Symptoms Checklist for common STDs
If you have sex — oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse and genital touching — you would have a risk to contract sexually transmitted infection (STI). You might have heard that rashes, sores, and ulcers are common symptoms of STIs, but what else should you be watching for?
Below is a full symptom checklist of the common STDs you might be worried about.
HIV
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Syphilis
HSV - 1&2
Hepatitis B&C
Ureaplasma
Mycoplasma
Trichomonas
Bacterial Vaginosis
Candida
HIV
Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs 2-6 weeks after infection. After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years. It's estimated up to 80% of people who have infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.
The most common symptoms are:
raised temperature (fever)
sore throat
body rash
Other symptoms can include:
tiredness
joint pain
muscle pain
swollen glands
The symptoms usually last 1-2 weeks but can be longer. They're a sign that your immune system is putting up a fight against the virus.
Gonorrhea
Symptoms for women may include:
an unusual vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery and green or yellow in color
pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area – this is less common
bleeding between periods, heavier periods, and bleeding after sex
Symptoms for men may include:
an unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which may be white, yellow, or green
pain or a burning sensation when urinating
inflammation (swelling) of the foreskin
pain or tenderness in the testicles – this is rare
Infection in the rectum can cause discomfort, pain, or discharge. Infection in the eyes can cause irritation, pain, swelling, and discharge, and infection in the throat usually causes no symptoms.
Chlamydia
Most people with chlamydia do not notice any symptoms and do not know they have it.
Symptoms for women may include:
pain when peeing
unusual discharge
pain in the tummy, bleeding after sex, and bleeding between periods
Symptoms for men may include:
pain when peeing
unusual discharge from penis or bottom
in men, pain and swelling in the testicles
Syphilis
The symptoms of syphilis are similar for men and women. They're often mild and difficult to recognize, and you may pass on the infection without knowing you have it. The first symptoms of syphilis usually develop around 2 or 3 weeks after infection, although they can start later than this.
The early symptoms may include:
the main symptom is a small, painless sore or ulcer called a chancre that you might not notice
the sore will typically be on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, although it can sometimes appear in the mouth or on the lips, fingers, or buttocks
most people only have one sore, but some people have several
you may also have swollen glands in your neck, groin, or armpits
These symptoms usually pass within 2 to 8 weeks. But if the infection isn't treated, it may progress to a second stage.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis include:
a blotchy red rash that can appear anywhere on the body, but often develops on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
small skin growths (similar to genital warts) – on women these often appear on the vulva and for both men and women they may appear around the anus
white patches in the mouth
flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headaches, joint pains, and a high temperature (fever)
swollen glands
occasionally, patchy hair loss
Herpes simplex virus 1 & 2 (HSV - 1&2)
Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for another skin condition. 9 When symptoms do occur, herpes lesions typically appear as one or more vesicles, or small blisters, on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth.
Some of the symptoms associated with this virus include:
blistering sores (in the mouth or on the genitals)
pain during urination (genital herpes)
itching
You may also experience symptoms that are similar to the flu. These symptoms can include:
fever
swollen lymph nodes
headaches
Tiredness
lack of appetite
HSV can also spread to the eyes, causing a condition called herpes keratitis. This can cause symptoms such as eye pain, discharge, and a gritty feeling in the eye.
Hepatitis B&C
You may not have symptoms in the beginning. Symptoms may not occur until the damage affects liver function.
Signs and symptoms of acute hepatitis appear quickly. They include:
fatigue
flu-like symptoms
dark urine
pale stool
abdominal pain
loss of appetite
unexplained weight loss
yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of jaundice
Chronic hepatitis develops slowly, so these signs and symptoms may be too subtle to notice.
Ureaplasma
Symptoms for women may include:
redness and inflammation
unusual discharge
pain during urination (dysuria)
lower abdominal pains
pain from the vagina
unusual odor
another symptom of ureaplasma includes urethrorrhagia (the flow of blood from the urethra). Some women may experience chronic cystitis or other similar urinary tract infections (UTIs
Symptoms for men may include:
burning or pain when urinating
frequent urination
slow urination
difficulty urinating
urethral discharge
Mycoplasma
Symptoms for women may include:
pain when peeing
unusual discharge
bleeding after sex and bleeding between periods
Symptoms for men may include:
pain when peeing
unusual discharge from penis or bottom
urethritis -- a swelling of the urethra, the tube that urine goes through as it leaves the body
Trichomonas
Symptoms for women may include:
itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals;
discomfort with urination;
a change in their vaginal discharge (i.e., thin discharge or increased volume) that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish with an unusual fishy smell.
Symptoms for men may include:
itching or irritation inside the penis;
burning after urination or ejaculation;
unusual discharge from the penis
Gardnerella (Bacterial Vaginosis)
Up to 50% of women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis do not have symptoms.
But when symptoms do appear, they may include:
vaginal discharge that may be white or gray in color
discharge with a strong, foul odor
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection in the vagina. Males cannot develop bacterial vaginosis, but they can spread the infection.
Candida
Symptoms for women may include:
genital itching
irritation or burning
abnormal vaginal discharge.
Symptoms for men may include:
itching and redness on the head of the penis (a condition known as balanitis).
Some men find symptoms are more noticeable after sex. Sometimes the itching is located in the groin.
Although it is a quick way to identify your risk of getting STI infections by checking the symptoms, almost all STDs still can cause infection without showing any symptoms. Asymptomatic infections can still be passed to your partners through sexual intercourse or skin-to-skin contact and can cause severe consequences if left untreated.
The only way to know if you have an STI is to get tested regularly, either through your preferred general practice doctor or at an STI specialize clinic. Now you also have the option of our at-home STI screening kits to learn about your risk in the comfort of your home!
If you are worried right now, check out our kits and get tested today!
