Men: "What if my partner has symptoms but I don’t?"

If you have had unprotected sex, the chances are that you are infected too. You will need to get medical advice to make sure. If you live in a developed country, lab tests will be done to determine if you are infected or not.

Remember: Many STIs show little or no signs that you are infected. The sooner any infection is diagnosed the more effective is treatment and the less likely that you will develop any complications.

"Do I need to see a health care professional?"

Yes, if you have any reason to think that you may have a genital infection. This is particularly the case if you have had unprotected sex with somebody new. It costs very little to get advice, treatment if required, and reassurance. In many countries, including the UK, advice and treatment are free.

Remember: The consequences of a missed genital infection may be that you suffer unnecessary problems later.

"Which health care professional should I see?"

That depends on the health care setting in the country in which you live.

All health care professionals are obliged to keep details of your health confidential.

Most people have a doctor to whom they go with general ailments. It really depends whether you feel comfortable about consulting that doctor about a genital infection, bearing in mind that you will need a genital examination. STIs are generally simple to manage and treat, but a general physician may not have access to some of the necessary laboratory tests and may not be able to provide special counselling and ancillary services.

In most countries there are doctors who specialize in the management and treatment of STIs. These doctors may be urologists or, in Europe, dermato-venerologists (skin and STI specialists), often working in private practice. Generally an appointment is necessary. Unfortunately there are not very many andrologists, doctors who specialize in men’s problems such as impotency.

In the UK your best choice is the excellent network of "Sexual Health", "Genitourinary medicine" or "Special" clinics which provide a free, no appointment, walk-in specialist service for genital infections. You can find a list of these clinics at the BASHH website. The UK is unusual in that these doctors specialize in STIs and sexual health only and they have specialist nurses and health advisers attached to their clinics. Other possibilities are youth clinics or family planning clinics.

Generally, specialist doctors are the most likely to have access to the proper laboratory and follow up facilities. They can provide special counselling if needed,  and are highly experienced in tactfully dealing with the particular concerns you are likely to have. They try to provide a relaxing environment for apprehensive patients and their services are confidential. In the UK, laboratory testing for STIs is being increasingly made available to General Practitioners (GPs), some of whom are increasingly specialising in this area. The GPs and Special services tend to attract different clientele and offer a service which is increasingly complementary to each other.

In developing countries, treatment is likely be be based largely on clinical symptoms and you may be examined and treated by a nurse, health care adviser or community worker.

[MEW] January 2008