STIs are caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites passed from one person to another during sexual contact. Many STIs have no symptoms or symptoms that are easily missed or mistaken for another condition. If you know what signs to look for, getting treatment for an STI can be easier, before it takes a toll on your health or gets passed to someone else.
Some STIs can be cured easily with medications. For STIs that have no cure, several medications are available to help manage STIs, lower the risk of passing an STI to another person or decrease your risk of getting certain STIs, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The Importance of Recognizing STI Symptoms
When left untreated, STIs may lead to serious health conditions, including:
- Cervical cancer
- Infertility
- Miscarriage or premature birth
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Severe infections
In some cases, STIs may even cause death. Some can also be dangerous for infants who get an STI from their mothers during pregnancy or childbirth.
You can significantly decrease the risk of getting an STI by using condoms, dental dams or gloves during sexual activities. However, even safe sex cannot completely stop STIs from spreading. So, it’s vital to know the symptoms of common STIs no matter how careful you are.
Symptoms of Chlamydia
Bacteria causes chlamydia. You can get this STI from having anal, oral or vaginal sex or sharing unwashed sex toys with someone who has chlamydia. If you have infected semen, pre-cum or vaginal fluid on your hands, you may also get it by touching your eye.
This STI often doesn’t have any symptoms. Still, it’s a serious condition that can cause other health problems. In people who have symptoms, they may show up weeks after infection. Possible symptoms include:
- Burning during urination
- Pain in the rectum
- Rectal bleeding
- Testicular pain and swelling in one or both testicles
- Unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus that may have a strong odor
Gonorrhea Symptoms
Like chlamydia, gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that is spread through anal, oral or vaginal sex or by sharing unwashed sex toys with an infected person. Also, like chlamydia, you can get it by touching your eye if your hand has infected semen, pre-cum or vaginal fluid on it. Sometimes people refer to gonorrhea as “the clap” or “the drip.”
Most people with gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms and may not know they have it. People with symptoms may have:
- A sore throat
- Anal bleeding, itching or soreness
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- Burning or pain during urination
- Difficulty swallowing
- Discharge from the penis that may be green, white or yellow
- More vaginal discharge than usual
- Pain during bowel movements
- Swelling or pain in the testicles
Genital Herpes and Oral Herpes
Oral and genital herpes are caused by two viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Genital herpes develops on or near the genitals or anus. Oral herpes develops on or around the lips, mouth or throat. Oral herpes may also be called “cold sores” or “fever blisters.” Usually, oral herpes is caused by HSV-1, while HSV-2 causes genital herpes. However, either virus can cause oral or genital herpes.
Herpes spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contact with the saliva, semen, pre-cum or vaginal fluids of an infected person. It can spread through shared, unwashed sex toys. Both forms are most contagious when people have herpes sores, but they can spread when no sores are present.
Often, people with herpes have very mild or no symptoms. The most recognizable symptom of herpes is painful blisters or sores around the lips, mouth and throat, or on or around the genitals and anus. Sores usually heal in about a week to a month. During the first outbreak, people may have flu-like symptoms. There is no cure for herpes, but outbreaks often get shorter and milder over time. Medication can help stop it from spreading.
Symptoms of HIV
HIV attacks the immune system. It’s spread through contact with blood, breast milk, semen, pre-cum, rectal fluid or vaginal fluid that contains the virus. This contact may happen during anal, oral or vaginal sex, through sharing sex toys or if body fluid enters a cut or other open area on the skin.
Within two to four weeks of getting HIV, about two out of three people experience flu-like symptoms that may include:
- Chills, fever or night sweats
- Fatigue and body aches
- Mouth sores
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph nodes that may feel like tender bumps under the skin
These symptoms often last for a few days or weeks. Most people with HIV don’t remember having these first symptoms, and will not have any symptoms for years. Still, the virus continues to multiply in the body and can be transmitted to others.
Without treatment, the virus severely damages the immune system and puts people at risk for severe infections, cancers, and many other health problems.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts
HPV is the most common STI. There are hundreds of types of HPV, about 40 of which are passed through sexual contact. About 90 percent of HPV infections are harmless. However, some types can cause genital warts or cancer.
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or sharing sex toys. Most people with HPV don’t have any symptoms. For those who do, symptoms may not appear until months or years after they get the virus.
Genital warts are soft cauliflower-shaped bumps that develop in or near the anus, cervix, penis, scrotum, vagina or vulva. They may be uncomfortable, but they are not dangerous.
The most common type of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. However, HPV can also cause cancer in the anus, penis, throat, tongue, tonsils, vulva or vagina.
There is a vaccine to prevent HPV. It’s recommended for all people starting at age 11 but can be given starting at age 9. The vaccine may also be given to teens and young adults up to age 26 who haven’t been vaccinated. Adults ages 26-45 who would like the HPV vaccine should talk with their provider about the potential benefits and risks.
Syphilis Symptoms
Bacteria also causes syphilis. It’s spread through skin-to-skin contact with a syphilis sore, also called a chancre, during anal, oral or vaginal sex. It can also spread through shared unwashed sex toys. This STI has multiple stages, including stages with mild symptoms, no symptoms and severe symptoms. Many people with syphilis don’t know they have it.
In the first stage, one or more sores will appear about three weeks to three months after infection. Typically, sores are firm, round and painless, and they may open up. The sores may develop in hard-to-see areas, such as inside the rectum or vagina. Sores may also be on the anus, mouth, penis, scrotum or vulva. After three to six weeks, sores clear up on their own. However, the infection stays in the body unless you get treatment.
The next stage involves new symptoms that often come and go over a year or two. Symptoms in this stage may include:
- A rash, especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- More chancres
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
Without treatment, syphilis continues to stay active in the body, even if there are no noticeable symptoms. Late-stage syphilis can cause serious health issues, such as blindness and brain damage, and may lead to death.
Getting Tested for an STI
If you are sexually active, talk with your provider about your risk factors for STIs. These will help determine how often you should get tested for STIs.
Don’t be embarrassed or shy about broaching the subject, either. Doctors are trained to have these conversations. They know it can be a sensitive topic and how important testing for and treating STIs is for your health and well-being. Always talk with your doctor or other healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of an STI or have questions about your risk factors or treatment options.
More to Read
- 5 Myths and Facts About Hepatitis C
- The Importance of Urology Health
- Urinary Tract Infections: Prevention is Key
- HPV and Throat Cancer: What You Need to Know
Are you living with HIV/AIDS in the Baltimore area?
The THRIVE program can help. THRIVE is a primary care and specialty practice that is part of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Learn more.
Medically reviewed by Sarah Schmalzle, MD, FIDSA.
