Sign and Symptoms of STDs
Understanding the symptoms of STDs and how they are transmitted is the first step to early treatment and prevention. Here is a quick guide to the most common symptoms of STDs and the specific diseases that may be causing them.
| Symptoms | STD |
|---|---|
| Unusual discharge from vagina, penis or anus | Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, Yeast Infection |
| Bumps, blisters or warts on vagina, penis or anus | Herpes, HPV |
| Painless sores on mouth, vagina or penis | Syphilis |
| Yellow skin (jaundice), fatigue, abdominal pain | Viral Hepatitis |
| Pain or burning sensation during urination or sex | Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes |
| Itching or burning around vagina, penis, or anus | Herpes, pubic lice (crabs) Trichomoniasis, yeast infection |
| Yellow-green discharge from vagina with strong odor | Trichomoniasis |
| Abdominal pain | HIV/AIDS, Herpes, Syphilis |
| Bleeding between periods | Chlamydia |
| Unexplained weight loss | HIV/AIDS |
Many of these symptoms above can be caused by diseases and conditions that are not sexually transmitted. It is important that you discuss any symptoms with your doctor right away, so that he or she can determine the cause and begin treatment, if necessary.
You can reduce the risk of getting STD by practicing abstinence (not having sex), if you do have sex, limit your risk by practicing safer sex.
- Use a latex condom every time you have sex, even oral sex. Some STDs, such as herpes, HPV, and syphilis can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in areas that the condom does not cover.
- Limit the numbers of people with whom you have sex and don’t go back and forth between partners.
- Before you have sex with a new partner, asks if he or she has any unusual symptoms. Be open and honest about STDs with your partner. If either of you has an STD, both of you should be tested and treated, if necessary. Otherwise, you could repeatedly pass the infection back and forth to each other. Do not have sex until you are sure he or she had a negative STD testing.
- WHILE THE ABOVE PRACTICES ARE NOT 100% CERTAIN, THEY ARE MUCH SAFFER THAN USING NO PROTECTION AT ALL.
- Talk to your doctor about your risk of getting an STD and ways to avoid it.
Please click on the links below to be directed to signs and symptoms for each: (The documents are in PDF format and will open in a new window. You will need the free Adobe Reader to view and print them.) While the above practices are not 100% certain, they are much safer than using no protection at all.
