STD Symptoms

Chlamydia

As a common bacterial STD, Chlamydia is a treatable and curable disease. With proper prescription antibiotics, you can take care of its STD symptoms easily. It affects about 2.8 million people in the U.S annually, which is a very high count. Most of the infected may not show any symptoms, giving you more reason to get tested. Untreated Chlamydia can cause long-term or permanent harm to your reproductive organs.

Its symptoms may only start to show after one to three weeks of exposure to the infection. They include

1. Abnormal discharge of fluids from the vagina or penis.
2. Burning or painful experience while urinating.
3. Pain or swelling in the testicles.
4. Uneasiness while having sex.
5. Pain in the lower belly.
6. Pain or bleeding in the anal area.

Gonorrhea:

Gonorrhea is another common bacterial sexually transmitted disease among late teens and is also known as ‘the clap.' You can cure and treat it with the proper medications. Reports show that gonorrhea infects about 800,000 people in the U.S. each year. Most of its STD symptoms are usually mild, and you may dismiss it without being aware of it.

Some of its common symptoms include

1. Pain while urinating.
2. A pus-like discharge through the vagina or penis.
3. Swollen or tender testicles.
4. Bleeding in women between periods.
5. Painful bowel movements.
6. Vaginal bleeding after sex.
7. Itchy or sore sensation in the anal region.

Syphilis:

Syphilis is a dangerous STD that requires immediate treatment once diagnosed. Prolonged infection without treatment can lead to paralysis and brain damage. As it is a bacterial STD, there are proper treatments available to cure it permanently. The STD symptoms of this disease differ depending on the stage of infection. However, the phases are not definite and may overlap under various circumstances.

The STD symptoms according to stages are as follows

Primary Syphilis:

The first sign of infection can be a tiny sore called a chancre, and it is painless. It will appear on the spot where the bacteria-infected your body. The number of sores appearing can depend on the area of infection. The sore goes away after some time, even without treatment but, syphilis will linger on.

Secondary Syphilis:

This phase usually sets in 3 to 6 weeks after the chancre's appearance.

1. You may notice rashes on your skin that are reddish-brown and aren't itchy.
2. Warts or lesions may appear in the mouth, anus, or vagina.
3. You may experience headaches, weight loss, fever, hair loss, and fatigue.
4. Fever, swollen neck or armpits, and sore throat can also set in.

If left untreated, the symptoms may go away or worsen with time and reach the tertiary stage.

Latent Syphilis:

This phase is where you won't notice any symptoms, even for years. However, the person will be at risk of infecting others with the disease.

Tertiary Syphilis:

The STD symptoms of this stage are usually life-threatening, and very few only reach this phase. Some of the signs include

1. Strokes
2. Heart problems.
3. Numbness
4. Appearance of large sores called gummata in the body or skin.
5. Vision problems.

Hepatitis A and B:

Hepatitis A and B are viral STDs that cause inflammation of the liver and can prove fatal. Hepatitis A is a mild infection and can last for a few weeks to some months before disappearing. Some of the STD symptoms of the condition are

1. Nausea
2. Jaundice
3. Low appetite.
4. Fatigue
5. Stomach ache.

On the other hand, hepatitis B is a dangerous infection whose STD symptoms can severely damage your liver. Sometimes, it can also lead to liver cancer or failure. Over 80 thousand Americans report yearly cases of hepatitis B, which is a significant issue. The symptoms are similar; however, the illness lasts longer or till you treat it with medications.

Herpes:

Herpes is an infectious STD that spreads due to the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus enters your body through tiny openings or injuries in your skin. Getting herpes can make you vulnerable to other STDs, too; hence you may consider getting yourself tested. The STD symptoms of this disease are

1. Painful or itchy sensation around the anus, genitals, and inner thighs.
2. Difficulty while peeing.
3. Tiny sores around the genitals that may be painful.
4. Abnormal discharge through the vagina.
5. Swollen groin, accompanied by fatigue, headaches, and fever.

Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV):

HIV is a deadly viral infection that can lead to AIDS. About 1.1 million of the U.S. population has HIV actively, where about 14% are not aware of their illness. The STD symptoms usually don't show during the early years of infection; hence, getting tested becomes necessary. In others, the symptoms begin to show after two to six weeks of being infected. Some of the common symptoms of HIV in the early stages are

1. Flu-like fever
2. Uncomfortable sore throat
3. Headache
4. Rashes
5. Swollen lymph glands
6. Muscle aches

These signs will leave after a few weeks. However, after a prolonged infection of more than 8 to 10 years, severe STD symptoms start to show

1. Weight loss
2. Cough and shortness of breath.
3. Chronic diarrhea.
4. Persistent fatigue and headaches.
5. Extreme fever and chills.
6. Unexplained night sweats.

Trichomoniasis:

A parasitic germ is responsible for causing this STD. Women are more prone to be infected with trichomoniasis and show STD symptoms. The infection affects the urinary tract in both men and women. The symptoms of trichomoniasis are

1. Abnormal discharge in the vagina with false odor.
2. Itching or irritation in the vagina or penis tip.
3. Pain during ejaculation, sex, or when peeing.

Conclusion

Usually, an infected person is likely to carry two or more STDs if they leave it untreated. The STD symptoms are generally similar, and it may be hard to catch the correct disease. However, by booking for STD tests through our website, you can get yourself tested. To steer clear of any stresses, you can also order the 10 test panels and get a quick test. Though treatments may reduce further spread and harm of the infection, they cannot cure the damage done. Hence, early detection and treatment is always the best solution for STDs.