Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)—also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—can spread from one person to another, usually during vaginal, anal or oral sex. And when most people think of them, they’ve got a picture in their mind: warts, bumps or sores, pain when peeing, itchiness or irritation in the genital area. While any of these could be symptoms of STIs, did you know that the most common STI symptom is…no symptom at all?

No Symptoms and Still an STI?

It’s true! An STI, like any infection, can affect people differently. But a lot of the time, STIs show no symptoms. And it may be days, weeks or even months after exposure for symptoms to appear. Because of the lack of symptoms, you could have an STI and not know it.

Not that this is a reason to freak out! STIs are pretty common. Yes, there is often anxiety and stigma around them, but they’re similar to most other infections. We have the medicines to treat them, and getting an STI isn’t the end of the world. But it’s hard to treat an issue you don’t know exists.

What Should You Do?

Testing regularly is the best way to catch asymptomatic (without symptoms) STIs. While you should get an STI test if you notice any symptoms pop up, regular testing is also a good idea. This way, you can catch an STI that isn’t showing symptoms and prevent it from getting worse (or being passed to others) by pursuing any recommended treatment.

Depending on how sexually active you are, “regular testing” can look like anything from once every three months to once a year. Fortunately, testing is often quick, easy and either no or low cost! You can find a testing center near you here.

Treatable and Often Curable

Getting tested is not as intimidating as you might think. STIs are all treatable and the majority are curable. Those that are viral are not currently curable, but it’s still important to identify if you have one, in order to get treated and prevent any complications or transmission to others.

To learn more about the STI testing experience from a teen’s perspective, check out this story.

Wrapping it Up

So, in a nutshell: don’t be scared to get tested! When you know that you have an STI, it’s relatively easy to treat after seeking medical attention. By getting regularly tested, you can catch any asymptomatic STIs that are sneaking under the radar before they become an issue.