Myth: You Would Know If You Had an STI
Reality: Many of the most common STIs — including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early-stage syphilis and HIV — often have no symptoms at all, or symptoms so mild they go unnoticed.
Myth: You Can Tell If Someone Has an STI by Looking at Them
Reality: There are no visible signs that reliably indicate whether someone has an STI. STIs affect people of all genders, ages, relationship structures and backgrounds.
Myth: STIs Are Only Transmitted Through Penetrative Sex
Reality: Many STIs can be transmitted through oral sex and through skin-to-skin contact. This is why testing typically involves swabs from multiple sites depending on the types of sexual contact a person has had.
Myth: Only People With Many Partners Get STIs
Reality: STIs can be transmitted through any sexual contact, including within a monogamous relationship. A person can have an STI from a previous relationship without knowing it.
Myth: If Treated Once, You Cannot Get the Same STI Again
Reality: Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea do not confer immunity. You can be reinfected after treatment. This is one reason why both partners need to be tested and treated simultaneously.