Usually, symptoms of chlamydia appear between one and three weeks after having unprotected sex, although in 70% of women and around 50% of men chlamydia has no symptoms.
The most common symptoms are:
Women
Pain when urinating
Unusual vaginal discharge
Pain in the tummy or pelvis
Pain during sex
Bleeding after sex
Bleeding between periods
Men
Pain when urinating
White, cloudy or watery discharge from the tip of the penis
Burning or itching in the urethra
Pain in the testicles
Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually develop within about two weeks of having unprotected sex, although sometimes they may not appear until many months later.
The most common symptoms are:
Women
Unusual vaginal discharge – may be thin or watery and green or yellow in colour
Pain or burning when urinating
Pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
Bleeding between periods, heavier periods than usual, or bleeding after sex
Men
Unusual discharge from the tip of the penis – may be white, yellow or green
Pain or burning when urinating
Inflammation of the foreskin
Pain or tenderness in the testicles
Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs two to six weeks after having unprotected sex. It’s thought that up to 80% of people infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness, and the symptoms usually last one to two weeks.
The most common symptoms are:
Raised temperature
Sore throat
Body rash
Tiredness
Joint or muscle pain
Swollen glands
The first symptoms of syphilis usually develop around two to three weeks after having unprotected sex. Symptoms are similar for men and women and are often mild.
The most common symptoms are:
A small, painless sore or ulcer on the penis, vagina or anus
Swollen glands in your neck, groin or armpits
A blotchy red rash that can appear anywhere on the body, though often appears on the palms, hands or soles of the feet
Small skin growths, similar to genital warts, that appear on the vulva of women and around the anus for men and women
White patches in the mouth
Flu-like symptoms including tiredness, headaches, joint pains and a fever
Patchy hair loss
Only around one in every three or four people will have any symptoms during the first six months after having unprotected sex. If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks afterwards.
The most common symptoms are:
A high temperature of 38C or above
Tiredness
Loss of appetite
Tummy pains
Feeling and being sick
In around one in five people: yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
Only some people with hepatitis B experience symptoms, and these usually develop two to three months after unprotected sex.
The most common symptoms are:
Tiredness
General aches and pains
A high temperature of 38C or above
A general sense of feeling unwell
Feeling and being sick
Diarrhoea
Tummy pain
Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
Dark urine and pale, grey-coloured poo
Some STIs such as chlamydia can be symptomless, so if you’ve had unprotected sex it’s worth getting being tested – just in case.