Four telltale signs you may have an STD

STDs are more common than you might think.

Anyone can get a sexually transmitted disease and while you may think you would know straight away if you had something wrong down there, often people don't have any symptoms at all.

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And while it's a good idea to have regular sexual health check-ups once you start having sex, when you change sexual partners or start a new relationship, The Daily Star spoke to MedExpress.co.uk sexual health expert Dr. Clare Morrison on the hidden signs which mean you might be infected.

Lumps

If you notice lumps and bumps in your vaginal area, try not to panic as sometimes they may turn out to be completely harmless.

However if they resemble warts like you would get on your finger then there's a good chance that you might have contracted genital warts.

If you're symptoms resemble small pimples or lumps which are normally painless but may be slightly itchy, it's possible you have MC, which is an infection spread by skin-to-skin contact.

This can usually heal naturally, but as with all other STDs, it's better to get a professional opinion.

Discharge

It's important to know that some discharge is normal for women. It's usually caused by hormonal changes in the body and it allows the vagina to stay healthy.

However if it starts to change colour it might be something you need to look out for.

Green or yellow discharge and pain when urinating could indicate that you have gonorrhoea, while thick white or smelly discharge could signal you have thrush.

Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics but is it's ignored it could lead to infertility in both men and women.

While thrush isn't actually an STD, it's still an infection and needs to be treated.

Thrush is caused a yeast-like fungus that normally lives in the vagina and it leads to a thick yellow or white discharge, soreness and itching. It can be treated with antibiotics and cream.

Itching

There's nothing worse than having an unbearable itch down below while you're in a social situation that you just can't touch.

While it may just be a heat rash or eczema, having a rash or itchiness could mean there is something else wrong in your private parts.

Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhea all can cause itching for women in the vagina area so you may want to see your doctor for a professional opinion.

Pain when peeing

Nobody wants pain in any part of the body but when it feels like your vagina is on fire every time you go to the toilet, then you know it's time to go to your GP.

Having pain when you pee can indicate you may have a whole host of problems going on.

Painful peeing could mean you might have herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, a urinary tract infection or even a bladder infection.

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