![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_309142473-4a8c.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt\u2019s not always downstairs that you get symptoms (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tIt\u2019s not always downstairs that you get symptoms (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases<\/a>, it\u2019s typically an itching or a burning sensation in your privates that makes you think something\u2019s up.<\/p>\n But, it\u2019s not just our genitals <\/a>we should be worried about. It turns out there are far more unexpected places on our bodies that symptoms can manifest.<\/p>\n And with 402,000 new STI diagnoses<\/a> in 2025 alone, it seems some of us may need a refresher course in some of the less obvious signs we might need to go to a sexual health clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018STIs don\u2019t always follow the textbook pattern people expect,\u2019 superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, Abbas Kanani, says. <\/p>\n \u2018It can affect different parts of the body depending on the type of infection and how it has been transmitted, and it shouldn\u2019t automatically be ruled out as having nothing to do with your sexual health.\u2019<\/p>\n The palms of your hands<\/p>\n A rash on the palms of your hands can actually be a later symptom of syphilis, and it can sometimes spread all over your body. This can develop if the STI has been left untreated.<\/p>\n \u2018Syphilis<\/a> is one of those infections that can present in ways people simply would not associate with an STI,\u2019 pharmacist Thorrun Govind tells Metro.<\/p>\n \u2018Later symptoms can include a rash on the palms of the hands which isn\u2019t usually itchy, but it can be mistaken for a number of more familiar skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or an allergic reaction.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t What\u2019s challenging is this rash can look quite different from person to person. While Thorrun explains you cannot catch syphilis from hand-to-hand touching, you could catch it from touching an infected fluid-filled sore called a chancre.<\/p>\n The soles of your feet<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n The soles can also be affected by the characteristic rash seen during secondary syphilis. Again, the rash may spread across the body and can be subtle enough to go unnoticed.<\/p>\n \u2018A rash on the feet is easy to put down to something like athlete\u2019s foot or irritation from footwear,\u2019 Abbas explains. \u2018But if you notice an unusual rash on both the palms and soles, particularly alongside other unexplained symptoms, it\u2019s worth getting it checked rather than assuming it\u2019s simply a skin problem.\u2019<\/p>\n If you have a rash like this which also coincides with swollen glands, tiredness and unprotected sex, you\u2019ll want to get yourself down to clinic for an STI test.<\/p>\n The eyes<\/p>\n Not even our eyeballs are safe when it comes to symptoms from sexually transmitted diseases.<\/p>\n And, this time it\u2019s gonorrhoea<\/a> that\u2019s the likely culprit. \u2018Gonorrhoea can reach the eye if infectious genital fluid is transferred there by the hands,\u2019 Thorrun explains.<\/p>\n \t\t This can cause redness, pain and discharge, and Thorrun adds it can lead to a serious condition called gonococcal conjunctivitis<\/a>, which requires urgent medical attention to prevent permanent eye damage.<\/p>\n Untreated syphilis can also affect the eyes and cause symptoms such as eye pain, redness and changes in vision.<\/p>\n The throat<\/p>\n Yes, we just gulped, too. But it\u2019s not difficult to realise why a bad throat could be a symptom of an STI.<\/p>\n \u2018The throat can be exposed to sexually transmitted diseases through oral sex,\u2019 Thorrun explains. \u2018Infections such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia<\/a>, syphilis, herpes<\/a> and HPV<\/a> can all affect the throat.\u2019<\/p>\n Superintendent pharmacist Abbas admits that a sore throat is much more likely to be caused by a common respiratory infection than an STI, but says sexual contact can expose the throat to certain infections.\u2019<\/p>\n The joints<\/p>\n This one is much easier to misdiagnose, because some STIs can spread to the joints.<\/p>\n In rare instances, gonorrhoea can spread to the bloodstream and joints, and other STIs can prompt a case of reactive arthritis.<\/p>\n Symptoms can include painful, stiff or swollen joints. \u2018Unexplained joint pain isn\u2019t something most people would immediately associate with an STI,\u2019 says Abbas. <\/p>\n \u2018But, if joint symptoms develop alongside a rash, eye problems, urinary symptoms or other signs of infection, it\u2019s worth seeking medical advice.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018A painless mouth ulcer or sore is very common and usually has nothing to do with an STI,\u2019 Abbas explains. But, the mouth and lips are a very vulnerable spot for sexually transmitted diseases from oral sex.<\/p>\n \u2018The risk can be higher if there are cuts, sores or broken skin in or around the mouth, because this can provide an easier route for infection,\u2019 Thorrun adds.<\/p>\n For example, syphilis can cause painless sores in areas including the mouth and lips, meaning an infection can sometimes be present without obvious genital symptoms.<\/p>\n \u2018A persistent or unusual sore, particularly after sexual contact with a new partner, shouldn\u2019t simply be ignored,\u2019 Abbas says. \u2018Syphilis sores can be painless, which means people may not recognise them as a sign of infection.\u2019<\/p>\n The anus and rectum<\/p>\n This might be far less surprising, but it\u2019s worth an honourable mention. It\u2019s not just the penis and the vagina that can be affected downstairs, but the anus and rectum, too.<\/p>\n Gonorrhoea and chlamydia can infect the rectum and can cause symptoms like discharge, soreness, itching, bleeding or pain when passing poo \u2013 although many infections also cause no symptoms.<\/p>\n \u2018People can feel embarrassed talking about symptoms affecting the anus, but they\u2019re important symptoms to mention,\u2019 Abbas says.<\/p>\n \u2018Some infections in this area cause no noticeable symptoms at all, so testing is particularly important following unprotected anal sex or if you\u2019ve been told a partner has an STI.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Doctor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_309142498-dea7.jpg\")
\n\t\tRashes can show up on your hands and feet, not just your genitals (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_309142452-6a76.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe eyes can be vulnerable to STIs if you get infected fluid in them (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SEI_309142458-c95d.jpg\")
\n\t\tYour mouth is definitely exposed to STIs through oral sex (Picture: Getty Images)
\nThe mouth and lips<\/p>\n
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