It is common for symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to be delayed or even absent altogether. In fact, many STIs are referred to as a “silent epidemic” due to their prevalence and asymptomatic nature. If there is a chance that you may have an STI, it is important to get a free, confidential checkup at a sexual health clinic or family doctor. The most common STIs usually do not cause visible symptoms, but if symptoms do appear they can range from mild to severe.
These symptoms may appear within a few days or weeks, but sometimes they can take months or even years to show up. It is important to take all medications prescribed to cure the infection, and not share them with anyone else. Treatment will cure the infection, but it will not repair any long-term damage caused by the disease. If symptoms persist for more than a few days after treatment, it is important to be re-evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Knowing the incubation periods of different STIs can help you better recognize signs and symptoms if they occur, although this is not a sure way to determine if you are infected or not. The best way to prevent STIs is to use condoms every time you have sex. If you or your partner has recently been diagnosed with an STD, it is important to see a medical professional. Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and can be symptom-free in many cases.
Studies indicate that the proportion of people with chlamydia who have symptoms varies depending on the study environment and methodology. Two modeling studies estimate that about 10% of men and 5-30% of women with a confirmed infection have symptoms. Gonorrhea is another common STD that often has no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are very similar to those seen in chlamydia, yeast infections, or urinary tract infections.
Some men may develop epididymitis with one-sided testicular pain, tenderness, and swelling. This asymptomatic condition can quickly worsen and increase the risk of contracting other STDs such as HIV. If left untreated, gonorrhea can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, scarring of the pelvis and fallopian tube, and temporary or permanent damage to the reproductive organs. It is easy to confuse the symptoms of chlamydia with other more common diseases mentioned above and is therefore classified as an STD without symptoms. Patients treated with single-dose antibiotics should not have sex for seven days. Patients treated with a seven-day course of antibiotics should not have sex until they complete treatment and their symptoms have disappeared.
This helps prevent transmission of the infection to sexual partners.
