If you are sexually active (and sometimes even
if you're not) you can get an STD. Here are the symptoms that should concern you.
You may have an STD if you have any of
the following symptoms:
burning sensation while urinating
unusual discharge or pain within one to
three weeks of last sexual encounter
smelly, foamy, yellowish-green vaginal or
penile discharge
abnormal vaginal bleeding
genital area discomfort
pelvic pain
fever or rash on skin or genitals
soft, itchy warts in and around the
vagina, penis, and anus
soft, cauliflower-like bumps on genital
areas
cold sores and fever blisters on the
mouth (these can be spread to the genitals during oral
sex or if a hand touches the genitals after touching the
sores on the mouth)
swollen lymph glands with or without sore
throat and fever
red bumps that turn into painful blisters
or sores on the vagina, penis, buttocks, or thighs (sometimes
on other parts of the body as well)
sores on the genitals or mouth that
disappear but are followed with a rash on the palms of
the hands and soles of the feet within 3 weeks
severe fatigue, aching, nausea and
vomiting, loss of appetite, darkening or urine, or
abdominal tenderness
yellowing of the skin and whites of the
eyes (called jaundice), and darkening of the urine
followed by fever and cold spells
night sweats, headaches, mental
disorders, and/or severe or recurring vaginal yeast
infections
If any of the above are accompanied by fever,
itchiness in any part of the body, headaches, dizziness, nausea or
a change in appetite you must seek immediate help. If you suspect
that you may have an STD based on the list above, a visit to the
doctor is in order.
If you have had sex with an unfamiliar partner,
if you have had sex with somebody new, if you think you may have
had sex but aren't 100% sure, and you see any of these symptoms
you should get to a doctor ASAP.
If you were raped or molested you should go to a
doctor immediately, even without symptoms.
If you have had unprotected sex for any reason
and you have any of these symptoms, do not hesitate, get thy self
to a doctor!
Not all STDs are spread through intercourse, many
can be spread through simple touch. If you have oral sex with a
person who has cold sores you could develop lesions on your
genitals which could progress to genital herpes. If somebody has
open sores (not wounds caused by injuries, but sores) on any part
of their body do not have sexual contact with them until the
sores have cleared up.
Not all STDs have symptoms, many are symptom-less.
Guys have symptoms less often than girls, but they still get STDs
just as often. Because of this fewer guys seek treatment, and
many are carriers without even knowing it. Since many sexually
active girls have regular gynecological exams, STDs in females
are more likely to be caught early and/or discussed with a doctor.
Just because you have no symptoms doesn't mean you are
disease free, you can even spread diseases to people
when you yourself have had no symptoms. The person who
has symptoms first is not always the person who had the STD first.
An STD does not have to be flaring up to be contagious.
Some STDs are treatable with antibiotics, others
stay with you for life, be careful and practice safer sex.
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