Are you sexually active? If so, it is very important to be aware of STI symptoms. This may seem like basic knowledge, but in reality lots of people are uninformed about STIs; last year there were nearly half a million STI diagnoses in the UK alone.

Image Credit

This shows that many people don’t know enough about STIs. This is especially problematic for young people, who make up the vast majority of cases.

But if you want to get clued up, you’re in the right place. Here are ten of the most common STI symptoms, as well as more information about the symptoms and how they can affect you.

Common STI Symptoms

Here are ten of the most common STI symptoms for both women and men.

– A burning, itching feeling around your genitals.

– Pain when you go for a wee.

– Pain during sexual intercourse.

– Sore blisters, lumps or spots around your genitals. You may also notice spots or sores around your anus.

Image Credit

– Strong-smelling discharge.

– A painful, irritated sensation in the urethra.

– Discharge that is discoloured (such as greenish or yellow discharge).

– Black powder or small white dots in your pants.

– Pain in your stomach or lower abdomen.

– Light bleeding (this can happen to both men and women).

If you experience any of these symptoms and you feel embarrassed about going to the doctor, don’t worry. You can order Bexley home STI kits from https://www.bexleysexualhealth.org/home_sti_kits, which means you can test yourself in the privacy of your own home.

What the Symptoms Mean

The symptoms could be caused by a range of STIs, from Chlamydia to crabs, but either way it is important to receive treatment quickly. This is because while some STIs are harmless and easily treatable, others can result in dangerous complications.

It is important to note that many people also don’t realise that they are infected. This is because some STIS don’t present any symptoms (such as Chlamydia), so you can spend months having the STI without realising.

It is important to get tested, especially if you are sexually active. This means you are less likely to pass an infection on to someone else – but if you do, you should take the time to tell them. If you feel embarrassed, it is possible to use a texting service to tell your sexual partner (so you don’t have to).