Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), usually cause symptoms such as itching and discharge in the penis, sores in the intimate region, or burning when urinating.
To identify this type of infection and prevent complications, it is important that men with an active sex life consult a urologist at least once a year, so that it is possible to carry out an evaluation of the reproductive system and, thus, possible diseases to be treated quickly.
As these are sexually transmitted infections, it is important that both the affected man and his partner or partner are also treated, so that the person does not get the disease again. Also, to prevent these infections, it is important to have protected sex using a condom.
1. Itching
Itching is very common in STIs such as genital herpes, proclitic or pubic pediculosis and is usually associated with infections.
Genital herpes is an infection located in the genital area that, in addition to itching, can also cause symptoms such as redness, pain or burning and blisters, which then become sore.
Proctitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the rectum and anus, which can be caused by infections, and pubic pediculosis, an infection caused by a parasite popularly known as “annoying” and which, in addition to itching, can cause sores and discharge.
2. Redness
Redness of the skin is a common symptom in infections such as genital herpes, HIV, cytomegalovirus infection or pediculosis pubis.
HIV is a virus that destroys a person’s immune system and, although at an early stage a person may not show symptoms, one of the symptoms caused by the infection is redness in skin lesions, which can be associated with other symptoms such as tiredness, loss of heaviness, fever and sore throats.
Redness can also be a symptom of cytomegalovirus infection, which can have other symptoms such as fever and yellow skin and eyes, however the development of infection occurs most often when the immune system is weaker.
3. Pain
The pain caused by sexually transmitted infections depends on where the infection manifests itself. Genital herpes usually causes penile pain, gonorrhea and genital chlamydia infection cause pain in the testicles, and proctitis causes pain in the rectum.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia infection are infections caused by bacteria and have other symptoms such as discharge and pain or burning when urinating.
4. Bubbles
Blisters, or vesicles, can appear in infections such as genital herpes, molluscum contagiosum, HPV, lymphogranuloma venereum, or pediculosis pubis.
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that causes pink or pearly white blisters. On the other hand, lymphogranuloma venereum is characterized as a bacterial infection that causes blisters that later develop into wounds.
The blisters that appear in HPV are known as warts and are shaped like a small cauliflower.
5. Wounds on the genital organ
Sores on Organs genitals are common in infections such as genital herpes, HPV, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, proctitis and pubic pediculosis, but they can also be present in the mouth or throat if these regions have been in contact with secretions. from the infected partner or partner.
Syphilis is an infection caused by a bacteria, which leads to the appearance of sores on the penis, scrotum and groin, in some cases, and which can lead to the appearance of other symptoms such as tiredness, fever and sore waters.
6. Runoff
The presence of discharge can also be indicative of STI’s, especially infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, proctitis or trichomoniasis.
In the case of gonorrhea, the presence of yellowish discharge similar to pus may be noticed and, if there has been oral or anal contact with the infected person, pain in the throat and inflammation of the anus, for example, may occur.
Trichomoniasis is a STI caused by a protozoan, Trichomonas sp., which can cause, in addition to discharge, pain and burning when urinating and itching in the penis.
7. Pain or burning when urinating
The feeling of pain or burning when urinating is usually a symptom of a urinary tract infection, but it can also be indicative of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis.
This type of symptom can also be associated with genital herpes infection, but this usually happens when the blisters are close to the urethra. It is also common to experience pain or burning when defecating in the presence of a genital herpes infection if the blisters are close to the anus.
8. Excessive tiredness
The symptoms of STIs are not always related to alterations in the genital region, as is the case with HIV infection, hepatitis B and syphilis, in which one of the main symptoms is excessive tiredness and without an apparent cause.
HIV is a disease that affects the immune system and, therefore, other diseases can arise as immune protection is low. Hepatitis B, despite being acquired through unprotected sexual intercourse, has as its main consequence damage to the liver, increasing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
9. Mouth sores
Mouth sores can develop if there is contact between the mouth and the secretions from the infected region of the infected partner or partner. In addition to sores in the mouth, other symptoms such as sore throat, whitish plaques on the cheeks, gums and throat may appear.
10. Fever
Fever is a normal defense of the body and therefore is the main symptom associated with any type of infection, including sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus infection or syphilis.
The fever can be high, but in many cases, STIs cause a constant low-grade fever, which can be mistaken for a flu or a cold, for example.
11. Jaundice
Jaundice is a symptom characterized by yellow skin and eyes, which occurs in STIs such as hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus infection.
12. Sore tongues
The presence of painful waters, as well as fever, is another very common symptom that indicates the presence of some type of infection in the body, such as STIs, for example syphilis or HIV.
In syphilis, the place where the sores usually appear is the groin, however, HIV can cause the lymph nodes to enlarge in many places in the body.
-What to do in case of suspicion
If there is any suspicion of an STI, it is recommended to go to the doctor so that all the necessary tests can be done to identify the correct STI and start the most appropriate treatment.
In the case of infections caused by viruses, the use of antiviral drugs to fight the infectious agent and thus alleviate symptoms may be recommended. In some cases, especially when the infection compromises the immune system, the use of antibiotics may also be indicated as a way to prevent secondary infections.
In the case of infections caused by bacteria, the treatment recommended by the doctor is with antibiotics, which can vary according to the bacteria related to the infection. In the case of pubic pediculosis, for example, the use of antiparasitic drugs in the form of ointments or creams may be indicated.
In addition, during treatment, it is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse, and it is extremely important to carry out the treatment as directed by the doctor, even if there are no longer apparent symptoms.
