Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Symptoms: Warning Signs and When to Get Tested

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) are passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. The most common STIs reported in the U.S. are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Syphilis, HIV, and genital herpes are also common. It can be hard to know where to start when you’re worried about having an STI. What exactly is a STI? When do STI symptoms start? And what’s the best time to  get tested? We’ll review these topics and when you need to get an STI test.

Quiz: Do you have a UTI or a STD/STI?

What are symptoms and signs of an STD?

Different STIs can cause different symptoms. And the same STI can cause different symptoms in men and women.  

Gonorrhea or chlamydia can cause:

• Burning when urinating (peeing)

• Yellow or green discharge from the penis or vagina

• Testicular pain

• Rectal pain or bleeding

• Pain during sex

Men are more likely to experience what experts describe as “classic symptoms” than women. Men often notice symptoms like discharge from the penis, redness at the penis, and pain.

Women tend to experience symptoms like burning when going to the bathroom or vaginal itching. Since these symptoms are common in other conditions, women may mistake their STI symptoms for urinary tract infections (UTI) or yeast infections. 

Syphilis and genital herpes cause ulcers on the penis or vagina. Ulcers are often more visible to men, because they form on the surface of the penis. But women may not see ulcers as easily because they can form inside the vagina. 

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But sometimes STIs only cause mild symptoms or none at all. Many times, people with an STI don’t have any symptoms, so they don’t realize they need treatment. This is how people can unknowingly pass an STI to someone else. 

When do STI symptoms start?

Symptoms from gonorrhea and chlamydia take 2 to 3 weeks to appear. HIV, genital herpes, and syphilis are trickier. Some people have symptoms within 1 to 3 weeks. Others don’t have symptoms for months or even years. And many people never have any symptoms from any of these STIs. 

Can I get an STI from someone who has no symptoms?

Yes. You can get an STI from someone who has no symptoms. If you have an STI but don’t have symptoms, it’s still possible to pass the STI to someone else. That’s why it’s important to use condoms and get tested regularly for STIs — even if you don’t have any STI symptoms. 

What should you do if you have STD symptoms?

You should get tested if you ever have any symptoms that you think could be from an STI. 

You can get tested at a clinic, doctor’s office, or even in your own home using a test kit. You don’t need insurance to get testing — many places offer reduced cost or even free testing.

How soon can you get tested for an STD?

You don’t need to get tested for STIs right away if you recently had unprotected sex. It’s possible to get tested “too soon” for an STI. You might get a “false negative” result if you get tested too soon. That means you actually do have an STI, but the test doesn’t show it yet.

Here’s when you should be tested:

• Chlamydia: Get tested 2 weeks after your sexual encounter. 

• Gonorrhea: Get tested 2 weeks after your sexual encounter. 

• Syphilis: Get tested 1 to 3 months after your sexual encounter.

• HIV: Get tested 2 to 6 weeks after your sexual encounter.

• Herpes: Get tested 1 to 4 months after your sexual encounter. 

If you test positive for an STI — don’t panic. Your healthcare provider will go over treatment options with you. 

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Written by:

Shiv Sudhakar, MD

Shiv Sudhakar, MD, is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and works as a physician in California. He has co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed research articles, published several short stories, had a script recently optioned, and presented 20 scientific presentations, two of which placed in the top 3 at the American College of Physicians.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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