It depends on which sexually transmitted infection (STI) you have. Symptoms can develop within a few days or weeks, but sometimes they do not appear until months or even years later. Often there are few or no symptoms and you may not know you have an STI. If there's any chance you have an STI, go to a sexual health clinic or GP for a free and confidential check-up. Symptoms usually appear after 1 to 3 weeks but can start much later. Symptoms include: About 50% of men and 70% of women who are infected do not have any symptoms. Find out more about chlamydia. Symptoms can appear after 4 to 7 days but might not start until months or years later. Symptoms include: Most people do not have any symptoms when first infected. Find out more about genital herpes. If genital warts appear, symptoms could start from 3 weeks to many months or even years after contact with the virus that causes them. Symptoms include: Most people with the virus that causes genital warts do not develop obvious warts. Find out more about genital warts. GonorrhoeaSymptoms usually appear within 2 weeks of being infected but could start much later. They include:
About 10% of men and 50% of women who are infected do not have any symptoms. Find out more about gonorrhoea. Pubic liceIt can take several weeks before any symptoms of pubic lice appear. Symptoms are the same for men and women, and include:
Find out more about pubic lice ScabiesSymptoms of scabies can take up to 6 weeks to appear if you have never had them before. It may only take up to 4 days if you have had scabies before. Symptoms include:
Find out more about scabies. SyphilisSymptoms usually appear after 2 to 3 weeks but could start earlier or much later. They include:
Symptoms are often not obvious and may come and go. Find out more about syphilis. TrichomoniasisSymptoms usually appear within 4 weeks but could start months later. They include:
About 50% of men and women who are infected do not have any symptoms. Find out more about trichomoniasis. HIVThe first symptoms may appear after 2 to 6 weeks. They can include:
Not everyone gets these symptoms, but in people who do they usually last 1 to 2 weeks. After the symptoms disappear, you may not have any further symptoms for many years, even though the infection remains in your body. Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. Genital herpes can often be spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Some people infected with the virus may have very mild symptoms or no symptoms. They can still able to spread the virus. Other people have pain, itching and sores around the genitals, anus or mouth. There is no cure for genital herpes. Symptoms often show up again after the first outbreak. Medicine can ease symptoms. It also lowers the risk of infecting others. Condoms can help prevent the spread of a genital herpes infection. Products & Services
SymptomsGenital herpes Open pop-up dialog boxClose Genital herpesGenital herpesSores associated with genital herpes can be small bumps, blisters or open sores. Scabs eventually form and the sores heal, but they tend to recur. Most people infected with HSV don't know they have it. They may have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms. Symptoms start about 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus. They may include:
During the first outbreak, you may commonly have flu-like symptoms such as:
Differences in symptom locationSores appear where the infection enters the body. You can spread the infection by touching a sore and then rubbing or scratching another area of your body. That includes your fingers or eyes. Sore can develop on or in the:
Repeat outbreaksAfter the first outbreak of genital herpes, symptoms often appear again. These are called recurrent outbreaks or recurrent episodes. How often recurrent outbreaks happen varies widely. You'll usually have the most outbreaks the first year after infection. They may appear less often over time. Your symptoms during recurrent outbreaks usually don't last as long and aren't as severe as the first. You may have warning signs a few hours or days before a new outbreak starts. These are called prodromal symptoms. They include:
When to see a doctorIf you suspect you have genital herpes, or any other STI, see your health care provider. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. |