Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can really take their toll on your sexual health, but how do you know which is which? We’ve rounded up the main STIs that may threaten your wellbeing – could you spot them all if you needed to?
1. Chlamydia: This is a bacterial infection that affects the wellness of your genital tract. Award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette notes, ‘Chlamydia in its early stages is often without symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, when symptoms do manifest they appear one to three weeks after infection and include painful urination, vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, discharge from the penis, and painful intercourse…It is transmitted primarily through vaginal intercourse though rarely it can also be transmitted through oral sex and from mother to child.’
2. Pubic lice: Also known as crabs, these small parasites can live in your pubic hair, armpits, eyelashes and facial hair. According to Gillette, ‘Anyone can get pubic lice, and sexual contact is not necessarily required. Contact with infested bed sheets and clothing can also spread the parasite. Pubic lice do not usually cause significant health issues though a secondary infection may occur from excessive itching of the area.’
3. Gonorrhea: Gillette details, ‘Symptoms generally occur around 10 days after exposure and include discharge from the vagina or penis, burning sensation while urinating, swollen testicles, abnormal menstrual bleeding, anal itching, and painful bowel movements. Symptoms are more common in men than in women.’
4. Herpes: ‘It is possible for someone with oral herpes to give a partner genital herpes through oral sex (and vice versa),’ Gillette warns. ‘Although most of the time genital herpes is caused by HSV-2 after anal or vaginal sex. Symptoms are usually mild and can go unrecognized; approximately 90% of people with herpes do not know they have the virus. The most common symptom is the appearance of small sores in the genital area.’
5. Hepatitis: Gillette explains, ‘Each hepatitis virus spreads in different manners; however, all forms can be spread through sexual contact…All forms of hepatitis damage the liver, and while many cases offer no major health complications, some can lead to liver failure and death. Symptoms vary and can manifest as innocently as fatigue or progress to serious illness and mental confusion.’
6. HIV/AIDS: ‘HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS,’ Gillette comments. ‘This STD can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, sexual secretions and breast milk. Many people do not know they are infected with HIV, as the vast majority only experience mild flu-like symptoms approximately two weeks after infection.’
7. HPV: ‘The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the STDs that can cause serious negative health effects down the road,’ says Gillette. ‘It is the leading cause of cervical cancer for women and the virus responsible for genital warts…HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not just through contact with sexual organs or secretions. In some people, HPV never presents symptoms, and those people can go on to infect others unknowingly.’
8. Syphilis: Gillette points out, ‘Syphilis is curable, though if left untreated it can cause severe organ damage over time…Symptoms of syphilis vary depending on the stage of infection but include a single sore, a rash of the palms of the hands or on the feet, or white sores around the mouth or genital area.’
9. Trichomoniasis: ‘Most men with trich remain asymptomatic, but women can experience painful urination, strong vaginal odor, discharge from the vagina, pain during sex, and itching or irritation of the genital area,’ Gillette asserts. ‘Trich can cause low birth weight in babies and can also make an individual more susceptible to HIV infection.’
10. Molluscum contagiosum: Gillette details, ‘It is a benign infection and usually resolves on its own, but symptoms include skin lesions in the genital and rectal area which last from two weeks to four years.’
