Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Your Guide to STDs - WebMD

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 05:05 PM PST

Sexually transmitted diseases, commonly called STDs, are diseases that are spread by having sex with someone who has an STD. You can get a sexually transmitted disease from sexual activity that involves the mouth, anus, vagina, or penis.

According to the American Social Health Association, 1 out of 4 teens in the United States become infected with an STD each year. By the age of 25, half of all sexually active young adults will get an STD.

STDs are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STDs, like HIV, can't be cured and are deadly. By learning more, you can find out ways to protect yourself from the following STDs.

STD Causes and Risk Factors

Three things cause sexually transmitted diseases:

If you're sexually active, there's a chance that you can catch an STD. That chance can go up if you:

Have unprotected sex
Use condoms incorrectly
Have sex with multiple partners
Misuse alcohol or recreational drugs
Inject drugs

Symptoms of STDs

Sometimes there are no symptoms of STDs. If you have symptoms, they may include one or more of the following:

Bumps, sores, or warts near the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina
Swelling or redness near the penis or vagina
Skin rash
Painful or swollen testicles
Lower abdominal pain
Fever
Painful urination
Weight loss, loose stools, night sweats
Aches, pains, fever, and chills
Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
Discharge from the penis or vagina. Vaginal discharge may have an odor.
Bleeding from the vagina other than during a monthly period
Painful sex
Severe itching near the penis or vagina

STD Diagnosis and Tests

Your doctor can examine you and do tests to find out if you have an STD. If you have symptoms, you may get blood, urine, or fluid tests to figure out why you have them.

If you don't have symptoms, your doctor might order different screening tests, depending on your age and health.

You may have ones for:

Continued

STD Treatment

Treatment can:

Cure many STDs
Lessen the symptoms of STDs
Make it less likely that you will spread the disease
Help you to get healthy and stay healthy

Many STDs are treated with antibiotics.

If you are given an antibiotic to treat an STD, it's important that you take all of the drug, even if the symptoms go away. Also, never take someone else's medicine to treat your illness. By doing so, you may make it more difficult to diagnose and treat the infection. Likewise, you should not share your medicine with others. Some doctors, however, may provide additional antibiotics to be given to your partner so that both of you can be treated at the same time.

STD Prevention

STDs are preventable. There are several things that can protect yourself from them.

Use a latex condom every time you have sex. (If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water-based.) Make sure to:

Check the expiration date.
Put your condom on before you have sex.
Make sure to check for any tears.
Store condoms in a cool, dry place.

Limit your number of sexual partners. The more you have, the more likely you are to catch an STD.

Choose your sex partners with care. Don't have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STD. And keep in mind that you can't always tell by looking if your partner has an STD. Talk with your partners about STDs and how to be safe before you have sex.

Get checked for STDs. Don't risk giving the infection to someone else.

Don't use alcohol or drugs before you have sex. You may be less likely to use a condom if you are drunk or high.

Know the symptoms of STDs. Look for them in yourself and your sex partners.

Learn about STDs. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.

Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can also help prevent genital warts and some forms of cancer. Everyone through the age of 26 should get it.

Not having sex or sexual relations (abstinence) is the only sure way to prevent STDs.

STDs that cause itching: Other symptoms, treatments, and more - Medical News Today

Posted: 20 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can cause itching, burning, or pain.

Some people refer to all sexually transmitted health issues as STDs. "Disease" refers to a clear medical problem that causes symptoms — such as itching. For this reason, we use "STD" below.

But it is worth noting that many of these issues, including some we describe, often cause no symptoms. For this reason, there is a growing preference for the broader term "STI" which refers to "sexually transmitted infections."

In this article, we explore which STDs can cause itchiness, the treatments, such as antibiotics, and when to contact a doctor.

Some of the most common types of STDs that may cause genital itchiness include:

Chlamydia is an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, and it is the most frequently reported bacterial infection in the United States.

Chlamydia often affects the cervix. Without treatment, it can cause many long-term health conditions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as an increased risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

Most people with chlamydia experience no symptoms. For those who do have them, vaginal symptoms of chlamydia may include unusual discharge associated with itchiness, as well as a burning sensation while urinating.

Penile and testicular symptoms may also include unusual discharge and a burning sensation while urinating, as well as pain and swelling in either or both testicles.

Diagnosis

To diagnose chlamydia, a doctor takes a swab and sends it to a lab for testing. If the bacteria are present, the doctor typically prescribes a single dose of the antibiotic azithromycin or a longer dosage of the antibiotic doxycycline.

Before and during treatment, hold off on having sex to prevent the bacteria from passing to partners. It is usually safe to have sex 1 week after finishing the treatment.

Gonorrhea is especially common in people aged 15–24. Like chlamydia, gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that often affects the cervix, and without treatment, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

More than half of all females with gonorrhea may have no symptoms — while about 90% of males with the infection experience symptoms.

Most people do not experience itchiness as a result of gonorrhea unless the infection reaches their rectum.

Signs of a rectal infection include:

discharge
itchiness around the anus
soreness
bleeding
painful bowel movements

Diagnosis

To diagnose gonorrhea, a doctor either sends a swab or a urine sample to a lab for testing. Treatment involves an injected dose of ceftriaxone and prescription azithromycin.

To prevent the infection from passing to others, wait 1 week after treatment before having sex.

Trichomoniasis is a common STD caused by a microscopic parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.

Around 3.7 million people in the U.S. have this STD, but only 30% develop symptoms. These usually appear within 5–28 days of contact with the parasite. However, some first experience symptoms much later or have symptoms that come and go.

Penile symptoms may include:

itchiness or irritation inside the penis
burning while urinating or ejaculating
penile discharge

Vaginal symptoms may include:

itching, burning, redness, or soreness around the genitals
urinary discomfort
a change in the thickness, color, and smell of discharge

Diagnosis

Once lab tests confirm that the parasite is present, a doctor usually prescribes metronidazole or tinidazole.

It is safe to have sex again 1 week after the end of treatment. Return to the doctor after 3 months to ensure that the infection has not reoccurred.

Genital herpes is an infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2.

It is common in the U.S., with around 1 in 6 people aged 14–49 having the condition. Most people experience mild symptoms, if any, and some may be unaware that they have herpes.

If a person does experience symptoms, they may refer to this as an "outbreak." Further outbreaks can follow the first, but these are usually shorter and less severe.

Symptoms of genital herpes can include:

one or more blisters, which may be itchy, around the genitals or rectum
blisters that are painful and seep liquid when they break
a fever, body aches, or swollen glands during the initial outbreak

Diagnosis

Doctors can diagnose herpes by looking at the sores, if any are present, and asking questions about the symptoms. Lab tests can confirm the diagnosis, and in some cases, the doctor may ask for a blood test.

Once a doctor has diagnosed herpes, they may prescribe antiviral medication. This cannot cure herpes, but it reduces the chances of the infection passing on to others.

Genital warts result from a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Only around 10% of people with HPV develop genital warts.

HPV is most likely to pass on through penetrative sex, but it can transmit through other forms of sexual contact.

Symptoms of genital warts include:

small or large clusters of warts in the anal or genital area, such as the penile shaft, vagina, or labia, which can sometimes bleed
itchiness, color changes such as redness, and discomfort

Diagnosis

A doctor may be able to diagnose the issue with a visual examination. They may also take a sample of one wart, a biopsy, for testing.

There is no cure for HPV. Most warts go away without treatment within 18–24 months.

Among the many treatments are cauterization, freezing, and laser therapy. The aim of these is to remove the warts, which may return.

Anyone who is sexually active should undergo regular testing for STDs. Testing is particularly important for people who:

believe that they are at risk
have symptoms
have a partner with a diagnosed STD

Some STDs can cause long-term health effects if the person does not receive treatment. Most of the time, treatment involves a short course of antibiotics or another medication.

While many STDs cause no symptoms, several common ones can cause vaginal, penile, or anal itchiness. Usually, the treatment involves a relatively short course of medication.

Overall, testing is key for anyone who is sexually active.

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Signs of STD