There are certain symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease (STD symptoms) that you cannot ignore! It won’t help to just ride it out to see if they improve. Your condition may worsen without treatment. 

STDs can have symptoms that mimic the flu – fever, sore throat or body aches specifically. You should not be so quick to ignore these symptoms when you are sexually active. 

STI symptoms aren’t always obvious. 

According to Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms may include:

• Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge.
• Discharge from the penis.
• Strong vaginal odour.
• Vaginal itching or irritation.
• Itching or irritation inside the penis.
• Pain during sexual intercourse.
• Painful urination.

Condoms, when properly used, are highly effective for reducing the transmission of some STDs. However, there is no foolproof method. If you think you have STI symptoms or have been exposed to an STI, see a doctor. Also, inform your partner or partners so that they can be evaluated and treated. 

Discharge

Discharge in men and women is a common symptom of multiple STDs. It can vary in colouration and consistency. A clear, white, greenish or yellowish discharge may be a sign of trichomoniasis. A thick, cloudy or bloody discharge may be gonorrhoea. Odour is also a factor of STDs. The odour can determine the kind of STD you may have. Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can cause a strong-smelling yellowish discharge.

Women may experience abnormal bleeding if they have an STD. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause bleeding. The bleeding will be outside of a normal menstrual period. If you have sexual intercourse with a potential STD carrier, any symptoms should be treated by a doctor immediately.

Painful Urination

Painful urination is more painful than a bladder infection. The feeling has been described as ‘urinating needles’. Some people only find pain once they are doing urinating. It feels like a spasm. The spasming may make you feel like you need to continue urinating. However, your bladder will be empty. 

Heavy burning and pain while urinating may be Chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Men with trichomoniasis can feel painful urination when the STD parasite infects the urinary tract. Ulcers related to genital herpes may also cause painful urination. 

Bass Urgent Care says the colouring of your urine could be an STD such as hepatitis. Other STDs can be recognised by finding urine in your blood. A different colour of urine, strong-smelling urine or painful urination is symptoms that require an STD test. 

Rashes

STDs can appear as a rash, bumps, warts or open sores. An STD will be made unbearable. You will want to constantly scratch your rash or bumps. Open sores can cause excruciating pain. These symptoms are serious and require immediate treatment. 

Genital herpes often has small red bumps, blisters or open sores. This can be found in the genital or anal area. Herpes causes itching and pain around your genital area and surrounding areas. 

A rash can lead to more serious diseases. This includes HIV and syphilis. The red, fluid bumps may be associated with HIV. Red, large sores all over your body, can be syphilis. 

Vomiting, fatigue and fever

If you are sexually active and afterwards you feel discomfort physically, it could be because you have an STD. Vomiting is a symptom of an STD. If you are vomiting, it can be a sign of Hepatitis A or C, HIV and syphilis. Ignoring this symptom can lead to the pathogen progressing and spreading aggressively in your body. 

The late stages of gonorrhoea, Hepatitis A, B or C and Chlamydia may make you feel extremely tired.  

A fever usually happens when the body is trying to battle an infection. It is not only a common symptom of the seasonal flu. It can also be an STD such as herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV or more.

Abdominal pain with joint and lower back pain

Progressive Chlamydia or gonorrhoea can infect your pelvis area. This may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Without care, the condition can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pain in the pelvic area and a tubo-ovarian abscess. 

Joint pains can be a sign of progressive HIV, Hepatitis B or syphilis, caused by infections such as Chlamydia and gonorrhoea and is also known as Venereal Arthritis or Gonococcal Arthritis and these types of arthritis progress when the infection has not been completely taken care of. It can lead to complete deformity, joint inflammation and many other painful joints. 

Pain in the lower back area could mean you are suffering from Chlamydia or Herpes Prodrome. Herpes Prodrome is extreme bodily pain. It usually occurs in the thigh, feet or lower back. 

Most STDs do not show any signs or symptoms. Ignoring the signs that do associate with the flu may be dangerous in the long run so do not ignore the early signs. Protect yourself. Protect your partner. Get a medical professional to assess your health. 

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