Common STDs and their Signs and Symptoms

Although some people don’t take it to seriously, STDs or sexually transmitted disease are real problems. Some sexually active people are not fully aware of the consequences of STDs and don’t practice safe sex. Once infected, it could take some time for the symptoms to manifest and when they do, it could be too late.

However, some symptoms do show up during the early stage of the infection. These can tell you what type of STD it is and what you can expect. Below are three common STDs and their symptoms.

Chlamydia symptoms

This is an infection caused by bacteria that stays in the genital tract. It’s probably one of the most difficult STD to diagnose since its symptoms and signs are hard to spot during its early stages, especially amongst women. The signs usually start to manifest weeks after the actual infection and most people don’t really mind them since they are often mild and manageable.

Symptoms include:

Pain in the lower abdomen
Pain during sex
Painful urination
Discharge of fluid in sexual organ
Testicular pain

Gonorrhea symptoms

Like Chlamydia, it is also an infection in the genital tract. It’s first symptoms would commonly show during 2 to 10 days after the infection. However, there have been cases where the symptoms manifested months after the actual infection.

Symptoms include:

Thick, bloody or cloudy discharge from vagina or penis
Burning sensation or pain when urinating
Abnormal bleeding
Swollen and painful testicles
Anal itching
Painful bowel movement

Trichomoniasis symptoms

Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite that stays in a person’s reproductive and urinary tack. This parasite only infects people who are already infected with an STD. although it does affect both men and women, men show no symptoms of infection.
Symptoms include:
Yellowish, greenish, white or clear vaginal discharge
Vaginal irritation or itching
Strong odor
Painful urination

Protection

The best way to stop an infection is to protect yourself. You should know how to practice safe sex and regularly have check-ups. You should also be aware of your partner’s health, it’s possible that they could be infected and are not aware of it. The simplest way to protect yourself is by using a condom, you can get these at any pharmacy or drugstore and they’re inexpensive. Condoms can help minimize the risk of an infection and can protect you from most type of sexually transmitted illnesses, even the life threatening ones.