So, you think you might have an STI. What are the key STI symptoms that you should be looking out for? And if you are infected, what should you do? The important thing to remember is that a lot of STIs have no symptoms – or symptoms that won’t appear for weeks, months or even years. The team at The STI Clinic listed the kinds of symptoms you can get that might tell you that you have an STI - and what is the best course of action.
The signs
Discharge from the tip of the penis can be a symptom of chlamydia, gonorrhoea or nonspecific urethritis (NSU). If you notice discharge: cloudy or white, yellow, or green, it is usually a sign that something isn’t right. Don’t put off going to a doctor; get checked as soon as possible.
Pain, in general, is usually a sign of a problem in the body. Pain in your testicles is a common symptom of either gonorrhoea or chlamydia, so if you begin to notice this, it’s best to get a checkup asap. There are other possible reasons for testicular pain, so it is important not to guess what might be wrong but to actually get yourself checked out.
A burning sensation while urinating, or experiencing any pain at all could be a sneaky sign of an STI. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea or NSU can have this effect. If you notice it, it’s best to book an appointment and rule out any possible infections.
Chlamydia has been termed the “silent epidemic” because of how overwhelmingly prevalent it is, with a lack of obvious symptoms. Around 70 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men have no symptoms at all when they are infected with chlamydia.
Many STIs do not show their symptoms for a long time – around five per cent of men have no symptoms at all when they are infected with gonorrhoea.
Some STIs take months or even years to show signs – so just because you don’t appear to have any symptoms, it doesn’t mean that you are not infected. A person with HIV often does not show any symptoms for years. Early detection of HIV and commencement of treatment ASAP produces the best clinical outcomes so it is important to be tested if there is a risk. HIV patients now live normal lifespans thanks to the excellent treatments available. Also, HIV positive people on treatment have a very low viral load, meaning that they are unable to pass on the virus.
Getting tested
If you think that there might be a chance you’re infected with an STI, it’s best to get tested as soon as possible. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear – because it might never happen.
Most STIs can be tested by providing a urine sample or swab, in a doctor’s surgery, at a local GUM clinic, and some can be requested discreetly online and sent through the post.
Getting treated
If you discover that you have an STI, don’t panic because most STIs can be completely controlled or cured with appropriate medical intervention.
Chlamydia can be effectively treated with a single dose of antibiotics. If you have a partner, you should both be simultaneously treated with antibiotics, while abstaining from sex during treatment – even with a condom. Long-term complications from a chlamydia infection are much more likely in someone who has been infected numerous times or if they delay treatment – so if you do contract chlamydia make sure that get treated promptly and take precautions not to contract it again. The use of condoms is the best way to do this – but it is still not 100 per cent effective, and so regular screening is still recommended.
Gonorrhoea has developed resistance to certain antibiotics. There are now just a few antibiotics that are still effective against gonorrhoea, with an intra-muscular injection combined with oral Azithromycin being the most effective treatment. Symptoms usually take a few days to disappear after treatment. Because of known drug resistance, make sure you are tested again two weeks after treatment, and sex should be avoided until you have a negative test result.
The sooner an STI is caught, the more easily it can be treated. If you are in any doubt, it is best to seek medical advice and get tested to rule out any possible STIs. It has never been so effortless and easy to get tested for STIs.
Advice by Ajay Jadhav from The STI Clinic.
**Like this? Now read: ** You can now anonymously tell your ex they have an STI
