need a specific LGV test. Some clinics may just give you the antibiotic doxycycline to take for a week. This will cure the chlamydia even if it is LGV chlamydia.

If you do have symptoms of LGV, you will usually need an LGV test and to take doxycycline for 3 weeks. It can take up to 3 weeks to get the results of an LGV test so you may be offered treatment before getting your test result.

If you have chlamydia or LGV, you may also have another STI. It is advisable to have a full sexual health screen, including blood tests for syphilis and HIV.


LGVand home testing


LGV (lymphogranuloma venereum) is an STI caused by certain types of chlamydia. Chlamydia is a common STI but only a small proportion of chlamydia is LGV chlamydia – and it’s very rare in heterosexual people in the UK.

We make it easy for you to test for chlamydia and other STIs.

Order your free postal testing kit online , take your samples, send them to our lab, and get your results in a few days.

An SH.UK home test does not specifically test for LGV – but as LGV is a type of chlamydia, if your chlamydia test is negative then this means you do not have LGV.

In some cases, if your home test shows you have chlamydia, we may advise you to go to a clinic for an LGV test.

Most people with chlamydia won’t need an LGV test and can get free treatment to cure the chlamydia.

Test for chlamydia at home with SH.UKs free STI test kits

Get a free test kit for chlamydia and other STIs delivered to your door. Take a self sample and return via freepost. Access your results online within a week. Check to see if SH.UK offers NHS funded home test kits in your area.


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How is LGV treated?


LGV is usually easy to cure with antibiotics. Treatment is free.

You will usually have antibiotic tablets called doxycycline. You take these every day for 1 to 3 weeks, depending on your symptoms. Sometimes a different antibiotic may be used.

After starting treatment, any symptoms usually get better in 1 to 2 weeks. If you have had LGV for a long time, it may take up to 6 weeks.

If the LGV was detected early, you may get symptoms for the first time after testing or even after starting treatment. This is not usually anything to worry about. Symptoms should still clear up in a week or two.

LGV will not usually cause any lasting problems as long as it is detected and treated early enough.

If symptoms don’t go away, you may need more tests or treatment.





FAQs about free chlamydia/LGV testing


Why should I get a free chlamydia/LGV test?


Not everyone with LGV will get symptoms, so you could have it without knowing.

If you have chlamydia in the rectum (bum) and you have a higher chance of having LGV then it’s advisable to get checked out at a sexual health clinic. They can do a free LGV test.

Unless LGV is treated and cured it may lead to painful complications or lasting damage to the body.

Untreated LGV can also be passed on to your sexual partner(s).


Who should consider chlamydia/LGV testing?


In the UK, LGV is most commonly found in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

You may have a higher chance of getting LGV if you are living with HIV or taking PrEP, have had a bacterial STI in the last year or you have group sex.

LGV is rare in women and heterosexual men.


When should I get tested for chlamydia/LGV?


Get tested at a clinic as soon as possible if:

  • You have any symptoms of LGV or
  • A sexual partner has LGV or another STI

Do a free home STI test to test for chlamydia and other STIs if:

  • You have no symptoms and just want a sexual health check-up
  • You have mild symptoms that you do not think are LGV. Depending on your symptoms, we may sometimes advise you to get tested at a clinic instead

If you have no symptoms, consider waiting up to 2 weeks after your last sexual contact before testing. This helps your test to be as accurate as possible. Chlamydia and LGV may not show up on a test straight away. Testing too early may mean you test negative even if you do have early chlamydia or LGV. More about when to take a test.


How do I order a chlamydia/LGV test online?


You cannot order a specific home LGV test from SH.UK, but you can easily test for chlamydia.

If you have no symptoms, or mild symptoms, or you are worried you might have LGV, you can order a convenient home testing kit for chlamydia and other STIs.

If your test is negative for chlamydia, then you don’t have LGV.

If your test shows chlamydia, you may need further tests at a clinic to tell if it is LGV or not.

Order your free SH.UK STI testing kit online .

  • Answer a few quick questions – your answers are completely private and confidential
  • We work out which tests are best for you
  • Your free personalised test kit arrives by post in the next few days – in a discreet plain package
  • If your consultation or test results suggest you could have a higher chance of LGV we will help you find your nearest sexual health clinic

If you would rather get tested at a sexual health clinic, search for your nearest clinic:


How do I complete a home STI test?


Your STI testing kit comes with everything you need to take your own sample. This is called self-sampling .

You pack your samples into the freepost box and send them back to our lab for testing. You can post them in any Royal Mail postbox.


When will I get my STI test results?


You will usually get your results 2 or 3 days after your sample arrives at our lab.

You will be able to view the results online. They are completely secure and private.

Order your STI testing kit now to get your results as soon as possible.

If your test results suggest that you could have LGV we may advise you go to a sexual health clinic for tests and treatment. We can help you find your closest clinic.




Contacting partners


If you have LGV, you will usually be asked to tell any sexual partners from the last 4 weeks. If you do not have any symptoms, you will usually be asked to tell partners from the last 3 months or sometimes even longer.

Sexual partners are advised to get tested for free at a clinic. They may be offered treatment straight away.

Informing, testing and treating partners lowers the chances of

  • Getting LGV again
  • LGV being passed on to anyone else

If you feel unable to tell sexual partners, one of our Health Advisers can tell them without revealing your identity.




Preventing LGV in future


You can get LGV more than once. To avoid getting it again, do not have any type of sex, including fisting, until:

  • both you and your current sexual partner(s) have finished treatment and
  • both you and your current sexual partner’s symptoms have gone

You may be asked to go back to the clinic for a follow-up and may be offered a test to check the LGV has been cured.

Consider having another sexual health screen 3 months after being treated for LGV. This is because you have a higher chance of getting LGV or another STI over the next year.

To help protect your health in future:

  • Use a new condom for every partner
  • Use latex gloves for fisting. Use a new glove for every partner
  • If it is not possible to use condoms or gloves, try and wash your genitals and anal area thoroughly between partners
  • Cover anything used on more than one person’s anus (bum hole) or rectum (bum) – such as sex toys or fingers – with a new condom or latex glove for every person. If this is not possible, wash each item thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap after every use
  • Do not share enema or rectal douching equipment
  • Get tested for STIs at least once a year, whenever you have a new sexual partner and before you stop using condoms with a partner
  • If you have a higher chance of getting LGV it can be a good idea to test every 3 months

People at higher risk of chlamydia or syphilis may also be offered a preventative treatment called DoxyPEP – ask your local clinic if this is available and suitable for you.



Order A Free Home Chlamydia Test Kit


Get your free STI testing kit delivered to your door. Take a self-sample and return it for free. Get your results online within a week.

Check to see if SH.UK offers NHS-funded home test kits in your area.


Find your local STI services




face profile of DR John White
Reviewew by Dr John White on 24th April 2025



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