What Should You Do If You Have an STI? Treatment & Next Steps

Finding out that you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can be stressful, especially if you don’t know what to do next.

The first thing to know is that an STI diagnosis is a health issue, not something you should be ashamed of. Many STIs can be treated and cured, while others can be effectively managed with medical care.

If you’ve tested positive for an STI—or a healthcare professional has told you that you likely have one—there are several important steps you should take to protect your health and reduce the chance of passing the infection to someone else.

The World Health Organization’s 2026 consolidated STI handbook covers prevention, diagnosis, treatment, partner management and follow-up as part of the STI care pathway.

What should you do if you have an STI?
Confirm which STI you have
Follow your treatment
Avoid sexual contact until advised
Tell your sexual partners
Make sure partners receive appropriate care
Complete follow-up care
Reduce your risk of another STI
Can an STI be cured?
What happens if an STI is untreated?
Can you have an STI without symptoms?
When should you seek medical help?
Frequently asked questions

What Should You Do If You Have an STI?

If you’ve been diagnosed with an STI, the most important steps are:

Understand which infection you have.
Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about treatment.
Follow the treatment exactly as prescribed.
Avoid sexual contact until you have been advised that it is safe.
Inform relevant sexual partners.
Complete recommended follow-up care.
Take steps to reduce the chance of another infection.

The WHO’s current STI guidance specifically includes diagnosis, treatment, partner management and follow-up as important parts of STI care.

1. Confirm Which STI You Have

Not every STI is the same.

STIs can be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites, and treatment depends on the specific infection.

Common STIs include:

Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
HIV
Herpes
HPV
Hepatitis B

If you have received a positive test, ask your healthcare provider:

“Which STI did my test detect, and what do I need to do next?”

This is important because different infections require different approaches to treatment and follow-up.

The World Health Organization’s STI information and guidance provides additional information about STI prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

2. Follow the Treatment Prescribed by a Healthcare Professional

Once the infection has been identified, your healthcare provider can recommend the appropriate treatment.

Don’t try to treat an STI with leftover antibiotics or medication prescribed for someone else.

Treatment can depend on:

The specific infection
Test results
Symptoms
Pregnancy
Other medical conditions
Previous treatment
Antibiotic resistance
Local treatment recommendations

The WHO’s 2026 STI handbook brings together current guidance on STI diagnosis, treatment and care and includes specific considerations for antimicrobial resistance.

This is especially important for infections such as gonorrhoea, where antimicrobial resistance is an increasing public-health concern.

For readers in India, the National Health Mission’s STI/RTI guidelines provide India’s national guidance for prevention and management of reproductive tract infections and STIs.

Important: Don’t start, stop or change prescription medication based only on information from an online article.

3. Avoid Sexual Contact Until It Is Safe

After an STI diagnosis, you may need to temporarily avoid sexual contact.

The exact recommendation depends on:

Which STI you have
Which treatment you’re receiving
Whether symptoms have resolved
Whether your sexual partner has also been treated

For people being treated for an STI, CDC guidance emphasizes avoiding sexual intercourse until treatment is completed and partners have been appropriately treated to reduce the risk of reinfection.

So don’t assume that you can immediately resume sexual activity simply because you’ve started medication.

Follow the specific instructions provided by your healthcare professional.

4. Tell Your Sexual Partners

This can be one of the most difficult parts of receiving an STI diagnosis.

But it is also one of the most important.

Many STIs can cause no noticeable symptoms, so a current or recent sexual partner may have an infection without realizing it.

Telling a partner gives them the opportunity to:

Get tested
Receive treatment if necessary
Avoid passing the infection to someone else
Reduce the risk of reinfection

You don’t need to approach the conversation with blame.

You could simply say:

“I recently found out that I have an STI. Because we had sexual contact, I think it’s important that you get tested.”

The purpose is health and prevention—not assigning blame.

WHO’s current STI handbook specifically includes partner management as part of the STI care pathway.

5. Your Partner May Need Testing or Treatment

Treating only one person may not always solve the problem.

Depending on the infection, your healthcare provider may recommend that sexual partners are:

Notified
Tested
Evaluated
Treated

This helps reduce transmission and the possibility of reinfection.

If you’re unsure how far back you should notify partners, ask your healthcare provider.

Some sexual-health services can also help with confidential partner notification.

6. Complete Your Follow-Up Care

Treatment isn’t necessarily the end of STI care.

Depending on the infection, your healthcare provider may recommend:

A follow-up appointment
Repeat testing
Additional treatment
Testing for other STIs
Partner management
Monitoring for symptoms

The WHO’s 2026 handbook includes follow-up and partner management as components of STI care.

Don’t assume that feeling better automatically means the infection has been completely treated.

Follow the follow-up plan provided by your healthcare professional.

7. Take Steps to Prevent Another STI

Having one STI doesn’t mean you cannot get another STI in the future.

You can also become infected again with the same STI if you are exposed again.

Depending on your circumstances, prevention can include:

Use condoms correctly

Correct and consistent condom use can reduce the risk of many STIs, although it does not eliminate every possible route of transmission.

Get tested when appropriate

Testing can be particularly important if:

You have symptoms
You have a new sexual partner
Your partner has an STI
You think you may have been exposed
A healthcare professional recommends testing

Consider vaccination

Vaccination can help prevent certain infections, including HPV and hepatitis B.

WHO identifies vaccination as one of the important strategies for preventing certain STIs.

Can an STI Be Cured?

It depends on the infection.

Some bacterial and parasitic STIs are generally curable with appropriate treatment.

Others can currently be managed rather than cured.

For example, HIV can be effectively controlled with antiretroviral treatment, while herpes currently has no cure but can be managed with antiviral medicines.

This is why it is important to identify the specific infection rather than searching online for a generic “STD medicine.”

For authoritative information, refer to the WHO STI guidance, which was consolidated into a new operational handbook in February 2026.

What Happens If an STI Is Left Untreated?

Some untreated STIs can cause serious health complications.

Depending on the infection, complications can include:

Infertility
Pregnancy complications
Certain cancers
Neurological problems
Cardiovascular complications
Increased risk of HIV acquisition

Some STIs can also be transmitted from a pregnant person to their baby.

That’s why testing, diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important.

Can You Have an STI Without Symptoms?

Yes.

This is one of the most important things to understand about STI testing.

A person can have an STI without obvious symptoms and can potentially transmit the infection without realizing it.

That’s why you shouldn’t rely only on how you feel to determine whether you have an STI.

If you think you may have been exposed, speak with a healthcare professional about whether testing is appropriate.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Speak with a healthcare professional if you are concerned that you may have an STI, particularly if you notice:

Unusual genital discharge
Burning or pain when urinating
Genital sores
Unusual lumps or growths
A new rash
Unusual genital bleeding
Pelvic or lower abdominal pain
Painful swelling around the testicles

These symptoms can have causes other than STIs, so symptoms alone cannot establish a diagnosis.

If you have severe pain, significant bleeding, high fever, fainting, severe illness or another urgent symptom, seek medical attention promptly.

What If Your Partner Tells You They Have an STI?

Don’t panic.

If a current or recent partner tells you they have been diagnosed with an STI:

Ask which infection they were diagnosed with.
Avoid sexual contact until you receive appropriate advice.
Contact a healthcare professional.
Explain when the possible exposure occurred.
Follow the recommended testing or treatment.
Don’t wait for symptoms before seeking advice.

Remember that an STI can exist without obvious symptoms.

What If You’re Embarrassed to Talk to a Doctor?

It’s understandable to feel uncomfortable.

However, sexual-health professionals deal with these questions regularly.

Be honest about:

When the possible exposure occurred
The type of sexual contact
Whether protection was used
Any symptoms you have
Previous STI diagnoses
Any treatment you’ve already taken

This information helps healthcare professionals determine which tests and treatments may be appropriate.

STI vs STD: What’s the Difference?

You may have noticed that this article primarily uses STI rather than STD.

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but “STI” is increasingly preferred because someone can have an infection without developing a disease or noticeable symptoms.

That’s why searches such as:

“What should I do if I have an STD?”

and

“What should I do if I have an STI?”

can refer to essentially the same concern.

For your website, I’d use STI as the primary terminology while naturally mentioning STD where it matches what people search for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do if you have an STI?

Confirm which infection you have, speak with a healthcare professional, follow the recommended treatment, avoid sexual contact as advised, inform relevant partners and complete recommended follow-up care.

Can an STI go away on its own?

Some infections can resolve naturally, but you should not assume that an STI will disappear without medical evaluation. Some untreated infections can cause complications.

Should I tell my partner if I have an STI?

Yes. Current and relevant recent sexual partners may need testing or treatment depending on the infection and circumstances.

Can you have an STI without symptoms?

Yes. Many STIs can occur without noticeable symptoms.

Can you get an STI again after treatment?

Yes. Treatment of an infection does not necessarily provide immunity against future exposure.

Can condoms completely prevent STIs?

No method eliminates all STI risk, but correct and consistent condom use can reduce the risk of many infections.

Final Takeaway

If you’ve been diagnosed with an STI, don’t panic and don’t ignore it.

The most important thing is to get appropriate medical care, understand which infection you have, follow the prescribed treatment, avoid sexual contact as advised, notify relevant partners and complete any recommended follow-up.

An STI diagnosis is a health issue—not a reason for shame.

If you’re concerned that you may have an STI, the safest next step is to speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment or individualized advice. STI treatment depends on the specific infection, test results, medical history, pregnancy status and other factors. Do not start, stop or change medication without advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you have severe or urgent symptoms, seek medical care promptly.