Why should I get tested?
Some STIs, such as chlamydia, can have no symptoms. Yet if left untreated, they can have serious consequences. The good news is they are all treatable by a doctor.
So, to protect yourself, always get tested if you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner. Using a barrier method such as male or female condoms with a new partner is still the best way to avoid getting an STI.
Here are 10 common STIs (sometimes called STDs), their symptoms, how they are tested and their treatments.
1. Chlamydia
Symptoms
When they do show, in women these might include: pain when urinating; unusual vaginal discharge; pain in the abdomen or pelvis; or, extra sensitivity during sex, bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods. If chlamydia is left untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women.
Men should look out for pain when urinating, white, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis, burning or itching in the urethra and pain in the testicles. Left untreated, the infection can cause swelling in the epididymis (the tubes that carry sperm) and the testicles. This might affect fertility. Chlamydia can also affect the throat (although this is rare), rectum (via anal sex) and eyes.
Testing
Involves a urine or swab test. You can be tested through a local sexual health clinic, a contraceptive clinic or your GP. If you’re under 25 you can get a kit sent to you free via pharmacies and other local venues. Search for venues near you.
Treatment
Antibiotics will be prescribed to treat the infection. You should avoid sex until the infection is gone.
2. Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcus, which is spread through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, or contact with genital fluid, including sharing sex toys. Less commonly, it can affect the throat or eyes. If passed on during labour, it can cause permanent blindness in a newborn.
Symptoms
Include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating or lower abdominal/vaginal pain and discomfort. Around 1 in 10 men and more than half of women do not experience any symptoms.
Testing
Completed by a swab test or can be a urine test in men. If left untreated, gonorrhoea can lead to PID and infertility in women.
Treatment
Antibiotics will be given to clear the infection. This can either be by injection, a tablet, or a combination of both.
3. Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.
Symptoms
Usually develop within a month of infection – similar to those of many other STIs, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Up to half of all people will not develop any symptoms, though they can still be infectious.
Testing
Diagnosed after an examination of the genitals and a sample taken using a swab from the vagina or penis. If the test is positive, it's important that your sexual partner and any other recent partners are also tested and treated.
Treatment
Unlikely to go away without treatment, but it can be effectively treated with antibiotics (usually metronidazole).
4. Genital warts
Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of virus that infects the skin. There are hundreds of different types of HPV but around 13 of these can cause cancer, including cervical cancer in women. The strain of HPV that causes cervical cancer doesn’t cause genital warts, but it’s still very important to have regular cervical screenings. The best way to avoid becoming infected is to use a condom.
Symptoms
Include one or more lumps, bumps or fleshy, cauliflower-like growths around the genitals or anus. There might also be discomfort, itching or bleeding, and changes to the flow of urine.
Testing
For genital warts, testing is done by a physical examination of the genital area.
Treatment
May include the application of a prescription cream or liquid over several weeks, or surgery where warts are cut, burnt, lasered or frozen off.
5. Genital herpes
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2. They’re passed on through sexual contact (vagina, penis, anus, mouth). People can pass on the herpes virus when they’re not showing any symptoms.
Symptoms
Include small, fluid-filled blisters (on the genitals or anus) leaving open sores. These burst and cause severe tingling and itching, burning when urinating and women might have a vaginal discharge. Symptoms may take months or even years to appear after you’ve become infected. These clear up by themselves (usually within 2 weeks) but come back periodically. Recurrent outbreaks are usually milder.
Testing
Usually carried out by taking a swab of fluid from the affected blisters.
Treatment
There is no cure for herpes and it can lie dormant in the body for months or years. You might be prescribed antiviral medicine to stop symptoms worsening. Local anaesthetic ointment and soothing creams might also be prescribed to help alleviate itching and pain. Taking a cool shower or bath might also help.
6. Public lice
Pubic lice are tiny insects that live on pubic hair around the penis or vagina. They are spread through close body contact, mostly through sexual contact. Public lice are also referred to as crabs.
Symptoms
They most often live on pubic hair but can also be found in hair on the chest, armpits, face and eyelashes – but are often too small to see. Other symptoms of pubic lice include:
- Itching that is usually worse at night
- small red or blue spots on your skin (lice bites)
- white/yellow dots attached to your hair (lice eggs)
- dark red or brown spots in your underwear (lice poo)
- crusted or sticky eyelashes, if they're affected
Testing
A doctor or nurse will check your hair for lice, and specifically your pubic hair. They may use a comb or a magnifying lens and ask about your sexual partners. It is usually suggested to get tested for any other STIs too.
Treatment
Medicated creams or shampoos will be prescribed to kill the lice. You may need to repeat this again a week later to make sure all the lice have been killed. A follow up appointment may also be needed to check the treatment has worked. Any current or recent sexual partners should also be treated, even if they have no symptoms.
7. Scabies
Scabies is a common STI that can affect anyone. It should be treated quickly to prevent it from spreading. Scabies is very infectious but can take up to 8 weeks for visible symptoms to appear.
Symptoms
Intense itching especially at night and a raised rash or spots. These may look red and are more difficult to see on dark skin (but you can feel them). The rash usually spreads across the body, apart from the head.
Testing
A GP can advise you whether your symptoms suggest you have scabies and they can prescribe a treatment. A pharmacist can help with this too.
Treatment
A doctor or pharmacist will recommend a cream or lotion to apply over your whole body. Let them know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. You'll need to repeat the treatment a week later. Everyone in your home needs to be treated at the same time, even if they do not have symptoms. Any sexual partners within the past 8 weeks should also be treated.
8. Syphilis
Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum, a type of bacterium. It’s most commonly spread during sex (vaginal, anal or oral) or through close contact with an infected sore. It can be passed on from mother to baby (congenital syphilis) with an increased risk of miscarriage, fetal death and premature birth.
Symptoms
Usually includes a small, painless sore or ulcer on the vagina, penis, anus, mouth or other area (21 days after incubation). This resolves spontaneously after 1-2 months and is followed after 6-8 weeks by flu-like symptoms – fatigue, headache, fever, joint pains and swollen glands usually a couple of months after being infected. Left untreated, syphilis can spread to the brain and other parts of the body many years after infection.
Testing
Involves a physical genital examination, a blood test and swab test (if there are any sores).
Treatment
Includes a penicillin injection or (if you’re allergic to penicillin) a 10-14 day course of antibiotics. If you’ve had syphilis for longer than 2 years or symptoms are more serious, you might need weekly or even daily injections or a longer course of antibiotics (28 days).
9. Human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is the name of a very common group of viruses affecting the skin. For most people, they do not cause medical problems, but some types can cause genital warts or cancer. There are more than 100 different types of HPV.
Symptoms
Often there are no symptoms but sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (genital warts).
Testing
HPV testing is a routine part of cervical screening for women. There's currently no blood test for HPV. Cervical screening is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. This helps protect them against cervical cancer.
Treatment
There is no treatment for HPV, but most infections do not cause problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years. Treatment is needed if HPV causes medical problems like genital warts or changes to cells in your cervix.
10. HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus affects the cells in your immune system and their ability to fight everyday infections and disease. HIV infection is found in body fluids and is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact. It can also be passed on by sharing needles (among drug addicts) and can be passed on from mother to baby.
Symptoms
Most people experience a short flu-like illness around 2-6 weeks after initial infection. HIV might not cause any symptoms for many years. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) describes the potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that might occur when your immune system is severely damaged by the HIV virus.
Testing
For HIV, testing is done by taking a sample of blood or saliva to check for the infection.
Treatment
There’s no cure for HIV but there are now effective drug treatments to manage it. These include antiretroviral medicines that work by stopping the virus from replicating itself in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself. This means people with HIV can usually lead long lives if they take medication.
