Q: I am a 24 years old female having some itching around my genitals. I had sex two years back with my partner using protection. Can I get an STI after such a long time?

A:Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are tricky because there are many of them with different symptoms, infection rates, etc. Do you know the medical history of your partner? Unfortunately, I cannot say if you are at risk because I do not know your medical history or of your partner/s. The incubation period, or time that an STI can be passed from one person to another, is different for each infection so even if your partner did have one there is a possibility it was not passed to you. In general, it is a good idea to know what your genitals look like when healthy so that if there is ever a problem you will be able to recognize it, but this in no way you should replace a doctors test because there are many STIs with no symptoms. My best recommendation in this situation is to see your local doctor for an STI test.