Can You Have an STI Without Knowing?

Yes! Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) don’t show any symptoms.
That’s why it’s important to get tested if you’ve had sex without a condom.

STIs, can be passed on through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Some, like HIV and syphilis, can even be spread through blood. It’s not just intercourse that can transmit STIs — skin-to-skin contact, genital rubbing, and oral sex can also spread infections.
Most STIs don’t have obvious signs, so you might have one without realising it. The only way to know for sure is to get tested! Here's a quick guide to some common STIs:

Chlamydia

This is one of the most common STIs, and most people don’t notice any symptoms. It’s caused by bacteria that can infect your urethra, vagina, cervix, anus, or throat. It can even cause eye infections.
You can catch chlamydia through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, oral sex, or genital rubbing (for example, vulva to vulva).

Symptoms (if any):

•    Pain or burning when you pee
•    Discharge from the genitals or anus
•    Pain in your lower belly or testicles
•    Bleeding between periods

If untreated, chlamydia can cause serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease, which can damage the fallopian tubes and make it harder to get pregnant. It can also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilised egg grows outside the womb) or cause inflammation of the testicles or prostate.

Testing & Treatment:


You can get tested by providing a urine sample or a swab from where you’ve had sex (like your throat, vagina, or anus). Testing is available at clinics or health centres, and treatment is usually a course of antibiotics.
If you test positive, you’ll need to inform your recent sexual partners (this process is called contact tracing), so they can get tested too.

Herpes

Herpes is a viral infection that causes blisters, typically around the mouth or genitals. There are two types of herpes: one causes cold sores, and the other usually causes genital sores. However, both types can appear in either area.
Herpes is tricky to prevent completely. Condoms only protect the areas they cover, and the virus is most contagious when blisters are present.

Symptoms:

•    Tingling or itching before blisters appear
•    Painful blisters or sores
•    Fever and swollen lymph nodes (with the first outbreak)

Herpes outbreaks can be triggered by stress, fatigue, menstruation, or a weakened immune system.
 

Testing & Treatment:


You can get tested by taking a swab from a blister or sore. While there’s no cure for herpes, antiviral medication can help manage symptoms and reduce outbreaks. The virus stays in your body for life, but some people rarely have symptoms after the initial outbreak.

HPV & Genital Warts (Condyloma)

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The best way to protect yourself is by getting the HPV vaccine.

HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, and warts can appear on different parts of the genitals. Condoms only protect the areas they cover, so warts outside the condom’s reach can still be contagious.

Symptoms:

•    Small, skin-coloured warts on or around the genitals
•    Warts may be itchy or bleed
•    Sometimes, no symptoms at all

Warts can appear months after infection, making it hard to know when you caught the virus.
 

Testing & Treatment:


A doctor can examine and diagnose genital warts. Warts may disappear on their own, but they can also be treated with creams, lasers, freezing, or minor surgery.
 

HPV Vaccine:


The HPV vaccine protects against the strains of the virus that cause most genital warts and some cancers, like cervical cancer. It’s most effective if taken before becoming sexually active.

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI that can infect the genitals, throat, or anus. It’s often symptomless, but it can still cause serious health issues if left untreated.
 

Symptoms (if any):

•    Pain when peeing
•    Discharge from the genitals or anus
•    Bleeding between periods
•    Pain or swelling in the testicles

Untreated gonorrhoea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, increasing the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. It can also cause testicle or prostate inflammation and, in rare cases, bloodstream infections or joint problems.
 

Testing & Treatment:


Testing involves a urine sample and swabs from where you’ve had sex. If you test positive, you’ll be given antibiotics. Like with chlamydia, contact tracing is important to prevent the spread of gonorrhoea.

How to Protect Yourself:

    •    Use condoms every time you have sex.
   •    Get tested regularly if you’re sexually active.
   •    Get vaccinated for HPV.

HIV – AIDS


HIV is a virus that messes with your immune system. These days, there are meds that help people with HIV live normal, healthy lives, just like anyone else. HIV is considered a chronic illness. People living with HIV can still have relationships, sex, and families, just like everyone else. Most people don’t even know they have HIV when they first get it. 

If HIV isn’t treated, it can lead to AIDS, which is a serious disease that attacks your immune system. But if the person with HIV is taking their meds, they can’t spread it to others. This is called being on well-managed HIV treatment. If someone doesn’t take their meds, the virus can spread through unprotected sex, mainly during vaginal or anal sex. It can also spread through sharing needles or if a pregnant person with HIV gives birth or breastfeeds. The risk of spreading the virus is highest right after someone first gets infected. 

Most people get HIV from someone who doesn’t even know they have it. Condoms are the best way to protect yourself from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There’s also something called "PrEP" (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis). It's a medicine that helps lower the chances of getting HIV during sex. It's given to people who are at high risk. It works by blocking an enzyme that HIV needs to infect the body. But it won’t cure HIV if someone already has it. Before getting PrEP, you’ll need to take an HIV test, and then you’ll have regular check-ups at a clinic.

About half of people who get HIV experience a primary infection (which can feel like the flu) within 1 to 4 weeks after exposure. You might feel symptoms like a sore throat, fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. For some people, it clears up quickly, but others may need medical care. HIV often doesn’t show symptoms for years. Without treatment, it weakens your immune system over time. If you've had unprotected sex, it’s smart to get tested as soon as possible so you can get treatment and avoid passing the virus on to anyone else. Healthcare providers are required to test anyone who thinks they might have HIV. 

Testing is done with a blood test, and results usually show up within two weeks, but no later than six weeks after possible exposure. If you want a rapid test, you should wait at least eight weeks after potential exposure.
 

While there's still no cure for HIV, thanks to today’s meds, people with HIV can live long and healthy lives without developing AIDS. The meds lower the virus in the body to almost zero, which means it can't be passed on to others. So, people with effective treatment can live long lives, have kids, and not spread HIV to anyone else. Doctors decide when someone’s HIV is undetectable.

Mycoplasma.

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacteria that causes infections in the urethra and genital area. It’s most commonly spread through unprotected vaginal sex, but it can also spread if sperm or vaginal fluids come into contact with mucus membranes. Mycoplasma doesn’t always cause symptoms, but if it does, you might feel a burning sensation when you pee or notice discharge from the urethra or vagina. You can get tested for mycoplasma at a health clinic or doctor’s office. Mycoplasma often causes symptoms similar to chlamydia or gonorrhea, so healthcare providers usually test for those first. If you get treated for mycoplasma, your doctor will let you know when it’s safe to have sex again.

Syphilis


Syphilis is a serious STI that can be treated with antibiotics. The best way to protect yourself from syphilis is by using condoms during unprotected sex. Syphilis is caused by bacteria and spreads mainly through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and even oral sex. It’s more common in men, especially among men who have sex with men.
 

Symptoms of Syphilis


Syphilis doesn’t always show symptoms, but if it does, you might notice sores on your genitals that don’t hurt, rashes that don’t itch, spots on your palms or soles, and swollen lymph nodes. The sores usually go away in 3 to 6 weeks, but the bacteria stay in your body. If untreated, the infection can spread to your blood and affect your brain and heart. At that point, you might experience a rash, fever, nausea, tiredness, or joint pain. If you think you might have syphilis, it’s important to get tested at a clinic or doctor’s office. If you’re pregnant, testing is extra important because untreated syphilis can harm the baby. Testing usually involves a blood test, and sometimes, if you have a sore, they’ll take a sample from it.

If you test positive for syphilis, you’ll need to tell your healthcare provider about anyone you've had sex with in the last year. If you’ve tested negative before, you’ll need to mention anyone you've had sex with since your last test. The healthcare provider will contact those people and encourage them to get tested. This is called "contact tracing" and it helps prevent the spread of the disease.

Hepatitis A, B, and C


Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common types. Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated food or water, and also through anal-oral sex. Hepatitis B spreads through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and oral sex. Both Hepatitis B and C can spread through blood. Sometimes, Hepatitis B and C become chronic, meaning they stay in your body for life, and you’ll need treatment from a specialist.

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STIs don’t discriminate — anyone who’s sexually active can catch one. Taking care of your sexual health is easy and important. So, if you’ve had unprotected sex, book a test today. It’s quick, simple, and can give you peace of mind!