A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is any illness or condition that can spread through sex or sexual contact. STIs can be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite. Some STIs may lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Many common STIs can occur without symptoms.
Getting tested for STIs is important if you are sexually active. Testing is the first step to treatment. Untreated STIs can cause serious long-term complications including nerve damage, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and death.
For many STIs, testing is easy and treatment is possible.
While learning about STIs, you may also want to explore other important areas of sexual health like family planning, pregnancy health, and dating/sexual violence.
STIs spread from one person to another through oral, anal, and vaginal sex. They also spread through genital skin-to-skin contact.
Some other ways STIs can spread:
- Sharing needles during drug use
- From mother to child (in utero), during delivery or breastfeeding
- Non-sexual skin contact with rashes or sores
- Through shared objects like sex toys or bedding – this is less common
Learn ways you can lower the risk of getting an STI in our Prevention section.
If you have a STI, you might notice some common symptoms. These symptoms could occur in your genitals, anal area, or mouth:
- Unusual smells
- Discharge from vagina or penis
- Burning, itching, or pain during sex or while using the toilet
- Bleeding (not period-related)
- Bumps, blisters, sores, or rash
- Swelling or lumps
Signs and symptoms may appear quickly in some cases. In others, it may take years. Sometimes STIs occur without symptoms, but you can still spread it to another person. The best way to know if you have a STI is to get tested regularly.
Arlington and our neighboring areas have a high infection rate from STIs. There are some ways you can lower your risk of getting a STI. Prevention can include not having sex, preparing for safe sex before sexual activity, following safer sex practices during sexual activity, and taking actions after any unsafe sexual activities.
No Sex (Abstaining)
- Not having sex or sexual contact prevents you from being exposed to STI
- No one should pressure you into sex if you are not comfortable with it
Before You Have Sex
- Get tested for STI to know your status
- Talk to your partners about their STI status
- Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis (MenACWY, MenB, MenABCWY), and Mpox (Monkeypox)
- Take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) regularly to prevent HIV infection, if you are at higher risk for HIV
You may also want to consider your family planning decisions. This can involve buying condoms ahead of time or seeking birth control.
Have Safer Sex
Having more than one sexual partner increases your risk of being exposed to an STI. If testing or using condoms isn’t possible before you have sexual contact, consider less risky partnered sexual acts - including mutual masturbation, heavy petting over clothes, or cuddling.
After You Have Sex
If you had sex without a condom or in an otherwise unsafe way, you have options:
- Get tested for STI to know your status
- Take Doxy PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) within 72 hours after sex to prevent bacterial STI infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) if you are in approved high-risk groups (men who have sex with men (MSM) or transgender females (TGF))
Use a condom
When used correctly, condoms and other barriers like the dental dam are effective at preventing STIs. Correctly used condoms are also effective at preventing pregnancy.
- You can buy condoms at any grocery or convenience store.
- Free condoms are available at Arlington STI Services or Arlington Teen Health Services.
- You can request free condoms to be mailed to you through NovaSalud by making an appointment and selecting "Condoms HIV Home Test Kit".
- Use CDC’s Find Condoms tool on this page to locate where you can get free condoms.
No partner should pressure you to have sex without a condom if you are not comfortable with it. Condom refusal can be a warning sign of abusive behavior. Visit Doorways if you are dealing with abusive behavior. It is okay to have preferences that you can talk respectfully about. Some potential conversation starters:
- “I prefer to use condoms to stay safe.”
- “We’ll enjoy the sex more knowing it’s safe.”
Talk to your partner
Before having sex with a new partner, have a conversation about their STI status. It might be awkward, but it also helps keep both of you safe and lays the groundwork for a healthy sexual relationship. Some potential conversation starters:
- “I’ve been having a lot of fun with you. Before we take the next step, I’m going to get tested. Will you get tested with me?”
- “I have a rule that I don’t sleep with someone unless they’ve been tested recently. Do you know when your last test was?”
- “I want to make sure we’re both healthy before we have sex.”
Get vaccinated
Vaccines are available against:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Meningitis (MenACWY, MenB, MenABCWY)
- Mpox (Monkeypox)
The HPV vaccine will also prevent many types of cervical, oral, and anal cancers caused by HPV infection. The HPV vaccine is recommended for adolescents before they become sexually active. However, adults of all ages and genders are encouraged to talk to their sexual health providers about the HPV vaccine if they have not received it.
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is spread through close, skin-to-skin contact. Sexually active adults, and particularly gay and bisexual men, should talk to their sexual health providers about the mpox vaccine.
Take PrEP to prevent HIV
PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is prescribed medication that can prevent you from getting HIV. If you are sexually active and do not have HIV, you may want to discuss PrEP with your sexual health provider.
People with certain risk factors should consider PrEP more seriously:
- Had sex without a condom in past 6 months
- Had a STI in past 6 months
- Has a HIV positive partner
- Injects drugs
PrEP should be prescribed for any sexually active adolescent or adult who asks for it. You do not have to tell your health provider your HIV risk factors to receive a prescription.
PrEP can be taken as either a daily oral pill or as an injection every 2 months.
Take Doxy PEP
Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) is prescribed antibiotic medication that can prevent you from getting bacterial STIs like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Talk to your doctor about DoxyPEP if you have any of the following risk factors:
- You are an adult man or transgender woman who has sex with men
- You are living with HIV or are taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- You have had a bacterial STI in the past year (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea)
There is not yet enough data to recommend DoxyPEP to other groups of people. However, you should discuss your individual situation with your doctor. People who have condomless sex, sex with multiple partners, sex with anonymous partners, or a recent bacterial STI may benefit from DoxyPEP. You should not take DoxyPEP if you are already pregnant or may become pregnant.
More information on DoxyPEP:
Testing for STIs is easy and most STIs are cured quickly with the right treatment. If you think you may have a STI, you deserve to take it seriously. You can receive testing and treatment at a local area STI clinic or your sexual health provider.
Tell Your Partner
Once you have been treated, your partner should get treated as well. This will prevent your partner from reinfecting you or infecting another person. Talk to your sexual health provider about strategies if you don’t feel safe enough to tell your partner directly. The Arlington STI Clinic also allows you to take treatment home for your partner for certain STIs.
Why Test?
You can have a STI and not have any symptoms. Even if you don’t know you have a STI, you can still pass it to your partners. Or it can cause you health problems later in life. We recommend that sexually active adults and adolescents get regularly tested for STIs.
Ask your healthcare provider to test you. Asking is the only way to know if you are receiving the right tests. Make sure your partner asks a healthcare provider about testing as well. Many STIs can be easily diagnosed and treated. If you or your partner have an STI, both of you need treatment.
Testing is available at your sexual health provider and at many low-cost STI clinics, including at Arlington STI Services.
Some good reasons to test:
- Testing is quick and simple
- A negative test gives you peace of mind
- A positive test means you are treating it early
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, testing and treatment for STIs should be part of your pregnancy health plan. The Arlington Family Planning Clinic can offer pregnancy health.
You May Be Able to Take Medication After Unsafe Sex
There are medications that may prevent certain STIs for people who have recently had sex without a condom with someone who may have a STI. Call Arlington STI Services immediately at 703-228-7444.
Treat a STI
The earlier you treat a STI, the better. Many STIs can be cured, and treatment is often simple and easy. Some STIs cannot be cured, but treatment can still help you live a normal life. Treatment is available at your sexual health provider and at many low-cost STI clinics, including at Arlington STI Services.
Use Expedited Partner Therapy
For certain STIs (like Chlamydia), Arlington STI Services will send you home with treatment for your partner. This keeps your partner from re-infecting you. Some STIs can be passed back and forth between two people, so both of you have to be treated. This also protects your partner’s health.
Telling your partner about your diagnosis allows them to get treated and prevents them from reinfecting you or infecting others.
How to Start the Conversation
- Practice saying the words out loud with a mirror or a friend.
- Try to be direct and calm.
- Remember you are only sharing medical information. This conversation doesn’t have to be an accusation or a fight.
If You Don’t Feel Safe
Ask your sexual health provider for ideas if you don’t feel safe talking to your partner directly.
CDC offers helpful tips on having honest and open conversations with your provider and your sexual partner(s) – visit CDC’s Prepare Before You’re There - Conversation Tips for more information.
Use Expedited Partner Therapy
For certain STIs (like Chlamydia), Arlington STI Services may send you home with treatment for your partner. This keeps your partner from reinfecting you and protects your partner’s health as well.