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What To Do If You Suspect You've been InfectedJessica Evert, MDYou don't always know if you've become infected with an STD. While some STDs make their presence known through obvious and uncomfortable symptoms such as rashes, itches or burning sensations, others are 'silent' and produce no noticeable symptoms. The only way to know if you have a silent STD is to visit your doctor for a test.
See Your Doctor
In any event, if you suspect that you have an STD for any reason (either because of a symptom, or because of some risky behavior you have engaged in), the right thing for you to do is to see your doctor for STD tests. Most STDs are not harmless or benign; they won't go away on their own, and they may seriously impact your health if not treated. Some STDs, like HIV/AIDS can even result in your early death if you don't get medical attention for them.
Upon hearing that you suspect you've been exposed to one or more STDs, a doctor will examine you for tell-tail signs that you've been infected (see the section covering male and female STD examinations later in this document), and may prescribe medication and/or other therapies to address any diseases that are found or suspected. More detail on the symptoms and treatments associated with each STD is found in the sections devoted to each STD later in this document. As complications of untreated STDs can be serious, it is a very good idea to follow through with any treatments that your doctor prescribes for you.
Inform Recent Partners
If you are diagnosed as having an STD, the right thing to do is to inform your recent sexual partners of this fact, as there is a very good chance that they will also be infected. While there is no doubt that it is embarrassing for you to do this, consider that your recent partners may not know that they have been exposed to your STD, or may have a 'silent' case that they will not detect on their own. If this is the case, they may spread the STD to other unsuspecting partners. Their health may be compromised as well. For these reasons, the morally right thing to do is to inform partners of your illness.
Also, if you are infected, it is a good idea that you not have sexual relations with other partners until cleared to do so by your doctor, again so that you do not inadvertently spread the STD to other unsuspecting partners.
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