Getting tested
No symptoms is normal
Feeling fine tells you almost nothing. Most STIs cause no symptoms for months or years, and a test is the only way to know.
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Feeling fine proves nothing
Most people with an STI feel completely normal. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and herpes often show no signs at all. You can pass an infection on while feeling great.
What signs can look like
Sometimes there are signals: a sore, a rash, discharge, or burning when you pee. They often fade on their own, but the infection stays. A sign that goes away is not a problem that went away.
Either way, the answer is a test
With symptoms or without, a test is how you know. It is quick, often free, and every result comes with a next step that works.
How often to test
Once a year is a good baseline if you are having sex. New or multiple partners means more often, about every 3 to 6 months. A clinic can tune this to you.
If you think you were exposed to HIV
Do not wait for signs. PEP can stop HIV before it takes hold, but you must start within 72 hours. Go to a clinic or emergency room and ask for it.
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