Question: Do you have symptoms on sexually transmitted infections?

Alex Holmes answered on 12 Jun 2020:

Hi!
Someone else asked a very similar question the other day so I’m going to use parts of the answer I sent to them!

So the answer is yes and no. Some sexually transmitted infections don’t always show symptoms, so somebody could have an infection and have no idea at all and be able to pass it onto others. For example, chlamydia only really shows symptoms in about 25% of women and 50% of men that have it, which is why it’s also one of the most common STIs because people don’t know they’re spreading it. Others can show symptoms then go away, and then show symptoms again, then go away in cycles like herpes. Others might only show symptoms after several years like HIV.

Plus just because something is symptomless doesn’t mean it’s not a problem, for example the complications related to chlamydia infections in women can include chronic pelvic pain, infertility and all sorts of things that would have symptoms and are related to the original infection.

Because of this unpredictable nature, it’s really important that people use condoms or other barrier methods to protect themselves and get tested when they have a new partner because they might have something but have no idea.