Dr. Dimple Doshi (MBBS, MD, DGO)
Lady Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
27+ years’ experience
20,000+ surgeries completed
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections passed mainly through sexual contact; many are easily tested for and treatable.
STIs (also called STDs, sexually transmitted diseases, or genital infections) spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex, and sometimes skin contact or body fluids. They are common medical conditions — not a reason for shame — and many are found and treated easily once tested. Some cause obvious symptoms; many cause none at all, which is why testing matters.
STI symptoms in women can include unusual discharge, itching, burning on urination, pelvic pain or sores — but many STIs cause no symptoms at all.
Symptoms to notice:
Because “absence of symptoms does not always mean absence of infection,” testing after a risk is wise even if you feel fine. Persistent vaginal discharge or burning urination can also have non-STI causes, which your doctor can sort out.
Common STI tests cover chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, HPV, herpes and trichomoniasis, plus common vaginal infections.
STIs are often grouped by cause:
This grouping matters because it guides both the test used and the treatment — bacterial and parasitic infections are treated differently from viral ones.
Consider STI screening after a new or symptomatic partner, unprotected sex, before pregnancy or fertility treatment, or if you have symptoms.
Testing is commonly advised:
STI screening uses blood tests (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis), urine or swab NAAT tests (chlamydia, gonorrhoea), and HPV or Pap testing as needed.
Tests are matched to each infection:
| Infection | Typical test |
|---|---|
| HIV | HIV 1 & 2 antigen/antibody blood test |
| Syphilis | VDRL / RPR, with confirmatory test |
| Hepatitis B / C | HBsAg / Anti-HCV blood test |
| Chlamydia | NAAT (urine, cervical or vaginal sample) |
| Gonorrhoea | NAAT or culture |
| HPV | HPV DNA test |
| Herpes | Clinical exam, PCR/swab, or blood test |
| Trichomoniasis / vaginal infections | Wet mount, swab, microscopy, pH, culture |
A Pap smear or HPV test may be added for cervical screening. Your doctor chooses the tests based on your history and symptoms — you don’t need every test every time.
Yes — many STIs cause no symptoms, so testing is worthwhile after a risk even when you feel completely well.
Why silent testing matters:
Testing after a known risk, even without symptoms, is one of the most useful things you can do for your reproductive health.
Most bacterial STIs can be fully treated and cleared with antibiotics, while viral STIs are managed long-term; partners are treated together.
How treatment works:
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that several STIs — including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis — can be fully treated and cleared with the right medicines, while viral STIs are controlled over time. Avoid self-medication, and always complete the prescribed course. Outcomes vary by individual.
Partner testing and treatment matter because untreated partners can pass the infection back, so treating both together prevents re-infection.
Key points:
Your doctor can guide how to inform and involve partners sensitively and confidentially.
Untreated STIs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal damage, ectopic pregnancy or infertility; early testing helps prevent this.
Why early care matters:
Catching and treating STIs early is one of the simplest ways to protect future fertility.
Prevent STIs with condoms, regular screening, HPV vaccination for eligible people, partner testing, and finishing any prescribed treatment.
Practical prevention:
These steps lower risk considerably, though no single measure removes it entirely.
Yes — STI screening at Vardaan Hospital is confidential and respectful, handled without judgement, with your privacy protected throughout.
What confidential care means here:
As Dr. Doshi puts it, screening “should be confidential, respectful, and medically guided — never judgmental.”
🩺 Dr Dimple Doshi Notes: “Please do not feel ashamed to discuss intimate symptoms — STIs are medical conditions, and talking about them openly is the first step to care. Remember that absence of symptoms does not always mean absence of infection, and early treatment can prevent many long-term complications. Screening should always be confidential, respectful and never judgmental.”
Dr. Dimple Doshi offers confidential, judgement-free sexual-health care — testing, diagnosis and treatment — at Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
Full credentials are viewable on the About page.
Ans. Yes. Most bacterial STIs (like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis) can be fully treated and cleared with antibiotics. Viral STIs (like herpes or HIV) are managed long-term with medicines that keep them under control.
Ans. Yes. Many STIs cause no symptoms at all, so you can carry and pass on an infection while feeling completely well. This is why testing after a risk is worthwhile even without symptoms.
Ans. Yes. At Vardaan Hospital, sexual-health consultations and STI testing are handled privately, respectfully and without judgement, with your confidentiality protected throughout.
Ans. Untreated STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and tube damage, which may affect fertility. Early testing and treatment greatly reduce this risk.
Ans. Consider testing after a new partner, unprotected sex, a condom breakage, before pregnancy or fertility treatment, or if you have symptoms like unusual discharge, sores or pelvic pain.
Ans. Usually yes. If a partner is not tested and treated, the infection can pass back to you. Treating both partners together helps prevent re-infection.
Ans. No. The HPV vaccine helps prevent future infection in eligible people; it does not treat an infection you already have. Regular cervical screening still matters.
Ans. It depends on the infection, as some need a “window period” before they show on a test. Your doctor will advise the right timing and whether a repeat test is needed.
Confidential STI Testing & Treatment with Dr. Dimple Doshi
If you have symptoms, a possible exposure, or simply want peace of mind, a confidential consultation can arrange the right tests and treatment — privately and without judgement.
