What To Do When You Think You Have An STI
A Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) is an infection that can be passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Most STIs are transmitted through the exchange of sexual fluids, but some can be passed on through skin to skin genital contact.
STIs can cause a wide range of health problems, from mild irritations to more serious illness. Pregnant women with a STI can pass it on to their unborn children. Some STIs are easily cured with antibiotics if detected early, but can cause long-term problems if left untreated. While some STIs cannot be cured, treatments can help to ease the symptoms.
Between 50%-70% of people with a STI do not know they have the infection, because they have no symptoms.
If you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), go to your GP or local sexual health or GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic. Most STIs can be treated, but it’s important to get any symptoms checked as soon as possible.
Find your nearest GUM clinic and read about what happens at an STI clinic.
Sexually transmitted infections
STIs are infections that are passed on through sex, especially if you don’t use a condom. They include:
- chlamydia
- genital warts
- genital herpes
- gonorrhoea
- HIV
- pubic lice
- syphilis
When should I go to the GUM clinic or sexual health clinic?
Go to a GUM or sexual health clinic if you have any of the following symptoms:
In women:
- yellow or green discharge from your vagina, or discharge that smells
- bleeding during or after sex
- bleeding between periods
- pain during sex
- pain in your lower abdomen
In men:
- discharge from your penis
- pain in your testicles
In women and men:
- pain when passing urine
- itching, burning or tingling around your genitals
- blisters, sores, spots or lumps around your genitals or anus
- black powder or tiny white dots in your underwear (this could be droppings or eggs from pubic lice)
Some GP practices, contraception clinics, young people’s services and some pharmacies may also provide testing for some STIs.
Not everyone with an STI has symptoms. Therefore, you should get checked if:
- you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner
- you or your sexual partner have had sex with someone else without using a condom
- your sexual partner has any symptoms
- you’re planning to get pregnant and may have been at risk of infection
