STIs (and more) at a Glance

When When test

Where on How it’s
Infection Organism Common symptoms symptoms Tests results are Treatment
your body passed
show up accurate

Common to not notice symptoms

Bacterial Vaginosis Not usually • Antibiotics
Bacteria Vagina • Increased vaginal discharge Not applicable Swab Immediately
(BV) passed • Symptoms may go away without treatment
• Fish-like smell
• Vaginal irritation

Penis
Semen Common to not notice symptoms
Vagina Urine
Pre-ejaculate 2– 6 weeks
Chlamydia (CT) Bacteria Anus and/or 2 – 6 weeks • Antibiotics
Vaginal fluids • Abnormal discharge
Throat Swab
Anal fluids • Pain or trouble urinating
Eye (rare)

Penis
Genital Warts/ Vagina
Common to not notice symptoms • Topical medications and treatments
Human Anus Skin-to-skin Visual
Virus Weeks to years Not applicable • Symptoms may go away without treatment
Papillomavirus Genital area contact exam
• Painless bumps on the skin • Vaccines can prevent some strains of HPV
(HPV) Throat (rare)
Mouth (rare)

Penis Common to not notice symptoms

Semen
Vagina Urine
Pre-ejaculate 2 – 7 days
Gonorrhea (GC) Bacteria Anus • Symptoms occur most often in the penis and/or 7 days • Antibiotics
Vaginal fluids
Throat • Abnormal discharge Swab
Anal fluids
Eye (rare) • Pain or trouble urinating

• Combination of nausea, loss of appetite,

Fecal-oral • Symptoms usually go away on their own
Hepatitis A (HAV) Virus Stool fever, stomach pain, jaundice, dark urine, 2 – 7 weeks Blood 4 weeks
contact • Vaccines can prevent infection
grey-coloured stool

Blood Common to not notice symptoms

• Anti-viral medications
Semen
Hepatitis B (HBV) Virus Blood 6 – 22 weeks Blood 4 – 12 weeks • Symptoms may go away without treatment
Pre-ejaculate • Combination of nausea, loss of appetite,
• Vaccines can prevent infection
Vaginal fluids fever, stomach pain, and jaundice

Common to not notice symptoms

• Anti-viral medications
Hepatitis C (HCV) Virus Blood Blood 6 – 7 weeks Blood 5 – 10 weeks
• Combination of nausea, loss of appetite, • Symptoms may go away without treatment
fever, stomach pain, and jaundice

Penis
Common to not notice symptoms
Vagina Swab
Herpes simplex Skin-to-skin Blood test: 12 • Anti-viral medications
Virus Anus 2 – 21 days or
virus (HSV) contact • Itching, burning, or tingling sensation – 16 weeks • Symptoms may go away without treatment
Genital area Blood
• Painful sores or blisters
Mouth

Blood
Common to not notice symptoms
Semen
Human
Pre-ejaculate
Immunodeficiency Virus Blood • Flu-like illness, headache, muscle aches and 2 – 4 weeks Blood 3 – 12 weeks • Anti-viral medications
Vaginal fluids
Virus (HIV) joint pain, swollen glands (seroconversion
Anal fluids
illness)
Breast milk

Penis
Common to not notice symptoms
Vagina Semen
Urine
Lymphogranuloma Anus Pre-ejaculate
Bacteria • Painless sores 3 days – 6 weeks and/or 2 – 6 weeks • Antibiotics
Venereum (LGV) Genital area Vaginal fluids
• Swollen lymph nodes Swab
Throat Anal fluids
• Abscesses
Lymph-nodes

Molluscum Genital area Skin-to-skin • Small, firm, painless pink or white bumps on 1 week – 6 Visual • Topical medications and treatments
Virus Not applicable
Contagiousum Skin contact the skin months exam • Symptoms may go away without treatment

Skin-to-skin
contact
Genital and other Sharing • Genital itching Visual
Pubic lice Parasite 2 – 21 days Not applicable • Topical medications
body hair clothes, • Visible lice in and around pubic hair exam
bedding,
towels

Skin-to-skin
contact
• Itchiness (especially at night)
Sharing Visual
Scabies Parasite Skin • Rash between fingers, on wrists, armpits, 1 – 21 days Not applicable • Topical medications
clothes, exam
genitals, thighs
bedding,
towels

Penis
Vagina Common to not notice symptoms
Swab
Anus Skin-to-skin 3 days – 3 Blood test:
Syphilis Bacteria or • Antibiotics
Genital area contact • A painless sore months 3 months
Blood
Throat • A non-itchy rash
Skin

Common to not notice symptoms

Semen Urine
Penis
Trichomoniasis Parasite Pre-ejaculate 5 – 28 days and/or Unknown • Antibiotics
Vagina • Abnormal vaginal discharge
Vaginal fluids Swab
• Pain or trouble when urinating

Penis
• Abnormal whitish, thick discharge
Vagina Not usually • Anti-fungal medications
Yeast Fungus • Genital area is itchy, red, sore and dry Not applicable Swab Immediately
Anus passed • Symptoms may go away without treatment
• Painful sex
Genital area