Spoiler Alert! Unless you get tested by your doctor, there is no definitive way to know if you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It’s easy to fall into the trap of diagnosing yourself/your partner based on certain facts, pictures you’ve found on the Internet, or your own intuition. Unfortunately, it’s just not that simple. The following are some faulty assumptions people commonly make about STIs.
- Your partner’s equipment looks normal…he/she is obviously clean! Because of the super scary pictures we were shown in health class it’s easy to assume that as long as your partner’s genitals don’t have barnacles growing on them, you’ll be fine. But the truth is, the signs and symptoms of STIs can be very subtle. Many people who have an STI may not notice anything at all. Just because someone LOOKS clean, doesn’t mean they actually are.
- Your partner says he or she doesn’t have an STI….so you’re fine. Because STIs can be so subtle, many people who have one don’t know it. They may assume they’re fine just because they’ve never had any symptoms—which, as explained above, doesn’t actually prove anything. The only way someone can know about their STI status is if they have been recently tested. But even then, there are some STIs that are hard to detect, as well as some that aren’t frequently tested for. Bottom line, no matter how clean your partner thinks he or she is, it’s always safest to use a condom.
- You’ve never had sex sex…so you must be STI free. Although you can engage in many different sex acts and not have to worry about pregnancy, STIs are a different story. Although vaginal and anal intercourse are the riskiest STI-wise, you can contract an STI through oral sex, and even rubbing against someone naked! Your best bet is to use protection EVERY time. But since it’s possible that you didn’t contract an STI from someone the first time you had unprotected sex, even if you’ve messed up in the past it’s still important to protect yourself moving forward.
- You have a bump…it’s definitely an STI. Ok, I know this article had a lot of bad news, so here is some potentially good news: not every bump you find on or around your pubic area is an STI. It’s common to get ingrown hairs or infected hair follicles that aren’t a big deal at all. Additionally, many vaginal infections (like yeast infections or urinary tract infections) can mimic the symptoms of an STI (the itching and burning). Again, the only way to figure out what’s going on for sure is to go to a doctor. And if there is anything that is bothering you or freaking you out, that’s exactly what you should do! (need to find a doc nearby? Use our free health center finder!)
- If you get an STI…it will be the end of the world. Do everything you can to prevent yourself from getting an STI. But if you do get one, know that it’s not the end of the world. Many STIs are VERY common and many, many people will have one at some point in their life. And, on the bright side, many are curable—though you always want to catch them quickly and treat them right away to avoid long-term damage to your body. The ones that cannot be cured can be managed, so get tested and get treated.
The bottom line is that, as scary as this stuff is, it’s part of the reality of having sex and it’s so much better to know your status and your partner’s status that risk catching/spreading something! Need to find a doctor or a place to get tested? Use our free health center finder!
