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According to the CDC, STDs are increasing in the US at an alarming rate. In 2018, 110 million Americans were tested positive for an STD, and 20 million new infections seem to pop up each year. With the ongoing pandemic, life is stressful enough without contracting a painful STD! To that end, we have compiled a list of the most common STD symptoms to let you know when it’s time to speak to a doctor and get tested.

5 Common STD Symptoms

No symptoms 

If you are expecting to feel itching, pain, or burning sensation in your genital area to determine whether you have an STD, you might want to rethink that stance. And if you do develop any STD symptoms, it could take several days or weeks for the signs to show up. So while being asymptomatic is not a “symptom,” if you suspect you may be infected, symptoms or not, always get tested. 

Lesions or sores

Bumps on or around your genitals are one of the most obvious signs that you have been infected with an STD. Herpes blisters generally appear around the mouth, anus, or genitals within 20 days of infection but could take years to show up!

You may also develop genital warts that are white or flesh-colored and can look like little cauliflowers. Early stages of syphilis can sometimes result in the round but painless bumps near the infection site. As the condition advances, you may notice a rash on your back, feet, or hands.

Flu-like symptoms 

You may just have the flu, but if you recently engaged in unprotected sex, and are experiencing the following signs:

  • Fatigue
  • Night sweats
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes

These indicators may point to an STD. 

Studies show that 40-90% of people who get infected with HIV develop flu-like symptoms within 2-4 weeks. However, it can take up to 3 months for the virus to appear on a rapid antibody test. 

If syphilis goes untreated for weeks the patient can start experiencing:

  • Headaches
  • Joint pain
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

Hepatitis B infection can also lead to flu-like signs like vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and a loss of appetite. 

Discharge

Both men and women can experience unusual discharge from their genitals if they have been infected with an STD. It is one of the key STD symptoms to watch out for. Women may see a significant increase in normal discharge or bleeding between their periods. Men can notice a green, yellow, or white discharge from their penis, which could be a sign of gonorrhea or Chlamydia.

For women, if the color, consistency, or odor of your discharge has undergone a sudden change, it’s most likely an STD. 

Painful sex or urination

Genital herpes, warts, trichomoniasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea can make the process of urination or intercourse extremely painful. If you are a woman, pain during sex can also mean that you have a pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to ectopic pregnancies or infertility if left untreated.

Pains and aches

Many STDs such as gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and Hepatitis B can lead to lower abdominal pain. If it’s syphilis, you can experience joint pain, and if it’s chlamydia, you can have painfully swollen testicles. In other words, if you are suffering from extreme pain in your abdomen, joints, or genital area, it could be an STD symptom.

Avoiding and Preventing STDs

std symptoms

The best way to stay safe from STDs is to use condoms during sex and get tested regularly. The majority of STD symptoms are easily treatable; all you need to do is take some antibiotics prescribed by the doctor and you will be good as new in no time.

Another reason why you need to take better care of your sexual health is, once you contract an STD, your immune system is compromised and it becomes much easier to acquire another STD. The risk of another STD is bad enough, but a weakened immune system can also make you susceptible to the coronavirus.

Don’t Put Your Health At Risk – Order An STD Test Online Today

So, if you had unprotected sex recently, and you are not sure about the sexual health of your partner, speak to a doctor or go to a sexual health clinic.

Or, if you don’t want to wait weeks for an appointment, you can order an STD test online through 24 Hour Docs. All you need to do is see one of our doctors online to evaluate you and find out which test is appropriate for you. You will then book your test online, go to the nearest testing center, and get your test results online within 48 hours.  Call us at 877-244-6876 or contact us online if you have questions or concerns.