Think you might have an STI? What to do next

If you think you might have an STI, or you’ve been at risk, the most important step is simple: get tested, because many STIs cause no symptoms at all. The reassuring part is that most STIs are treatable and many are curable, especially when you act early. Here’s what to do, step by step.

Recognising common symptoms

Unusual symptoms can be the first sign of an STI, though many cause none. When they do occur they can include:

• smelly or unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or anus
• redness at the opening of the penis, or pain and swelling of the testicles
• pain passing urine, or pain in the lower abdomen or rectum
• bumps or sores on the genitals, or itching and irritation
• bleeding from the vagina after sex.

A persistent sore throat or rash can also point to an STI, especially after oral sex, and signs of secondary syphilis (swollen glands, fever, fatigue, headache, patchy hair loss) can mimic other illnesses. Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have an STI, but the only way to know is to test.

Get an STI check

Because symptoms can be absent or caused by other things, testing is the only way to confirm an STI. A screen usually involves a urine and blood test, and sometimes swabs; it’s quick, nearly painless and confidential. With Clinic365 you can book a bulk-billed STI screen online, and if you have symptoms or concerns it’s best to book a telehealth consult and speak with a Specialist GP first. Results usually come back within a few days by SMS; if a result is positive, a Specialist GP will call you to arrange treatment. You can also see your regular GP or a sexual health clinic. Waiting on results? Use our results enquiry.

One thing worth knowing is the “window period” — the gap between exposure and when a test can reliably detect an infection. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are usually detectable within about two weeks, while HIV and syphilis can take longer to show up. So if you’ve had a recent risk, it’s sometimes worth testing now and testing again a few weeks later; a Specialist GP can advise on the right timing for your situation.

Follow your prescribed treatment plan

If you test positive, follow the treatment your clinician recommends. Most STIs are treatable and many curable: chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are treated with antibiotics, and genital herpes with antiviral medication. Finishing the full course is essential to clear the infection and avoid complications.

Notify your partners

If you’re diagnosed, letting recent partners know (contact tracing) lets them be tested and treated, which protects them and prevents you being re-infected. How far back to trace depends on the infection:

• Chlamydia — partners from the past 6 months
• Gonorrhoea — partners from the past 2 months
• Syphilis — it depends on the stage: primary, the past 3 months plus the duration of symptoms; secondary, the past 6 months plus symptoms; early latent, the past 12 months; late latent, any previous partners (and children of an infected woman should be tested).

For chlamydia, partner treatment (PDPT) may also be an option, and contact tracing isn’t needed for herpes or HPV. If telling partners feels too hard, anonymous tools can help: Let Them Know (letthemknow.org.au), Better to Know (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), and The Drama Downunder (for men who have sex with men).

Avoid sexual activity for a while

After a diagnosis, avoid sex for 7 days after treatment starts, or until the course is finished and symptoms have gone, whichever is later. You should also avoid sex with previous partners until they’ve been tested and treated — how far back depends on the infection:

• Chlamydia — no sex with partners from the last 6 months
• Gonorrhoea — no sex with partners from the last 2 months
• Syphilis — primary, the last 3 months plus symptom duration; secondary, the last 6 months; early latent, the last 12 months

With genital herpes, avoid intimate contact until an outbreak has fully settled — a first episode can last 2 to 4 weeks, while later ones usually resolve in 7 to 10 days.

Get another STI check

Have a follow-up test around 6 weeks after finishing treatment to confirm the infection has cleared, and test again in 6 weeks if a partner tested positive but your first result was negative. And if a current or former partner tells you they’ve been diagnosed — whether in person or through an anonymous notification — get tested yourself, even if you feel well.

Protecting yourself going forward

Once you’re through it, a few simple habits keep you well: use condoms and dental dams with new or casual partners for vaginal, anal and oral sex, avoid sharing sex toys (and wash them thoroughly after use), and make a routine STI test part of looking after yourself — at least yearly if you’re sexually active, and more often with new or multiple partners. STIs can be an awkward subject, but staying informed and testing regularly protects you, your partners, and the wider community.