STIs: The Conditions You Don’t Feel and the Power of Knowing Early
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) rarely begin with alarm. There is no loud warning. No immediate disruption. No clear signal that something has changed. Most of the time, they begin in silence. I once encountered an individual who came in for what he described as “just a routine check.” There were no complaints. No discomfort. No visible signs that anything was wrong. From his perspective, his health was intact. The results told a different story. He was living with an infection he had no awareness of. No pain had alerted him. No symptoms had interrupted his daily life. Yet the infection had been present long enough to pose risks, both to his own health and to others. This is the reality of many sexually transmitted infections. They do not always announce themselves.
Clinically, STIs are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites transmitted primarily through sexual contact. Common examples include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Each of these infections behaves differently in the body, but many share one critical feature in their early stages: they can be asymptomatic. This means a person can carry and transmit an infection without any noticeable signs.
Early detection allows for timely medical management, reducing the risk of complications and preventing further transmission. Prevention also plays a central role. Understanding how infections spread allows individuals to make informed decisions. Protective measures, open communication, and responsible practices significantly reduce risk.
Dr. Oladunni Faminu (DNP,PMHNP-BC,FNP-BC)
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Dr. Oladunni Faminu
DNP, PMHNP, FNP — Founder of WellCrest Health
Dr. Oladunni Faminu is a doctorate-prepared Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience. She treats patients ages 18 to 80 for depression, anxiety, panic disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, sleep problems, stress and burnout, and other mental health conditions. Dual-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), she provides comprehensive, coordinated mental health care, including care that addresses sexual health and intimacy concerns.
Dr. Faminu earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a postgraduate specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health from Frontier Nursing University and her Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from South University.
Licensed in Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Maryland, she provides evidence-based, patient-centered care rooted in empathy and clinical precision. She creates a respectful, confidential, and nonjudgmental space where patients can openly discuss concerns such as low libido, intimacy and relationship challenges, erectile dysfunction, and the effects of mental health conditions or medications on sexual functioning.
Her approach goes beyond symptom management. She works to understand each patient’s full picture and tailors individualized treatment plans that support long-term wellness across mind, body, and relationships.