Do I have an STD?

A common curiosity or anxiousness or dread in the minds of the people. It begins with “I slept with a random guy or girl after a party. After a week or so I started realizing that I have some weird spot on and around the area of my privates”. There is another one, “I am in a new relationship with a guy or a girl, which involved physical intimacy. I trust when he or she said that she doesn’t have any sexual health-related issues in the past. After a couple of weeks, I realized that I have sore/warts on my privates, I trusted the guy/girl how would I know if I have an STD ?”

Many STDs are asymptomatic, that is, they don’t exhibit clear signs being infected on the body. Although there are many ways you could guess if you have been infected by an STD, the best way is to get tested for an STD

But there are ways you could find out if you have an STD. This method is based on what STD symptoms you have. Following are the definite ways you could ring the alarm bell and opt for STD testing near you.

You observe the sores or warts

It is the probably this most common and alarming sign which indicates that you are infected with STD.STDs such as Herpes, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, etc. They may be on the privates or anywhere else, like on your face, back, legs etc. STD symptoms pictures are the best identifiers for the symptoms like sore, warts, spots etc.

 

Itchy privates

STDs such as Herpes, Syphilis can cause serious rashes and itchiness not only on the privates but on the other parts of the body.

 

Reddish genital area

Scabies, mite bites leave red itchy spots that resemble a rash on many parts of the body. The secondary phase of syphilis can also cause gray to white rash-like patches in the groin, inner thighs, and armpits.

It pains while urinating

Dysuria state, causing burning and painful urination can cause due to infection in the urinary tract due to STDs such as Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

It hurts, during intercourse

It can be a painful sexual experience with the intercourse if you are suffering from STDs like Chlamydia, HIV, and trichomoniasis.

 

You get discharge of different color from penis/vagina

The color and the texture of the discharge changes drastically. Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina is an indication of being infected.

 

You feel like you have fever, chills, headache, achiness, fatigue

Along with the peculiar symptoms of respective STDs, you may experience fever, chills, headache, and fatigue etc. as a sign of STDs like Hepatitis A, B, Herpes and even HIV.

 

Pain around pelvic region

Pain around that region causes due to Pelvic Inflammatory diseases (PID) caused due to infection with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

Lower abdomen pain

 

 

If it hurts in your lower abdomen, chances are that is might not be because of the bad eating habits. Several STDs like Chlamydia and Hepatitis mark their presence with abdominal pain due to menstrual cramps.

 

Bleeding between periods for women

Certain STDs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can cause vaginal bleeding and or bleeding between menstrual periods. This happens as the diseases cause inflammation of the uterus.

 

Too frequent menstrual cycle

Polymenorrhea which is frequent menstrual cycle caused by STD like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. Menstrual periods that are abnormally frequent (polymenorrhea) can be caused by certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Gonorrhea discharge may be yellow and tinged with blood.

 

Painful bowel movement

Few STDs causes proctitis which is anal/rectal inflammation with pain, bleeding, and discharge. These include gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, and syphilis. It is more prominent among the people having anal sex. Gonorrhea can also cause constipation, which may be an uneasy experience.

 

Swollen Testicles

Swollen testicle condition, also known as epididymitis caused by the sexually transmitted disease like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.Here the testicles are visibly swollen with slight pain.

 

The above-mentioned signs are the visible symptoms at the initial stage, individual observing these symptoms on its body should immediately get tested at the STD testing near to them.

Also read: 9 things to do immediately after you discover the STD symptoms