Venereal disease: symptoms and treatment. Symptoms and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases

To become infected with venereological infections, all you need to do is one unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner.

Unlike men, STD symptoms in women can be mildly expressed and in the absence of timely treatment they often go into a hidden latent phase, which is fraught with the development of severe complications. In addition, during this period a woman is not only a carrier, but also a distributor of a dangerous disease.

Even 20 years ago list of STDs There were only “classic” venereal diseases - syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, chlamydial and inguinal granuloma. Since 1993, this list has been supplemented by all kinds of infections that can be acquired through sexual contact, and today STIs include:

Syphilis;
Gonorrheal infection in men: anterior and posterior urethritis, epididymitis, prostatitis, vesiculitis; in women: urethritis, vulvitis, bartholinitis;
Chancroid;
Chlamydial lymphogranulomatosis;
Granuloma venereum;
Trichomoniasis;
Urogenital chlamydia;
Urogenital mycoplasmosis;
Urogenital candidiasis;
Ureaplasma infection;
Genital herpes;
HIV AIDS;
Human papillomavirus (HPV);
Hepatitis B and C;
Phthiriasis is an infestation with pubic louse.

STDs are common in all countries of the world and cause enormous socio-economic damage. The remaining high rates of STIs are influenced by: low standard of living, prostitution, drug addiction, incomplete registration of cases, unprotected sexual contacts. The only way to prevent diseases is barrier contraception.

Most infections have pronounced symptoms, mainly in the genital area. Some of them may remain asymptomatic for years: hepatitis, HIV, HPV, genital herpes, CMV. Let's look at the symptoms of each disease.

Disease	Symptoms	Incubation period
Syphilis	Stage 1. Round painless ulcer (chancre, syphiloma) in the perineal area, enlarged lymph nodes Stage 2. 6 to 7 weeks. The rash is represented by spots of the same size, mainly on the body and limbs, does not peel off and is not detectable by touch. Stage 3. From 3 to 5 years (extremely rare). Infection of the skin, mucous membranes, joint bones, nervous system organs, and other internal organs: heart, liver, lungs.	20 – 30 days
Gonorrhea	Pain at the beginning of urination, discharge with pus, blood, pain in the abdomen, sometimes an increase in body temperature up to 38 - 39 o C	Up to 5 days
Chancroid	An ulcer on the external genitalia that appears on the 5th day of infection, is painful on palpation and increases in diameter. After 15–20 days, the growth process stops; after a couple of months, healing occurs. An ulcer forms on the labia, clitoris, around the rectum, on the skin of the thighs, on the pubis	Up to 5 days
Chlamydial lymphogranulomatosis	Stage 1. An ulcer in the vagina, on the labia, or on the cervix. Stage 2. Hardening, enlargement and pain of the lymph nodes; at the site of the ulcer, the skin becomes thin and breaks, and yellowish pus appears. Nausea, headaches, increased body temperature, chills are possible. Stage 3. The spleen and liver are enlarged, severe changes in the lymph nodes and nearby organs.	3 – 30 days
Granuloma venereum	A painless, firm, red, pea-sized papule on the labia or clitoris; in the mouth and nasal mucosa, on the body, face, hands. Elephantiasis of the labia, itching and purulent discharge from the ulcer, narrowing of the vagina.	The incubation period can last up to six months
Trichomoniasis	Liquid purulent, sometimes foamy discharge, accompanied by an unpleasant odor and itching of the perineum, pain during urination and during sexual intercourse	5 – 15 days
Urogenital chlamydia	Swelling and inflammation of the urethral mucosa, mucopurulent vaginal discharge, pain in the lower abdomen. Complications: inflammation of the uterus, its cervix and appendages, chlamydia of the rectum.	2 – 3 weeks
Urogenital mycoplasmosis	Against the background of mycoplasmosis, inflammatory processes of the genital organs develop: cervicitis, endometritis. Mycoplasma infection is diagnosed by laboratory methods. Complication – infertility	3 – 5 weeks
Urogenital candidiasis	Itching, inflammation and swelling in the perineum, whitish discharge, often thickened, a sour odor that increases after sexual intercourse, irritation of the vaginal mucosa when urinating and getting water.	Up to 10 days
Ureaplasma	Symptoms are nonspecific, characteristic of most inflammatory diseases: mucous discharge, abdominal pain, pain when emptying the bladder and during coitus.	5 – 30 days
Genital herpes	Discomfort in the perineum (itching, soreness), then a rash appears in the form of small blisters with a diameter of 2-3 mm, often accompanied by headache, fever up to 38.5 o C, and general malaise.	2 – 14 days
HPV	Genital warts in the perineum, perianal area, vulva, cervix	From several weeks to several months
Hepatitis B and C	Indigestion, general weakness of the body, final result: liver damage	From 2 weeks to a year
Ftiriaz	Itching in the pubic area, bluish-bluish spots with a black dot in the center that form at the site of the bite.	Up to 1 month
HIV	The acute stage in a small percentage of infected people, which occurs 1 to 6 months after infection, has symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis. Next, HIV enters a dormant stage, which can last up to 6 years. After this period, diseases develop against the background of immunodeficiency: herpes, candidiasis of internal organs, CMV, brain lymphoma, tuberculosis of internal organs, bacterial infections, etc.	1 month – 4-6 years

As you can see, many STIs have similar symptoms, so diagnosing and differentiating the infection from other similar ones is only possible using laboratory diagnostic methods: serological tests: ELISA, RPGA, RSCA; bacteriological method, enzyme immunoassay, DNA diagnostics - PCR method.

Symptoms

The first symptom indicating a possible STI infection is changes in the color and nature of vaginal discharge: gray-white, yellow, grayish-yellow, greenish, foamy, with a sour, fishy smell. In addition, in the acute course of sexually transmitted infections, the following are often observed: pain and burning during urination, itching and swelling in the area of the external genitalia.

Diagnosis of STIs in women, as well as in men, is carried out through blood tests using ELISA, PCR, RIF, etc., and vaginal secretions using the bacteriological method.

Often, an infection in women that is not cured in time goes into a latent asymptomatic phase, which is characterized by the development of inflammation in the genital area and is fraught with impaired reproductive function.

Prevention of STDs consists of barrier contraception using a condom, and also includes an annual examination of women by gynecologists.

Bleeding

Bleeding due to STDs– a sign of a complicated course of venereological diseases. Scanty intermenstrual bleeding can be observed:

For endometritis (damage to the uterine mucosa) caused by long-term gonococcal and chlamydial infections.
Cervicitis caused by mycoplasmas.

Bleeding in the above diseases is often accompanied by other symptoms: swelling and itching in the genitals, severe discharge with pus. Less common: increased body temperature, abdominal pain.

Purulent bloody discharge observed with granuloma venereum and chlamydial lymphogranulomatosis in the secondary period, during the rupture of the ulcer.

Drugs

Basics STI treatment is aimed at eliminating the pathogenic causative agent of infection with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs (depending on the specifics of the causative agent).

At genital herpes and HPV Treatment with antiviral drugs is indicated: “Acyclovir”, “Valacyclovir”, “Famciclovir”, a course of treatment of 5 – 10 days.

As antibacterial therapy for syphilis Penicillins (benzylpenicillin) are prescribed: “Bicillin”, “Benzylpenicillin novocaine salt”. At gonococcal, chlamydial and mycoplasma infections, treatment with macrolides is indicated: “Vilprafen”, “Josamycin”, “Erythromycin”, “Azithromycin”, “Sumamed”, etc. chancroid, granuloma venereum The most effective are tetracyclines: Doxycycline, Unidox Solutab, as well as macrolides: Vilprafen.”

During treatment urogenital candidiasis use antifungal drugs: Fluconazole, Diflucan, Mikosist.

For elimination of trichomoniasis are taking ornidazole drugs: “Ornidazole”, “Tiberal”, “Lornizol” and metronidazole: “Metronidazole”, “Trichopol”.

General principles HIV therapy is to prevent the progression of the disease. To maintain chronic lethargy of the virus, therapy with antiretroviral drugs is indicated: Azidothymidine, Lamivudine, Zalcitabine.

Venereal diseases are transmitted sexually and can occur both in acute form and become chronic. Need to know first symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner, otherwise the consequences may be the most unexpected.

Almost everyone venereal diseases The incubation period lasts 7-10 days, after which the first signs appear. By the way, it is worth knowing that during oral and anal sex, infections are also transmitted. The first sign that an infection has been acquired through oral sex is a sore throat. When you get an infection during anal sex, the first sign is inflammation of the rectum.

It is important to know that if a person did not pay attention to first symptoms of the disease, it goes into a chronic stage, after which the patient becomes a carrier of infections without realizing it.

Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases

Chlamydia

This is a disease that occurs after bacteria such as chlamydia enter the body. The disease is transmitted only sexually. In men, the first signs of chlamydia are pain in the lower abdomen and stabbing pain during urination. In women, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the genital organs occurs, as well as inflammation of the cervix.

Gonorrhea

This disease is popularly called gonorrhea. It is also transmitted sexually, regardless of the type of sex. It should be noted that gonorrhea has pronounced symptoms. In men, pus may leak from the penis, and pain may also occur during urination, which is similar to a burning sensation. The anus may be inflamed, and the stool often contains blood. Women may experience infrequent bleeding, which is often confused with menstruation. The discharge becomes pink or bright yellow. Pain may occur during sexual intercourse. However, you need to know that if a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she can transmit the virus to the child. Undoubtedly, this is not fatal for the baby, but it still entails various negative consequences.

Syphilis

This is one of the most dangerous venereal diseases which, if left untreated, can be fatal. Need to know that syphilis sexually transmitted through any sexual contact. The catch of the disease lies in the fact that it can remain asymptomatic in the body for a long time. That is why doctors recommend that after spontaneous unprotected sex you get tested 10 days after the act and after 3 months.

Primary symptoms of syphilis– this is a general sluggish state of health, discharge in both men and women, pain in the groin area.

At the first signs of this venereal disease, it is necessary to urgently contact a venereologist, since sometimes tests alone are not enough to identify diseases and additional treatment is necessary. If you sound the alarm in a timely manner, any venereal diseases curable without any consequences.

Sexually transmitted diseases are sexually transmitted diseases.

Some of them have been known to mankind for hundreds of years, others appeared relatively recently. In addition to “age,” they also differ in their danger and prevalence.

The following is a list of the 10 most common sexually transmitted diseases, which will begin with the most common and end with fairly rare diseases, but no less dangerous.

About 70% of sexually active men and women are asymptomatic carriers of this sexually transmitted disease. Infection mainly occurs through sexual contact, but it is also possible in domestic conditions.

Asymptomatic carriage turns into disease when the maximum safe content of the pathogen in the human body is exceeded. Symptoms in men are clear discharge, a slight burning sensation when urinating, and symptoms of prostatitis.

In women, ureaplasmosis causes pain in the lower abdomen (due to inflammation of the internal genital organs), vaginal discharge and burning during urination. In men, prostatitis can be a complication of ureaplasmosis, in women – infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

2.

According to some reports, about 40% of women suffer from this sexually transmitted disease. Outwardly, it manifests itself in the formation of genital warts, which were first described in Ancient Greece. Not long ago it became known that human papillomavirus infection is a viral disease that can be a precursor to cervical cancer.

3. .

This sexually transmitted disease occurs with a frequency of 7 to 30%. Manifests itself in the formation of blisters on the skin and mucous membrane. At the moment there is no cure for herpes, there are only drugs that can suppress its reproduction. In some cases, herpes can affect the nervous system.

4. .

The incidence of gonorrhea among women under 30 years of age is about 15%. The pathogenic effect of gonococci (the causative agents of this disease) is exerted mainly on the mucous membrane of the genital organs. The disease can occur in both acute and chronic forms. In men, in the acute form, there may be discharge of pus, mucus, a sensation of “tickling”, “broken glass” when urinating. Possible inflammation of the urethra and epididymis, damage to the bladder and kidneys. The external genitalia become swollen and inflamed. In women, all the symptoms are similar.

5. .

According to various sources, chlamydia affects 5 to 15% of the sexually mature and sexually active population. Symptoms in women include burning and itching in the external genital area, discharge with an unpleasant odor and a yellowish tint. A slight increase in temperature is possible. Women are more susceptible to this disease. Symptoms in men include pain in the lower back, scrotum, testicles and urethra. Itching and cloudy urine may occur.

6. .

Of the total number of sexually transmitted infections, it accounts for about 10%. This disease is dangerous because the affected area is not only the genitourinary system, but also the tonsils, conjunctiva of the eyes and even the lungs. Women with this disease experience pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge and itching. In men, symptoms of prostatitis and discharge from the urethra.

7. Cytomegalovirus infection.

Frequency of occurrence 0.2 – 2.5%. Complete recovery from this infection does not occur; the virus can only go into latent form and wait for a decrease in immunity, during which it will manifest itself again. Contained in all biological fluids of the body. May cause retinitis, leading to blindness. Particularly dangerous for children. The main carriers of this disease are homosexuals and prostitutes.

8. .

This disease affects less than 1% of the world's population. It is associated with lesions of the skin, mucous membranes, nervous system and bones. This disease is caused by Treponema pallidum. Syphilis has several stages. At the site where the infection enters the body, a so-called chancre is formed. If left untreated, this disease leads to significant changes in a person's appearance and ultimately death. ...

9.

According to official data, it affected 0.2% of the world's population. HIV infection affects the body's immune system and prevents it from effectively resisting infections. An HIV-infected person may not know about his disease for several years, since it is initially asymptomatic, but can already infect healthy people with it. In the later stages, many concomitant diseases are added to HIV, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. A cure and prevention for HIV have not yet been developed, but research is being actively conducted in this direction.

10. .

It is extremely rare, mainly brought by tourists from countries in the Asian region. Externally, this disease manifests itself in the formation of erosions, blisters and ulcers on the affected genital organs. Caused by one of the types of chlamydia.

Catalog of the best venereologists

Sexually transmitted infectious diseases are a group of venereological pathologies, the main route of transmission of which is unprotected sexual contact. STDs are clinically heterogeneous nosological entities that are highly contagious, that is, infectious, and therefore pose a direct danger to human health.

What infections are sexually transmitted

The World Health Organization classifies STDs as follows::

Typical sexually transmitted infections

lymphogranulomatosis (inguinal form);
granuloma venereal type.

Other STDs:

which primarily affect the organs of the reproductive system:

urogenital shigellosis (occurs in persons with homosexual sexual intercourse);
trichomoniasis;
candidal lesions of the genital organs, manifested by balanoposthitis and vulvovaginitis;
gardnerellosis;
scabies;
flat spots (pediculosis pubis);
molluscum contagiosum.

which primarily affect other organs and systems:

neonatal sepsis;
Giardia;
AIDS;
amebiasis (typical for persons with homosexual contacts).

The main difference between any representative of an STD is its high susceptibility to changes in environmental conditions. For infection to occur, there must be direct contact between a sick person and a healthy person, and in some cases this is not necessarily sexual intercourse; household contact will be sufficient, as, for example, in the case of a viral disease. The danger increases in the presence of defects in the integrity of the mucous membranes and skin, which are the entrance gates for any infection. The risk of contracting an STD increases significantly through anal intercourse, the use of general personal hygiene products and sexual toys. note: Almost all viral and bacterial sexually transmitted diseases penetrate the placental barrier, that is, they are transmitted to the fetus in utero and disrupt its physiological development. Sometimes the consequences of such infection appear only several years after the birth of the child in the form of dysfunction of the heart, liver, kidneys, and developmental disorders. Regarding the type of pathogen, sexually transmitted diseases are:

The following reasons are identified that contribute to the spread of STDs::

very close household contacts;
unprotected sex, which also includes anal and oral sex;
use of shared towels;
failure to comply with the necessary rules for sterilization of instruments (diseases are transmitted through contaminated instruments in medical, dental, cosmetology institutions, as well as in manicure and tattoo parlors);
procedure for transfusion of blood and its elements;
parenteral drug administration;
transplantation of organs and tissues.

STD: symptoms

The clinical picture of sexually transmitted diseases is slightly different, but, in general, there are a number of signs that are characteristic of almost each of them:

excessive weakness;
purulent or mucous discharge from the urethra;
cloudy urine;
burning and itching in the genital area;
enlarged lymph nodes in the groin;
discomfort during sexual intercourse and urination;
ulcers and ulcers in the groin, on the external genitalia;

For other organs, symptoms may appear depending on the type of infection that affects other systems. For example, the liver suffers from hepatitis, bones are affected in the last stages of syphilis, and chlamydia can affect joints.

Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases in women

The presence of certain symptoms of STDs in women is explained by the characteristics of their physiology. The following signs should alert a woman and become a reason for an emergency visit to the gynecologist:

pain and feeling of dryness during sex;
single or group enlargement of lymph nodes;
dysmenorrhea (disturbances in the normal menstrual cycle);
pain and discharge from the anus;
itching in the perineal area;
anal irritation;
rash on the labia or around the anus, mouth, or body;
unusual vaginal discharge (green, foamy, smelly, bloody);
frequent painful urge to urinate;
swelling of the vulva.

Sexually transmitted diseases in men: symptoms

You can suspect an STD in men based on the following signs::

blood in semen;
frequent and painful urge to urinate;
low-grade fever (not in all diseases);
problems with normal ejaculation;
pain in the scrotum;
discharge from the urethra (white, purulent, mucous, with an odor);
various types of rashes on the head of the penis, the penis itself, and around it.

Important: Most sexually transmitted pathologies are asymptomatic. It is very important to seek medical help immediately after the first symptoms appear in order to prevent progression and complications.

Diagnostics

If there are any suspicious signs from the genital organs, especially after unprotected sexual intercourse, you should consult a doctor as early as possible. Self-medication in this case is fraught with complications and serious consequences. Sometimes the symptoms of an STD disappear some time after their onset, and the patient thinks that he is healthy and everything went away on its own. But this only means that the disease has passed into a latent, that is, hidden form, and continues to circulate in the body. Important: If you detect suspicious symptoms, you must notify your sexual partner and undergo an examination with him andget tested for STDs. The diagnostic scheme includes the following points:

Survey. The doctor collects a detailed medical history from the patient, he asks about complaints, how long ago they appeared and their severity. Usually, a patient who has already consulted a doctor has various types of elements (ulcers, rashes, erosions) on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs, pain, burning, itching when urinating. It is also important to find out the number of sexual partners, previous sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptive methods used, and whether there were unprotected sexual contacts. A woman undergoes a mandatory gynecological examination, and a man a urological examination, during which a specialist detects objective symptoms of an STD. If necessary, it is also possible to consult a dermatovenerologist.
Laboratory research. They are the basis for confirming the diagnosis. Testing for sexually transmitted infections involves examining the patient's blood and other biological fluids.

In particular, the following diagnostic methods are used:

Treatment of sexually transmitted infections

Appropriate therapy is always prescribed only by the attending physician based on test results. Depending on the identified pathogen, a treatment regimen is drawn up.
Most diseases can be successfully treated, but there are some that are considered incurable:

hepatitis C;
herpes types 1 and 2;

At the same time, maintenance therapy allows you to remove symptoms and alleviate the patient’s condition. Among the medications prescribed by a doctor, the following groups of drugs can be used:

to activate the body's immune response;
antiviral, allowing to accelerate remission when the viral infection enters the latent phase;
hepatoprotectors are used to support the liver in case of severe damage;
cardiac glycosides support the functioning of the heart muscle;
vitamin-mineral complexes are part of general strengthening therapy;

and more diseases are sexually transmitted

Previously, only 5 were classified as sexually transmitted diseases - syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, donovanosis and lymphogranulomatosis venereum. Later other diseases became known - chlamydia, genital warts, genital herpes, HIV-infection, pubic lice and others. More than 30 sexually transmitted diseases are now known.

Sexual transmission of all these infections occurs through sex, including oral and anal sex. But some sexually transmitted diseases can be contracted in other ways:

simply in close contact with the carrier;
through common household items;
through non-sterile medical and cosmetology instruments;
Some diseases can be transmitted to a child from an infected mother - in the womb or during passage through the birth canal.

On your own, without consulting a doctor and tests, you cannot accurately determine what kind of disease a person has—whether it is sexually transmitted at all, and if so, what kind. Therefore, it is very important to suspect in time that you have signs of a sexually transmitted infection, which will be a reason to consult a doctor.

In this article we will tell you what can signal a sexually transmitted infection, as well as what symptoms indicate different diseases.

Main features briefly

Signs of sexually transmitted diseases differ in men and women. Women have more symptoms and are more varied. In men, many diseases occur without symptoms, so it is generally more difficult for them to suspect some kind of sexually transmitted problems.

Signs of sexually transmitted diseases in men:

rashes, red spots on the penis
discomfort, pain when urinating
discharge from the penis
pain in the scrotum

Signs of sexually transmitted diseases in women:

rashes on intimate places
atypical vaginal discharge
spotting after sexual intercourse, as well as between menstruation
pain, discomfort when urinating
unpleasant odor from the intimate area
nagging pain in the lower abdomen during or after sex
irritation, burning in the intimate area

When infected through oral sex, the following symptoms occur:

temperature increase
enlarged neck lymph nodes
redness, rashes on the mucous membrane of the oropharynx

Target organs for sexually transmitted infections

Why do certain signs of sexually transmitted diseases occur, and what else could it be besides sexually transmitted infections? To understand this, let’s remember the structure of the male and female genital organs.

The female genital organs begin with the labia majora, covered with normal skin, which passes into the mucous membrane. Below the labia majora are the labia minora, above which is the clitoris. The labia minora cover two openings: at the top - the urethra, below it - the entrance to the vagina. The vagina itself is a tube that ends at the cervix. The opening of the cervix is closed by a mucus plug. The cervix tightly covers the uterus. In the corners of the uterus there are fallopian tubes, the ends of which are adjacent to the ovaries.

In men, the penis and scrotum are located outside, and the testicles, their appendages, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and prostate are inside.

In the penis they secrete base, body And head. The body consists of 2 cavernous bodies (they fill with blood when excited) and the corpus spongiosum, through which the urethra passes. The body of the penis passes into the head. When passing from the body to the head, the skin forms a fold - the foreskin.

The scrotum is a sac containing two testicles with epididymis and the lower parts of the vas deferens. Both ducts combine with the ducts of the seminal vesicles in the prostate to form the main vas deferens. It enters the urethra.

The prostate is located below the bladder in front of the rectum.

What happens when infected

When a bacterium, virus or fungus reaches a healthy person, active reproduction begins. Depending on the type of microorganism, this may be inside the cell or in the environment that surrounds the cell.

For example, the human papillomavirus lives and multiplies inside cells, disrupting their normal functioning. Because of the virus, skin cells cannot die and quickly fall off the surface of the skin, so growths form in the form of flesh-colored warts.

If reproduction occurs in any environment, then pathogenic microbes affect the secretions of this environment. For example, vaginal discharge may become foul-smelling because bacteria produce toxins and other waste products.

After infection, a person’s immune system tries to cope with the problem on its own - it increases blood flow and sends special blood cells - leukocytes - to the site of invasion. Because of this, the infected organ turns red and swells, and its temperature rises. For example, when the vaginal mucosa becomes inflamed, it becomes bright red, it is hot to the touch, and its walls are thickened.

Due to tissue swelling, nerve endings can be compressed, causing pain, burning or itching. Because of this, for example, there is pain when urinating, or a feeling that the vagina is itching.

Some bacteria (for example, chlamydia) destroy mucosal cells. But besides this, the cells of the mucous membrane and skin suffer from swelling and the work of leukocytes, which destroy microbes. This is where erosions and ulcers arise; the site of inflammation may bleed if the vascular wall is destroyed due to infection. This often causes bleeding during and after sexual intercourse, as well as between periods.

Cell death causes disruption of the normal functioning of the affected organ. The reproductive and urinary systems are closely connected. Therefore, if microbes enter the urethra in men, they can travel to the vas deferens and then cause inflammation of the prostate and testicles. Ultimately, this can lead to infertility.

In women, due to the close proximity of the urethra and vagina, the infection can spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, which leads to problems with conception and pregnancy, causing nagging pain in the lower abdomen and other unpleasant sensations.

Inflammation can be acute or chronic.

Acute form begins from the moment the microbe enters the body and begins to multiply. Usually this is 2-10 days after infection. Manifestations of the disease can be bright or blurred. With mild symptoms, and also if a person does not consult a doctor, the inflammation gradually subsides and the infection becomes chronic.

Chronic form sexually transmitted infections exist for a long time in the human body and gradually change the structure of the affected organs. The elasticity of tissues deteriorates, natural channels narrow, and the functioning of the reproductive system is disrupted. A person with a chronic sexually transmitted infection becomes a source of infection for his sexual partners and relatives (domestic transmission).

Symptoms and diseases

Each venereological disease is characterized by certain symptoms. But does one or another sign always indicate only a sexually transmitted infection? Let's look at each group of symptoms in more detail.

Burning and pain when urinating

If the infection enters the urethra, it can spread upward to the bladder and kidneys. Inflammation leads to tissue swelling and cell destruction. For this reason, the outflow of urine becomes difficult, and a person experiences pain and burning after urination.

These symptoms are characteristic of diseases such as:

chlamydia

Burning during urination and pain immediately after. The severity of symptoms may be blurred, which leads to chronic inflammation.

trichomoniasis

Burning after urination. Possible different intensity of discomfort.

candidiasis

A burning sensation when urinating occurs only in the chronic form of the disease.

gonorrhea

A short-term burning sensation at the very beginning of urination. Often symptoms are pronounced in men, but completely absent in women.

non-venereal diseases

They also have similar symptoms, but they are caused by other reasons: urolithiasis, injuries to the external genitalia, allergies to cosmetics, psycho-emotional disorders, and so on.

Discharge from the penis

The following fluids may normally be discharged from the penis:

urethrorrhea- clear fluid from the urethra
smegma- whitish discharge from the glands of the foreskin and glans
sperm- white discharge, a mixture of sperm and gonad secretions

The following discharges should alert you:

transparent, stringy, mucous discharge - characteristic of ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia.
mucopurulent - characteristic of trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis and chlamydia in the acute phase
purulent - in copious amounts, characteristic of gonorrhea.
white curdled ones - typical for candidiasis.

Non-venereal diseases with discharge from the penis also occur. In this case, the symptoms may be the same, but the cause may be completely different. Balanoposthitis - inflammation of the foreskin, prostatitis, non-gonorrheal urethritis, tumors, trauma to the penis, diseases of the central nervous system - all this may not be associated with sexually transmitted infections.

Vaginal discharge

Normally, female vaginal discharge is liquid, transparent, mucous, in small quantities. Their volume can increase with excitement, after stress, in late pregnancy. The consistency varies depending on the cycle - in the middle of the cycle the discharge is more liquid than at the beginning and end of the cycle. After sexual intercourse without using a condom and ejaculation of sperm, white vaginal discharge may occur for several days.

Discharges from genital infections are:

abundant thick foamy white color

Characteristic of trichomoniasis. Quite often there is an unpleasant odor. The causes of unpleasant odor from the vagina or urethra (in men) due to sexually transmitted diseases are the activity of bacteria - they decompose nutrients and produce toxins.

yellow-green discharge

Characteristic of gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and chlamydia. They have an unpleasant fishy smell.

Thick white curdled discharge is a hallmark symptom of candidiasis.
greyish-white, watery discharge with a fishy odor is typical of gardnerellosis.

Some sexually transmitted diseases can cause bleeding during and after sex. This is typical for chlamydia, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea. Microorganisms destroy mucosal cells. Friction during sexual intercourse leads to additional mechanical damage to the inflamed areas. Blood discharge from the vagina is also possible between periods if the inflammation is very severe.

Some sexually transmitted diseases can cause bleeding during and after sex. This is common for chlamydia, trichomoniasis and gonorrhea

Rash in the intimate area

Sometimes a rash on the genitals becomes the only symptom of a sexually transmitted disease:

flesh-colored, elongated nodules on a thin base are characteristic of genital warts; sometimes they can grow and resemble a rooster's comb;
a rash in the form of small blue or red dots in the pubic area, with severe itching - a sign of infection with pubic lice, which bite the skin to feed on human blood;
a small rash in the form of canals up to 3 mm, causing severe itching - these are the passages of the scabies mite under the skin, the cause of scabies;
red itchy spots on the head of the penis, on the inside of the foreskin, in the perineum are a consequence of candidiasis or gardnerellosis; these spots are painful when touched and are associated with white discharge with a cheesy consistency;
blisters with clear or bloody fluid are a characteristic sign of genital herpes. The blisters are painful when touched and cause itching and burning.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the rash with syphilis.

This disease has 3 stages, and each is characterized by its own type of rash. In the first stage, a painless ulcer with raised, dense edges appears on the skin - syphilitic chancre. It occurs at the site through which syphilitic bacteria have entered the body. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated, the ulcer disappears and syphilis moves to the next stage. The second stage is characterized by a small red or pink rash that appears all over the body. This rash goes away on its own and recurs after a few months. You can read more about syphilis rash in a separate article.

The sebaceous glands located on the head of the penis in men and on the labia majora in women can be mistaken for rashes on the genitals. During puberty, the glands are completely formed and become especially visible. Outwardly, they may resemble a rash in the form of multiple white lumps.

Red spots on the genitals may be a sign of contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction. Plaque rashes are a symptom of psoriasis

Burning and itching of the genitals

The cause of severe itching of the genitals can be sexually transmitted insects - pubic lice and scabies mites.

Pubic lice are round bodies firmly attached to hairs. Itching occurs at the sites of lice bites.

The scabies mite causes scabies. The reason for itching with scabies is that the mite penetrates under the skin and gnaws through channels in which it reproduces.

Itching and burning of the genitals also occurs with candidiasis, trichomoniasis and gardnerellosis.

A pronounced burning sensation is caused by genital herpes during its exacerbation - at the same time a rash in the form of blisters appears.

Causes of itching and burning in the intimate area that are not related to sexually transmitted infections are allergies to cosmetics, chafing under underwear, cystitis and urethritis - which are not caused by pathogenic microbes, hormonal diseases, contact dermatitis, mental disorders.

Pain during intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen

Pain occurs due to an inflammatory reaction. Pain during sexual intercourse occurs with candidiasis, trichomoniasis and chlamydia. The causative agents of these diseases cause the death of mucosal cells and tissue destruction. Friction during sex further damages inflamed tissue.

This type of pain is characteristic of the acute stage of the disease. When the infection becomes chronic, the microbes spread to other organs of the reproductive system and cause inflammation: pain appears in the lower abdomen. In women, the inflamed uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries hurt. In men - prostate, testicles with appendages. Nagging pain in the lower abdomen is characteristic of chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, and gonorrhea.

Pain is characteristic of many infections, not only sexually transmitted infections. These can be inflammatory diseases caused by other microorganisms, tumors, injuries. Normally, nagging pain in the lower abdomen in women occurs only during ovulation, before and during menstruation.

Let's look at the main symptoms of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.

Symptom summary table and the most common venereal diseases

Results

If a person notices any of the listed symptoms, he should urgently consult a dermatovenerologist. However, it is worth remembering that these same signs can also signal non-communicable diseases. In any case, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis - after the person has passed all the tests. It is important to begin treatment of any sexually transmitted infection as early as possible to prevent the disease from becoming chronic.