Everyone who has oral, anal or vaginal sex can get sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The best way to prevent them is to use a condom during sex.

Many STIs don’t show any symptoms. This is why it’s important to get tested.

You can do this by taking a STD risk assessment or quiz.

1. Painful Urination

Painful urination is a symptom of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis are all diseases that can cause painful urination.

These infections can also cause other symptoms in the genital area, such as bumps, sores, warts and discharge. Some STIs, like herpes and HIV, can never be cured, but treatment can help relieve symptoms and prevent further health problems.

During a visit to the doctor, a medical professional will review a person’s symptoms and history and do a physical exam. They may do a pelvic exam for women and a digital rectal examination for men to examine the penis or prostate.

2. Abnormal or Concerning Discharge

Many women experience changes in vaginal discharge, including thickness and color, during certain times of the month or after sex. Discharge that is yellow or green can be a sign of infection. A white or gray, cottage cheese-like discharge can be a sign of thrush (yeast infection). Bleeding that is not during your period or after sex could be a warning sign of an STI such as herpes.

If you notice any change in the amount, color, smell or consistency of your discharge, you should seek medical help immediately. Untreated STIs can lead to long-term infections or even infertility and organ damage.

3. Painful Bowel Movements

A burning sensation when you poop isn’t always a sign of an STD. It can also indicate a number of different medical conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids and more.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis), painful bowel movements are common, as are tears in the anal canal and irritated skin on the anus. Hemorrhoids are another condition that can cause pain during bowel movements, Yen says.

STDs can spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex and genital touching. Condoms are the most effective protection against STIs, and all sexually active people should use them regularly.

4. Genital or Anal Itching

Some STIs, such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Trichomoniasis, can cause itching in the rectum. Itching does not always mean you have an STI and, in fact, itching can be caused by multiple things, including hemorrhoids and skin irritations.

Many STIs have incubation periods, during which you may not have any symptoms. During the incubation period, you are still contagious and can transmit the disease to your sexual partners.

STIs like herpes can cause sores, vesicles, or ulcers in the genital area, anus, or upper thighs. Herpes sores can be very painful and may resemble acne or jock itch.

5. Strange or Unpleasant Odors

A bacterial infection that often doesn’t cause symptoms. Can lead to serious health problems, including liver disease and hepatitis C. It’s spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex without protection.

It’s also possible you have a condition called dysosmia or parosmia, which causes your brain to register an odor that doesn’t exist (also known as hyposmia). This is a common problem among older people.

Talk to your healthcare provider about testing for STIs. It’s easy and important to do. It can prevent your infection from spreading to others, too.

6. Rashes or Bumps

Most STIs have an incubation period, which is the window of time between when you’re exposed and when symptoms start. During this time, you’re still contagious and can transmit the disease to others.

Women who have vaginal, anal or oral sex should get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also test for genital HPV every 3 to 6 months, as some types of HPV cause genital warts or cervical cancer. If you have HIV, it’s important to talk to your doctor about testing and getting a game plan with Prepare Before You’re There.

7. Bleeding

If you experience bleeding during or after sex, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible. Bleeding can be a sign of genital herpes, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and more.

Some infections can go dormant and don’t cause any symptoms at first. This is called the latency period and it’s common for diseases like genital herpes, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis to go into this stage.

This is why it’s so important to use protection during sex and get regular STI screenings. You can also reduce your risk of getting STIs by getting a pap smear and through vaccinations.