How Soon Can STD Symptoms Start?
Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Warning For New York
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in New York City, a new report reveals.
According to the 2023 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance Report recently released by the New York City Health Department, rates of STIs increased since the year before.
While rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia rose across the city, early stages of syphilis fell drastically.
Stock image of a man holding his crotch (main) and an STI test (inset). Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in NYC. Stock image of a man holding his crotch (main) and an STI test (inset). Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise in NYC. ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUSThe report shows that there was an 8 percent increase in chlamydia rates among men, and a 5.4 percent increase among women between 2022 and 2023. Of infected women, young adults and teenagers tend to have higher rates than older women, with 56 percent of all cases being recorded in women aged 15 to 24.
What is chlamydia?Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that affects the genital area but can also infect the rectum, throat, or eyes. It is one of the most reported bacterial STIs worldwide, with around 128 million cases reported worldwide every year.
In many cases, chlamydia is asymptomatic, but symptoms can include painful urination, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, or pain during intercourse for women, and discharge from the penis, and painful urination in men. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious health issues, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may lead to infertility.
The data also revealed that rates of gonorrhea increased by 15.9 percent in men and 1.1 percent in women.
What is gonorrhea?Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and commonly affects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, but can also infect the rectum, throat, and eyes. This infection is also very common, with 82 million new cases being recorded around the world each year.
Symptoms also include painful urination and discharge and may also eventually lead to infertility if left untreated.
What is syphilis?Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and progresses through four distinct stages which can lead to severe health complications if untreated.
Primary syphilis may involve the appearance of sores, which develop a few weeks after exposure, and eventually heal after a few more weeks. One to six months later, secondary syphilis develops, with a rough, bumpy syphilis rash appearing alongside other symptoms like fever.
After this stage, the infection enters the latent stage, which can last for years. Without treatment, the fourth and final stage may occur—tertiary syphilis—which causes severe damage to the heart, brain, nerves, blood vessels, bones, and other organs.
The report also shows that there was a 22.6 percent overall decline in primary and secondary syphilis, with a 21.7 percent drop in men and 29.7 percent fall in women.
There was also a 19.8 percent drop in rates of early latent syphilis, with a 22.1 percent decline in men but only a 5.8 percent drop in women. However, there was an increase in rates of the latest stages of syphilis by 8.1 percent overall, with a much larger climb in rates among women than men, at 22.5 percent compared to 4.3 percent.
How are they transmitted?All three of these infections are spread via vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person, though syphilis can also be spread by non-sexual direct contact with a syphilis sore or by childbirth, leading to congenital syphilis.
How are they treated?These infections can all rapidly be cleared by treatment with antibiotics.
Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as the early stages of syphilis, were most common in the Clinton-Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with Central Harlem-Morningside Heights in Manhattan and Williamsburg-Bushwick in Brooklyn being a hotspot for gonorrhea in particular. There was a much higher prevalence of STIs in lower-income neighborhoods.
"Undiagnosed and untreated STIs can cause serious health problems for New Yorkers. The Health Department strongly encourages regular testing and the use of preventive measures," Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse said in a statement.
"The 2023 STI Surveillance Report data remind us that the city must continue to invest in increased and equitable access to testing, treatment, and prevention services, and address the inequities that prevent too many New Yorkers from accessing vital resources."
The report also found that there were significant racial inequalities in the rates of these STIs, with primary and secondary syphilis rates being 2.5 times higher amongst Black men than white men, and 9.9 times higher in Black women than white women.
"The STI Surveillance Report underscores the critical importance of barrier-free STI testing, treatment, and prevention for youth," Angela Diaz, Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, said in the statement.
"Adolescent girls and young women consistently have the highest rates of chlamydia of any age group, but not all youth are affected equally. Black and Latina youth continue to be disproportionately impacted. Young New Yorkers need and deserve access to services that are confidential, judgment-free, culturally responsive, and provided at no cost."
These STIs and others—including HIV, HPV and genital herpes—can be prevented by using condoms consistently and correctly during all sexual activity, and undertaking regular STI screenings, especially for individuals with multiple or new sexual partners.
"Getting tested for STIs on a regular basis is an important action that all New Yorkers can take to optimize their health," Wendy Wilcox, Chief Women's Health Officer of New York City Health + Hospitals, said in the statement.
"Not only does it allow for early detection and treatment but can prevent adverse health outcomes such as infertility and in some cases, even cancer. Taking care of your sexual health is a critical step to taking care of your overall health. Speak to your health care provider and make this a resolution that you will keep all year long!"
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Signs And Symptoms Of STIs In Men
In some cases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause no noticeable symptoms. When they do occur, STI symptoms in males can include discharge, bleeding, painful blisters, and more.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of STIs can be important. Early treatment can help prevent complications and prevent the infection from spreading to others.
STIs often cause no noticeable symptoms, so it is possible to have one without knowing it. It may also be easy to mistake STI symptoms for those of another issue.
A note about sex and genderSex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms "male," "female," or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
Chlamydia is a bacterial STI that passes from person to person through anal, oral, or vaginal sex without a condom or other barrier method. In a male, chlamydia can develop in the urethra, rectum, or throat.
Some call chlamydia a "silent" infection because people are often unaware that they have it. The majority of these infections in males cause no symptoms.
If symptoms do occur in males, they arise several weeks after the infection develops.
Common symptoms of chlamydia in the urethra include:
Chlamydia in the rectum is less common and usually causes no symptoms, but it can cause:
Oral chlamydia is generally asymptomatic, but may cause a sore throat.
Treatment
Treating chlamydia involves antibiotics. It may involve taking a single dose or a 7-day course of an antibiotic. Repeat infections are common so it is a good idea to have another test after completing the treatment.
Men's health resourcesFor more research-backed information and resources, visit our dedicated men's health hub.
Herpes is an infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of the virus, and they tend to affect different parts of the body:
Many people with herpes have no symptoms, and others may have difficulty identifying their symptoms. Mild herpes blisters can resemble insect bites, ingrown hairs, or razor burn.
If they do arise, the symptoms typically appear 2 days to 3 weeks after exposure to the infection.
Common symptoms of herpes in males include:
Treatment
There is no cure for herpes, and outbreaks of symptoms can reoccur over time. Treatments focus on managing the symptoms and extending the time between outbreaks.
Gonorrhea is an infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. It often develops in the urethra, rectum, or throat, and the bacteria can transmit through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom.
Most males with gonorrhea have no symptoms. When gonorrhea in the urethra does cause symptoms, they usually appear within a week after the infection has developed.
Symptoms of gonorrhea in the urethral area in males include:
Symptoms of a rectal infection may include:
Treatment
Healthcare professionals can treat gonorrhea with antibiotics. These can stop the infection from progressing, but they cannot reverse any damage already done.
For this reason, anyone with symptoms of the infection or likely exposure to it should see a healthcare professional for testing right away.
The medical community is becoming increasingly concerned about the rise of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. This resistance makes successful treatment much more difficult, if not impossible.
Bacteria are also responsible for syphilis, which transmits through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without a condom or other barrier method. It can also transmit through contact with an infected area.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a higher risk of contracting syphilis. According to WHO, 7.5% of MSM have syphilis compared to 0.5% of males in the general population.
Many people with primary syphilis do not notice symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear 10 to 90 days after infection, with 21 days being the average.
The symptoms of syphilis progress in stages known as primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each stage has its own unique set of symptoms that can last for weeks, months, or even years.
The symptoms of primary syphilis include:
Secondary syphilis can cause the following signs and symptoms:
The latent, or "hidden," stage of syphilis, during which there are no visible symptoms, can last for several years.
Tertiary syphilis is very rare. It can cause severe health complications that affect multiple organ systems. The symptoms of tertiary syphilis include:
Treatment
A healthcare professional may recommend an antibiotic called benzathine penicillin G to treat primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis. People who are allergic to penicillin will need to use a different antibiotic, such as doxycycline or ceftriaxone.
Although antibiotics will prevent the infection from progressing, they cannot repair any permanent damage resulting from the infection.
HPV generally does not cause any symptoms. However, it can cause serious health issues even without symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9 out of 10 cases of HPV clear on their own within 2 years without any adverse health issues. When it does not go away on its own, it can cause issues, such as warts or even certain types of cancer.
The type of HPV that causes warts is not linked with cancer, however.
Individuals should speak with a healthcare professional if they notice the following symptoms around their genitals, mouth, or throat:
HPV can spread without penetrative sex. It can also spread through skin-to-skin contact with infected areas and sharing sex toys.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for the HPV virus. However, treatment is available for the health issues it can cause. For example, genital warts are treatable with prescription medications.
HPV can also be preventable through getting vaccinated. The CDC recommends all children between the ages of 11 and 12 years old receive 2 doses of the HPV vaccine. If an individual is between the ages of 19 and 26, and has not received the vaccine, they can speak to their healthcare professional about getting it.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune cells. It spreads through some, but not all, bodily fluids, including semen, vaginal and anal fluids, and blood.
The most common methods of transmission in the U.S. Are through anal or vaginal sex, or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-related equipment.
Many people with HIV experience flu-like symptoms within 2 to 4 weeks of developing the infection and may be mild or difficult to distinguish from conditions like the common cold. Common symptoms of HIV in males are:
Other symptoms may include:
Treatment
While there is no cure for HIV, treatments can prevent symptoms and transmission. They can also keep the infection from progressing to stage 3 HIV (AIDS).
The treatments are called antiretroviral therapy, and they reduce the amount of the virus in the body. When the amount is so low that a test cannot detect it, this eliminates the risk of transmitting HIV.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, often due to a viral infection. One of the most common hepatitis viruses is the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can pass on through blood, semen, and some other bodily fluids.
Healthcare professionals classify each HBV infection as either acute, meaning that it is temporary and will last for a few weeks and resolve on its own, or chronic, in which case it is a severe, long term condition.
Most people with hepatitis B have no symptoms. People with symptoms may easily mistake them for those of cold or flu, and they tend to appear about 90 days after the HBV infection develops.
Hepatitis B signs and symptoms include:
A vaccine can prevent hepatitis B, and the WHO recommends that all infants receive 2 to 3 doses of this vaccine.
Treatment
There is currently no treatment for acute hepatitis B. Medications can treat chronic hepatitis B, and research in this area is ongoing.
People with chronic hepatitis B need regular checkups for signs of liver disease.
STIs often cause no symptoms in males.
Many STIs are treatable, and almost all are preventable.
People can prevent STIs by using barrier protection, such as condoms or dental dams, during sex. Also, vaccines can prevent some strains of HPV and hepatitis B.
Anyone who is sexually active and believes they may have ben exposed to an STI should seek medical attention.
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