Explainer: Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

What is an STD?

The term STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease, and is a term of reference to any disease that is transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. While most people consider sexual contact to be unprotected vaginal intercourse, it is only one form of sexual contact. The term “sexual contact” also refers to unprotected anal or oral sex with another person. When there is any form of sexual contact with someone who already has an STD, then there is a chance that the disease will be transmitted.

STD Symptoms Men

Not all STDs have accompanying symptoms. In fact, many do not. While there is the possibility of getting an STD and having no symptoms at all, some STDs share a set of obvious symptoms that manifest in men.

These symptoms include:

* pain or discomfort during sex or urination
* sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
* unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
* painful or swollen testicles

STD Symptoms Women

In women, STD may cause the following symptoms:

* pain or discomfort during sex or urination
* sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
* unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
* itchiness in or around the vagina

Types of STDs

Different STDs manifest symptoms in different ways. We have come up with a list of symptoms for common STDs to help you understand them better.

Chlamydia

Some kinds of bacteria cause chlamydia. It’s one of the most commonly reported STDs globally.

People with chlamydia often do not develop noticeable symptoms. However, if they do develop symptoms, they will encounter:

• pain or discomfort during sex or urination
• green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina
• pain in the lower abdomen

If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to:

• Infections of the groin area, including the urethra, prostate gland or testicles.
• PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• Infertility

If a pregnant woman has untreated chlamydia, she can pass it to her baby during birth. The baby may develop:

• pneumonia
• eye infections
• blindness

Chlamydia is easily treatable through the use of antibiotics. This is why it’s important to diagnose early and treat it as quickly as possible.

Syphilis

Also bacterial in nature, Syphilis often goes unnoticed in its early stages.

The first symptom is a small round sore called a chancre. Chancres can develop anywhere on the genitals, anus, or mouth. At this point, the disease is painless but very infectious.

Later symptoms of syphilis can include:

• rash
• fatigue
• fever
• headaches
• joint pain
• weight loss
• hair loss

If left untreated, late-stage syphilis can lead to:

• loss of vision
• loss of hearing
• loss of memory
• mental illness
• infections of the brain or spinal cord
• heart disease
• death

Early diagnosis is important as it is an easily treatable disease. Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis as the disease can be fatal to the newborn.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) damages the immune system, and increases the risk of contracting viruses, bacteria and developing cancer. When left untreated, HIV progresses to AIDS. However, with modern medicine, many people living with HIV don’t ever develop AIDS.

Screening is important as it is easy to mistake the early symptoms of HIV with those of the flu. These symptoms can include:

• fever
• chills
• aches and pains
• swollen lymph nodes
• sore throat
• headache
• nausea
• rashes

These initial symptoms typically clear within a month or so. Beyond this period of time, a person with HIV can live without developing any other symptoms for years. Others might develop nonspecific symptoms, such as:

• recurrent fatigue
• fevers
• headaches
• stomach issues

While there’s no cure for HIV, treatment options are available. Early and effective treatment can help people with HIV live as long as those without HIV.

Effective treatment decreases the chances of transmitting HIV to another sexual partner, breaking the chain of transmission. This means that treatment can lower the amount of HIV in a person’s body to undetectable levels. At such low levels, HIV cannot be transmitted to other people.

However, without regular testing, people with HIV will not know that they carry the virus. This is why regular screening is recommended. With recent advancements in testing and treatment, it’s possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea, also known as “the clap” is  common bacterial STD.

People with gonorrhea might develop no symptoms. However, when present, symptoms may include:

• a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina
• pain or discomfort during sex or urination
• more frequent urination than usual
• itching around the genitals
• sore throat

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:

• infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
• PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• Infertility

Gonorrhea can be passed to a newborn during childbirth. This can cause serious health problems to the child. This is why doctors recommend that pregnant women get tested for potential STDs. Gonorrhea can usually be treated with antibiotics.

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

They look like crabs, but these are actually pubic lice, so it’s more of an infestation than an infection. Public lice live in your public hair and feed on your blood

Some common symptoms of pubic lice include:

• itching around the genitals or anus
• small pink or red bumps around the genitals or anus
• low-grade fever
• lack of energy
• irritability

Using a magnifying glass, you might be able to see the pubic lice, and their eggs, near the root of the pubic hair. They can also be found attached to the skin when feeding.

Untreated pubic lice can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, shared clothing, bedding, or towels. Scratched bites can also become infected. It is recommended that pubic lice infestations be treated as quickly as possible, before the lice grow in numbers.

Pubic lice can be treated using OTC topical treatments, and tweezers to pluck them off the pubic area. However, you must also clean your clothes, bedding, towels, and home to prevent continued infestation.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoan organism that can transmit through genital contact.

Less than one-third of people with trichomoniasis develop symptoms. If symptoms develop, they may include:

• discharge from the vagina or penis
• burning or itching around the vagina or penis
• pain or discomfort during urination or sex
• frequent urination

In women, the discharge often has a “fishy” smell.

If left untreated, trich can lead to:

• infections of the urethra
• PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• Infertility

Trichchomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics, so early diagnosis and treatment is highly recommended.

Herpes

There are 2 main strains of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), namely HSV-1 and HSV2. Herpes is one of the most common STDs, and it is estimated that at least 1 out of every 6 persons have herpes.

HSV-1 is primarily responsible for something called oral herpes, and results in cold sores near the mouth. However, HSV-1 can also be passed from one person’s mouth to another person’s genitals during oral sex. When this happens, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes.

HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes. It’s most common symptom is blistery sores. While HSV-2 causes sores to develop near or on the genitals, HSV-1 causes them to develop near or on the mouth.

These sores will heal within a few weeks, and while the earlier sore outbreaks will hurt the most, they become less painful and less frequent over time.

Pregnant women with herpes can pass it to the fetus in the womb or to the newborn during childbirth. This is known as congenital herpes, and can endanger the child. It is therefore important for pregnant women to get an STD screening so that they know about their status.

Herpes has no cure, but it is non-lethal and there is medication that exists to control outbreaks. These same medications can also lower your chances of passing herpes to your sexual partner.

Regular STD screenings are important for early detection and management of herpes, so be sure to check in with your doctor to find out how you can get tested for herpes and other STDs.

Curable STDs

These STDs can be cured with antibiotics or other treatments:

• chlamydia
• syphilis
• gonorrhea
• crabs
• trichomoniasis

These STDs are currently incurable:

• HPV
• HIV
• herpes

It’s important to note that even if an STD can’t be cured, it can still be managed. This is why regular STD screenings are key, as they often allow you to acquire an early diagnosis so that your doctor can begin treating the disease and help you manage it. This also helps to break the chain of transmission, lowering your chances of transmitting the STD to another person. In many cases, people with STDs live normal lives with medication.

STDs and pregnancy

As mentioned earlier, pregnant women may transmit STDs to the fetus during pregnancy or newborn during childbirth. STDs can be life-threatening to newborns in many cases.

To help prevent STDs in newborns, it is important for pregnant women to be screened for STDs, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Diagnosis of STDs

Doctors will not be able to diagnose STDs just by looking at symptoms. While symptoms will point them in a certain direction, there will still need to be some kind of testing to know which specific STD is causing these symptoms.

You doctor will also recommend STD screenings depending on your sexual history, as many STDs do not cause noticeable symptoms. This is because even symptom-free STDs can cause damage and be transmitted to other people.

STD screenings take the form of a urine or blood test, as well as genital or anal swabs. If any sores are visible, those can be swabbed as well.

If you’ve had any type of sex at all, you should consider asking your doctor for an STD screening for your own safety and wellness.

Treatment of STDs

STD treatment is vital to your wellbeing and the health of your sexual partner. It’s very important that you and your sexual partner be successfully treated for STDs before resuming sexual activity. Otherwise, you can pass an infection back and forth between you.

Bacterial STDs

Bacterial STDs can usually be easily treated by antibiotics. However, antibiotics only work when they are taken as prescribed. That means finishing all of them. If your symptoms do not resolve, or they come back after you have finished your antibiotics, be sure to let your doctor know.

Viral STDs

Most viral STDs don’t have a cure associated with them, but some will resolve on their own. It is also important to note that no antibiotic will help with a viral infection. Most doctors will focus on treating the symptoms and reducing possibility of transmission.

A good example is that medications are available to slow or stop HIV from progressing to the stage of AIDS. Herpes medications that reduce the frequency and intensity of outbreaks are also available.

Other STDs

Some STDs are caused by small organisms. For example:

• pubic lice
• trichomoniasis
• scabies

These STDs have readily available oral and topical treatments available, and are easily treated.

Preventing STDs

Completely abstaining from sexual contat, while not entirely practical, is the only way to truly prevent getting an STD. However, most people will have some form of sexual contact at one time or another in their lives. This is when they will need to know how to protect themselves.

Condoms are effective against many STDs, but only when used properly. For maximum protection, use condoms during all forms of sex, whether vaginal, oral or anal. Condoms act as a barrier, preventing STDs that spread through semen or blood. However, STDs that can spread through skin contact, like pubic lice, can be contracted in areas where the condom does not cover.

It is important to note that other forms of birth control do not protect against STDs.

Another important thing to do is to have regular STD screenings. As long as you are sexually active, it is advisable to conduct regular STD screenings for yourself. This is also true if you have a new partner, or have multiple partners.

Prior to sexual contact with a new person, it is important to discuss sexual history. You should consider having your partner screened for STDs by a professional. This is because many STDs can be asymptomatic in people, and testing is the only sure way to know if someone has any STDs.

Assuming your sexual partner does test positive for an STD, the next step is for them to strictly follow their doctor’s treatment plan. At this point, you should also check with your doctor about how you can protect yourself from contracting the STD that your partner has.

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