STIs Symptoms: An Early Guide to Prevent Severe Complications
There are more than twenty types of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), which are transmitted through sexual intercourse, body fluids, and blood transfusion.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one million STIs are acquired every day worldwide.
Therefore, learning about the STIs symptoms is crucial to seek prompt medical attention and prevent the severe consequences.
Though these infections are passed through vaginal, oral, and anal sex, in the majority of cases, they do not show symptoms or show mild symptoms.
This article will elaborate on the numerous STIs symptoms in men and women and when you should seek prompt medical attention.
STI symptoms in men
In men, STI signs and symptoms can be recognized as follows:
Discharge from the penis
Discharge from the penis may vary in men depending upon the type of infection causing the problem.
Usually, the discharge is whitish-colored and thick in consistency. However, it can also be present in yellow or green color.
Burning or itching sensation in the penis
STIs can cause inflammation of the glans penis, the tip of the penis, and is called Balanitis.
While Balanitis itself is not an STD, certain infections can cause Balanitis as a sign of sexual transmission, such as:
- Gonorrhea
- Genital Herpes
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Trichomonas
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Frequent urination
Generally, Chlamydia shows no signs or symptoms.
However, sometimes it exhibits painful and frequent urination that people may intertwine with UTI symptoms.
Some other STIs, such as Gonorrhea, Herpes, and Tricomonias, can also cause frequent urination in people.
Painful urination
Dysuria is a medical term used for painful urination.
It usually happens when urine comes in contact with the irritated muscles in the urethra that stimulate pain receptors and cause pain.
Some common STIs that can cause this condition are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital Herpes, and Trichomoniasis.
Sores, bumps, or blisters
Some STIs, such as Herpes, may cause one or more blisters around the genital area, rectum, or mouth.
These blisters may leave behind painful sores that take several weeks to heal.
Symptoms of STI in women
Sexually Transmitted Infections may show the following symptoms in women:
Discharge from the vagina and distinct odor
As in men, women can also notice vaginal discharge and change in odor after getting infected.
These odors may show more variation than usual odors, and women should seek prompt medical attention if they persist for longer.
Burning or itching vagina
Sexually Transmitted Infections may cause burning, pain, or itching in the vagina.
It often causes painful sexual experiences in women.
Other symptoms
Some other common symptoms of STIs in women include:
- Lower abdominal pain
- Pain in the pelvis
- Burning sensation during urination
- Frequent urination
- Bleeding in between menstrual cycles
How long do STI symptoms take to show up
According to NHS, STI may take some days or months to show the first symptoms, such as:
- Genital Herpes: 4 to 7 days
- Gonorrhea: Within 2 weeks
- Trichomoniasis: Within4 weeks
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): 2 to 6 weeks
- Syphilis: After 2 to 3 weeks
- Chlamydia: 1 to 3 weeks or even later, and in many cases, it shows no symptoms
Detection of early signs and symptoms of STI is often helpful in seeking prompt medical attention and treating the condition swiftly.
Thus, it is recommended to consult a healthcare practitioner if you suspect any symptoms of STIs and seek medical treatment.
Conclusion
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections transmitted from one person to another and can show various signs and symptoms.
In men, STIs symptoms can include a burning or itching sensation at the tip of the penis and may cause discomfort.
It can also cause penile discharge, pain during urination, blisters, and frequent urination-like symptoms in men.
Moreover, in females, STI can show symptoms such as burning or itching in the vaginal area, vaginal discharge, and change in odor.
It can also lead to pain in the pelvis and bleeding in between menstrual cycles in some women.
Generally, some STIs are asymptomatic or show symptoms at varied times after getting infected.
Thus, it is crucial to consult a healthcare practitioner and seek prompt medical attention and treatment to prevent severe complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five common symptoms of STIs?
The five common STIs symptoms in men and women are burning and itching sensation in the genitals and frequent urination. People may also notice painful urination and blisters around the genitals, and discharge from the penis and vagina.
What are the first symptoms of having an STI?
The first symptoms of STIs include burning and itching in the penis and vagina, followed by penile and vaginal discharge. It may also lead to painful urination and blisters around the penis, anus, or mouth. You can also notice bleeding in between menstrual cycles and frequent urination in women.
What are usually the first symptoms of STIs in women?
The first STIs symptoms in women are burning and itching in the vagina. They can also notice vaginal discharge and changes in odor after getting infected. Further, they can notice bleeding in between the monthly cycles, pain in the pelvis, and painful urination.
What is the first symptom of STI in men?
The first symptoms of STI in men include itching and burning in the genitals and frequent and painful urination. They can also notice one or more blisters or sores around the genitals. Also, they can notice penile discharge of yellow or green color as a sign of STI.
WowRx uses only high-quality sources while writing our articles. Please read our content information policy to know more about how we keep our content reliable and trustworthy.
