STI Symptons / What to do?
How soon do STI Symptoms appear?
The answer depends on which STI you are infected with - some S.T.I's have few or no symptoms. This is why it is important to practice safe sex and if you are worried about having caught an STI, visit your GP or local sexual health clinic. Check ups and tests for S.T.I's are free and confidential.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is sometimes called the silent disease because of the lack of specific symptoms. You may have a few general symptoms such as pelvic pain or cystitis (in women) or swollen testicles (in men), but it is hard to spot otherwise.
Genital Herpes
Symptoms of genital herpes usually appear within a week after contact with an infected person. A red, painful rash appears on the genitals or nearby. The rash soon becomes blisters, and the blisters burst, releasing fluid.
Genital Warts
Genital warts can take a very long time to appear. Months or even years can pass between the time a person is infected with the virus and the time noticeable warts can be seen in the genital area. In women they can also appear inside the vagina and on the cervix, where you cannot see them.
Syphilis
In syphilis an ulcer or ulcers appears where the bacteria first entered the body, typically appear 2-3 weeks after infection. The ulcers or sores are usually on the genitals, but can also appear around the mouth and anus.
Gonorrhoea
Symptoms of gonorrhoea in both men and women usually appear between one and fourteen days after infection. However, up to half of all women (and 10% of men) who contract gonorrhoea do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms can include green or yellow discharge (from the vagina or penis), irritation or discharge from the anus, and abdominal or testicular pain.
Thrush
The redness, irritation and discharge associated with thrush usually appear 2-5 days after exposure.
Diagnosis
GPs or GUM clinics will usually carry out a simple and painless swab test, which will then be sent to a laboratory for testing. A swab test involves a doctor taking a sample of secretion from the vagina or penis using a piece of absorbent material attached to a rod (such as a cotton bud). Swab tests can now be carried out routinely during cervical smear tests. In some cases this is not necessary as the symptoms will be conclusive, such as with pubic lice.
Some S.T.I's are difficult to diagnose as they present few or no recognisable symptoms. An example of this is Chlamydia, which, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Because of this, the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV is piloting a Chlamydia screening programme, available at selected GUM clinics throughout the country.
Some S.T.I's, such as HIV, will need to be diagnosed through a blood test. Blood tests can be carried out either by a GP or GUM clinic and the results are completely confidential.