It is also possible for an STI treatment to fail, erasing the symptoms but not the underlying infection.
That’s because any STIs do not exhibit symptoms right away.
Both chlamydia and gonorrhea infections are often subclinical (meaning that they don’t produce notable symptoms).
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
Or, they produce general symptoms that are easily mistaken for other conditions like aurinary tract infection.
It is also possible that your partner has chlamydia and unknowingly passed it to you.
Less common STI tests may only be ordered if you belong to certain high-risk groups.
At the same time, the healthcare provider may only perform a swab test on your genitals.
They may not test the mouth, throat, or anus.
In such cases, an STI may go undiagnosed until the infection is passed to someone else.
Rarely, this can happen because of a faulty test.
More likely, this happens because you were tested for an infection too soon.
Most tests rely on detecting immune proteins, calledantibodies, produced in response to the infection.
This is why your healthcare provider and STI clinics will routinely ask when you think you were exposed.
Atrichomaniasisinfection, for example, won’t lead to symptoms in some 70% of people.
Herpes is an incurable infection in which the vast majority of people are asymptomatic and will never have symptoms.
The herpes virus is often latent (dormant) but can activate during episodic flare-ups.
This is true whether a person has symptoms or not.
During flares, a person can shed viruses through the skin and infect others without knowing it.
Passing an STI via fomite transmission (objects or materials) is theoretically possible.
Fomite transmission can occur when body fluids from someone with an STI get on surfaces and objects.
If you come into contact with these fluids, you could get infected due to hand-to-mouth or hand-to-genital contact.
However, this is incredibly rare.
The more likely scenario is a hand-to-eye transmission of gonorrhea.Or a shared sex toy could potentially spread an infection.
Non-Sexual STI Transmission
Most STIs are passed through sexual contact via genital or anal sex.
Occasionally, oral sex can transmit STIs.
The main form of non-sexual STI transmission is from a mother to a baby during birth.
If you are pregnant, speak to your healthcare provider about STI risk and what testing is indicated.
Some STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, caninfect the eyes.
While rare, hand-to-eye transmission of these infections can occur.
You could then pass herpes to a partner through oral sex if you have an active cold sore.
Summary
It is possible for an STI to occur between two faithful partners.
Regular STI screening for both partners can help build a timeline of infection.
Seek testing and treatment from a healthcare provider if you are concerned you have an STI.
Testing is recommended before every new monogamous relationship or every few months if active with more than one partner.
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