Could I have an STI and not know it?

The answer to this is yes, it is possible to have an STI and not know it. STIs will not always show symptoms or they may have mild symptoms that can be mistaken for other conditions.  Most STIs do not have any symptoms, here are three of the most common:

Syphilis

Syphilis is an infection where the first symptoms can be missed or can be mistaken for other conditions.   The first symptoms of Syphilis can last only a short while, but when they disappear the infection will stay in your body and may not show further symptoms for 10 – 30 years later. This later stage of Syphilis can leave you with serious health problems.

HIV

Around a quarter of people who are HIV positive in the UK, do not know they have the infection.  The only way to know is to get tested.  This is the first step to ensure that you receive life saving medication.

Chlamydia

Around 70% of women and 50% of men can have Chlamydia and not have any symptoms. You could have been exposed to an infection many years previously and still be infected which means you could still transmit an STI infection to someone else.

If you have been sexually active and have never been tested you should consider at least one sexual health test in your lifetime to give you reassurance that you do not have an undiscovered infection. At Better2Know we offer individual tests for STIs and HIV and we also have comprehensive screens which let you test for a range of infections. If you would like to book an appointment please call number above.