STI Symptoms: How will I know if I have an STI?

The first thing anyone does when they notice a worrying symptom is to google what their symptoms might mean. Rather than scaring yourself into a state of denial and vowing never to see a doctor for fear of a diagnosis, it is much more productive to seek the advice of a qualified medical professional. This includes concerns about your sexual health.

How do I know if I have an STI?

Sexually transmitted infections often show no symptoms, particularly common STIs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Despite not experiencing any symptoms, you are still infected and can still pass the STI to any sexual partners. In some cases, you might even disregard signs of an infection by accident, thinking that it is merely a cough or you are just a bit ill for a short while – which is increasingly the case for those who may have caught HIV.

If STI symptoms are present, you could experience:

Blisters, cuts, sores or ulcers
Genital or anal discomfort
Pain when urinating
Unusual discharge from penis or vagina
Abnormal bleeding
Pain during or after sex
Redness, itching or swelling.

Definitively, there is no way to 100% know if you have an STI unless you get tested. Therefore, if you are experiencing any concerning symptoms or are worried about your sexual health more generally, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. It is important to get tested regularly, and if you test positive, to notify your partners to prevent further transmission.

How soon do STI symptoms appear?

If symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection do appear, they usually appear anywhere between three and ten days after your exposure. However, some STIs may not show any symptoms until months after initial infection so it is always recommended to get tested regularly or as soon as possible following unprotected sex.

Frequently, an STI infection will not show any symptoms at all until its later stages when the infection has already done irreparable damage to your body. Tubal factor infertility is often a direct consequence of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea infections accounting for up to 30% of all cases of female infertility in the USA and up to 85% in Africa. The message here is don’t wait until you have a problem, just get tested now. These infections are easy to treat, and a simple tablet today will solve untold problems tomorrow!
Mike Asher, Co-Founder of Better2Know