There are many types of STIs, but they are not always easy to spot because you may be asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms). You can also have more than one at a time!
If you have an STI, it may cause:
- A discharge from your penis or vagina.
- Burning or itching or redness of the skin on and around your genitals.
- A sore on your genitals.
- A growth on your genitals.
- Stomach pain in the bottom half of your tummy.
This table below has links to the different types of STIs that can cause different physical signs and symptoms. Click on the links to find out more.
| What’s wrong? | It could be… |
| I have a discharge from my penis or vagina | Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Trichomoniasis Thrush Bacterial vaginosis |
| I have pain in the lower part of my stomach | Chlamydia Gonorrhoea |
| I have abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting | Gonorrhoea Chlamydia |
| I have burning or itching of my penis or vagina | Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Trichomoniasis Thrush UTI |
| The skin around my penis, vagina or anus is irritated or red | Thrush |
| I have growths on the penis, vagina or anus | Warts |
| I have ulcers or sores on my penis or vagina | Herpes Syphilis Other causes which are not STIs |
| It burns when I pee | Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Trichomoniasis UTI Thrush |
STI treatment
If you have an STI, you will need treatment. The right treatment will depend on the type of STI you have. Treatment might include antibiotics or medicines called antivirals, which fight viruses. Treatment can cure your infection or keep it from getting worse. It can also reduce the chance that you spread your infection to others.
Once you start antibiotic treatment, it’s important you finish it.
It also important to abstain from sex until seven days after you’ve completed antibiotic treatment and any sores have healed. If your symptoms don’t get better after the antibiotics or get better and then worse again please go back to your clinic – it’s possible the antibiotics haven’t worked or you’ve been re-infected.
If your partner has told you that they have an STI, click here.
If you think you might have an STI and want to find out more about how to tell your partner, click here.
