How are STDs spread? This post elucidates the STD symptoms in women and men.

Many STIs are spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. They can also be spread through contact with infected skin or mucous membranes, such as sores in the mouth. You may be exposed to infected body fluids and skin through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

An overview & list of STD symptoms in women

Most STDs don’t produce symptoms or, if they do, result in vague or generic flu-like symptoms that could be the result of many different conditions. It can be difficult to determine the cause of symptoms due to an STD without getting tested. Women are more likely than men to suffer symptoms such as bumps, itching, or burning urination due to a sexually transmitted disease/infection, especially in the genital region. Without those first noticeable signs of an STD, infections often go unnoticed and untreated, which can cause long-lasting or even irreversible effects if left untreated.

Common STD symptoms in women:

• No symptoms
• Discharge (thick or thin, milky white, yellow, or green leakage from the vagina)
• Vaginal itching
• Vaginal blisters or blisters in the genital area (the region covered by underwear)
• Vaginal rash or rash in the genital area
• Burning urination
• Painful urination
• Pain during intercourse

Less common STD symptoms in women:

• Bleeding or spotting between menstrual cycles
• Painless ulcers on the vagina
• Pelvic pain
• Lower back pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Sore throat (after oral sex)
• Swelling of the joints (knee, elbow, etc.)
• Rectal pain, bleeding, or discharge (after receiving anal sex)

When symptoms do occur, they typically appear within days or weeks of exposure to an STD. Often, symptoms never appear or go unnoticed. Even if an infection never results in obvious symptoms, the STD can still be transmitted and progress into a more serious condition that may result in irreversible side effects. Regular comprehensive STD testing is the only way to guarantee a clean bill of sexual health. It is especially important to get tested for STDs after risky or unprotected sexual.

Male STD Warning Signs & Symptoms

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are characterized by ambiguous or even flu-like symptoms in the early stages, making it difficult to specifically identify a sexually transmitted infection. For men, especially, a lack of symptoms is not a reliable measure of whether an STD is present. The symptoms that usually alert men to the presence of an STD are bumps or rashes on the genitals, discharge, discomfort or itching in the penis or testicles, or pain while urinating or ejaculating. Even a symptomless STD infection can have long-lasting or irreversible effects if left untreated.

Common STD symptoms in men:

• Being asymptomatic or experiencing no symptoms at all
• Blisters on or around penis
• Spots, bumps or lesions on the penis
• Discharge (clear, white, or yellow)
• Oozing from the tip of the penis (thick or thin)
• Painful urination
• Painful ejaculation
• Itching on the tip of the penis
• Rash on the penis, testicles, or groin

Less common STD symptoms in men:

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Chronic flu-like symptoms
• Pain in the testicles
• Swelling of the testicles
• Swelling of the epididymis (known as Epididymitis)
• Swelling of the urethra (known as urethritis)
• Swelling of non-sexual joints (elbow, knee, etc.)
• Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding (after receiving anal sex)

STD symptoms in men usually take a few days to develop, but can take up to weeks (if there are symptoms at all). A lack of symptoms is often mistaken for a lack of an STD, but an infection can continue to progress even in the absence of symptoms. Because men so often don’t show symptoms, the only way to be sure that an STD is not present is to get tested regularly, especially after unprotected sex.

Take Charge of Your Health, free your mind!
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you do or do not have an STD. Visit our Hospital, Avis hospital in Jubilee Hills, next to Chiranjivee Blood bank, for consultation with the renowned sexual medicine specialist Dr. Sharmila Majumdar. Visit www.doctorsharmila.in