Five symptomless STI’s..yes thats right no symptoms!

1) CHLAMYDIA

One of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Chlamydia is often diagnosed among younger people aged 15-24 but can be contracted by anyone of any age. According to the NHS, at least 70% of women and 50% of men with chlamydia don’t notice any symptoms.

Some people may get symptoms 1-3 weeks after unprotected sex with an infected person and these symptoms may vanish after just a few days. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have the infection. You may still pass it on to others.

Some may not notice symptoms until many months later. In this case, they may not associate the symptoms with a particular partner and may not realise they have an STI.

Also note that unprotected sex can also lead to chlamydia in the rectum (from anal sex), the throat (from oral sex) and the eyes if they come in contact with semen or vaginal fluid.

Chlamydia symptoms may include:

The cure for chlamydia is typically a course of antibiotics.

2) GONORRHOEA

Also known informally as the clap or VD, gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Around 10% of infected men and 50% of infected women will not have clear symptoms according to the NHS.

Those who do experience symptoms may not notice anything until two weeks after being infected. In other cases, symptoms may appear many months afterwards. As with chlamydia, gonorrhoea can also affect the rectum, throat and eyes.

Untreated gonorrhoea may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue blocking the fallopian tubes, difficulty getting pregnant, and chronic abdominal

pain. Pregnant women might also pass the infection to their baby during delivery.

Symptoms of gonorrhoea include:

The cure for gonorrhoea is a course of antibiotics, though it is becoming harder to treat due to antibiotic resistance.

3) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

HIV is particularly difficult because its symptoms are not the same as other STIs. Instead, the virus has flu-like symptoms about a month after transmission that last for two weeks or so. People often therefore imagine they simply have a cold or flu.

Untreated HIV may show no further symptoms for years, though it continues to damage the immune system. It may also lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the space of around ten years. During this time, the infected person is more at risk of infection and cancer, and will be able to pass on the virus.

HIV is found in semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood and breast milk. It cannot be transmitted through sweat, urine or saliva and does not survive for long outside the body (so toilet seats are not a big concern). The most common way to contract HIV is through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, though infections may also happen if sharing needles/syringes. It can pass from mother to baby during birth or occur in breast feeding. In rare cases, unprotected oral sex may transmit HIV.

There is currently no cure for HIV, but antiretroviral medications mean that a person with HIV can live a long and healthy life without passing on the virus to other people.

4) GENITAL HERPES

It’s estimated that around one in six people aged 14-49 carry the herpes virus naturally without ever showing symptoms (or possibly very mild symptoms). Genital herpes may show no symptoms, or symptoms might not appear for weeks or years after being infected. During this time, however, you can still transmit the virus to other partners.

Where symptoms show, they may include:

• Small blisters that burst to leave red, open sores around the genitals anus, thighs or bottom
• Tingling, burning or itching around the genitals
• Pain when urinating
• Unusual vaginal discharge

There is no cure for herpes and condoms cannot fully prevent the virus because other areas of skin may be in contact. Anti-herpes medications are available and include antiviral medicine to stop the symptoms getting worse. You may also be given cream for painful sores.

5) TRICHOMONIASIS

This disease is caused a parasite called trichomoniasis vaginalis, though around 50% of people will show no symptoms. In women, the parasite mainly infects the vagina and urethra, while men encounter it in the urethra, the head of the penis or the prostate gland.

The parasite is passed on through unprotected sex and sharing sex toys, though not typically through and anal sex. Kissing will not pass on the infection.

Those who do experience symptoms may notice:

Trichomoniasis is cured with a course of antibiotics.

Also be aware of . . .

Ureaplasma is another infection that may be passed sexually but which also occurs in men and women who have never been sexually active. This bacterial infection often shows no symptoms, but may result in pain, itching or unusual discharge. More seriously, it can cause problems later such as infertility, birth defects, endometritis or kidney stones.

If in doubt . . .

Since many STIs are symptomless, or may not show symptoms for weeks or months after sexual activity, it makes sense to get tested whenever you have unprotected sex. You may feel fine, but you may be passing on a disease to others and damaging your own body without even knowing.

Check out our range of discreet at-home sexual health tests here: https://uneed2know.uk/sexualhealth/