STI symptoms: the signs that should send you to a doctor

First: no symptoms doesn’t mean no STI

Sexosafe and WHO keep repeating it: most STIs, especially in the throat and anus, give no signs. The only way to know is regular testing. But when a symptom does appear, take it seriously.

Warning signs

What you notice	What to think of
Discharge from the penis (white, yellow, green) + burning when peeing	gonorrhoea, chlamydia, Mycoplasma
A painless, firm sore (penis, anus, mouth)	syphilis (chancre)
Small painful blisters in clusters	herpes
Spots/lesions turning into scabs + fever	mpox
Small rough growths	warts (HPV)
Anal pain, pus or blood, urgent need to open bowels	proctitis: gonorrhoea, chlamydia/LGV, herpes, syphilis, mpox
A non-itchy rash, palms and soles	secondary syphilis
Fever, sore throat, swollen glands, rash 2 to 4 weeks after a risk	acute HIV infection
Jaundice, dark urine, extreme tiredness	hepatitis A, B or C
Diarrhoea with fever after rimming	shigella, hepatitis A
Pubic or night-time itching	crabs, scabies
A sore throat that lingers after oral sex	throat gonorrhoea or chlamydia, syphilis

This table helps you understand, not self-diagnose: several STIs can coexist, and only an examination with swabs gives the answer.

Where to go?

• Your GP: tell them your practices (oral, anal, rimming) so they take the right swabs;
• a sexual health clinic (CeGIDD in France): free, non-judgemental, often walk-in (CeGIDD);
• a dermatologist or proctologist for skin or anal lesions;
• A&E if you have high fever, severe pain, or if the risk was less than 48 hours ago (for PEP).

While waiting to be seen

1. No sex (including oral) until you have a diagnosis.
2. Don’t take antibiotics “just in case”: it masks symptoms and breeds resistance.
3. Write down your symptoms, when they started and your recent partners: it helps the doctor and makes it easier to tell those who need testing.

After diagnosis

Most bacterial STIs are cured in a few days. Respect the no-sex period you’re given (often 7 days after treatment), tell your partners, and test again in the following months: reinfections are common.