Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or venereal diseases are quite diverse ranging from harmless, curable, to life-threatening diseases. You should know how to recognize PMS symptoms and treatments. PMS symptoms can include discharge, sores, swollen glands, fever, and fatigue. Some STDs have no obvious symptoms. Therefore, you should take the test if you are sexually active. If you have STDs, you should follow your doctor's instructions to treat your condition and prevent the spread of your disease.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Identifying Symptoms
Step 1. Talk to a doctor or visit a health clinic for a check-up
Some STDs have no symptoms and can only be detected and diagnosed through tests. If you are concerned, see a doctor immediately to get tested. To find out more about PMS testing, talk to your family doctor or visit a health clinic. Some of the common types of PMS tests given include:
- Urine test. Your doctor will ask for a urine sample to determine the presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are the two most common STDs in humans. Your urine will be put in a cup, then taken to a lab for examination..
- Blood samples. Blood samples can show the presence of syphilis, herpes, HIV, and hepatitis infections. The nurse will prick you with a needle and draw blood which will then be examined.
- PAP smear. For women who do not show any symptoms, this is the only way to detect the papilloma virus. If the pap smear shows abnormal changes, a DNA test can reveal HPV. This test is intended for women only. There is no reliable way to detect HPV in men.
- Swab test (swab). Wipe the infected area to determine the presence of trichomoniasis. The nurse will wipe a cotton swab on the infected area, and send it to the lab for examination. Because only 30% of people with trichomoniasis show symptoms, often the disease can only be diagnosed through tests. A swab test can also be used to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes.
Step 2. Notice if you have trouble passing urine or other substances
The color, texture, and smell of the discharge can help determine PMS and pain during bowel movements. You know your body best, but if you have difficulty passing urine or abnormal discharge, these could be signs:
- Gonorrhea in women and men is characterized by increased discharge from the genitals (usually white, yellow, or green in color) or a burning sensation during urination. Women may also experience menstrual irregularities and vulvar swelling. As many as 4 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men with gonorrhea do not show symptoms of infection.
- Trichomoniasis can affect both men and women and cause a burning sensation when passing urine or an unusual odor and discharge (white, clear, or yellowish in color). However, about 70% of patients do not show symptoms of the outbreak.
- Chlamydia can affect both men and women characterized by discharge or pain when urinating. Women may also experience abdominal pain and urinate more frequently. Keep in mind that 70-95% of women and 90% of men with chlamydia have no symptoms of an outbreak.
- Bacterial Vaginosis or BV in women causes milky-colored and fishy-smelling discharge.
Step 3. Watch for rashes and sores
Rashes and sores on specific parts of the body can signal the presence of STDs. Watch carefully for rashes or sores on the genitals or mouth, as they are often associated with STDs. If you have an STD outbreak, visit your doctor or health clinic as soon as possible for a diagnosis.
- A painless rash in men or women can signal early-stage syphilis contractions. These rashes (also called chancres) usually appear near the genital area and appear 3 weeks to 90 days after infection.
- Painful blisters or sores in the genital area or mouth of men or women can signal the presence of herpes. These blisters appear from 2 days to 2 weeks after the outbreak.
- Genital warts can indicate a man or woman has the human papilloma virus. This virus usually appears as one or a collection of small bumps in the genital area. These bumps can be small, large, sticking out, flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. HPV is the most common STD in humans and nearly all sexually active people have had HPV. In most cases, HPV clears up on its own, but if not, certain types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women.
Step 4. Watch for flu-like symptoms
Some STDs are hard to spot because their symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. These symptoms include: cough and sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, chills, fatigue, nausea and/or diarrhea, headache, or fever. If you experience flu-like symptoms, talk to your doctor and find out what illness you actually have.
For example, flu-like symptoms after sexual intercourse can signal the presence of syphilis, or HIV, in both men and women
Step 5. Check for swollen glands and fever
Sometimes PMS can cause the glands to swell and have a fever. For example, if your glands are sensitive to pain when you press them, or if you have a fever, these could be signs of the herpes virus. Often, the swollen glands are near the area of infection, and the glands in the groin area are swollen from a genital infection.
If you have herpes, symptoms appear approximately 2-20 days after infection
Step 6. Determine if you are experiencing fatigue
There are many reasons why you may experience fatigue. However, if you experience fatigue with loss of breath, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea, or jaundice, you may have hepatitis B.
About one or two adults who have hepatitis never experience symptoms of an outbreak. However, if symptoms do occur, it usually occurs between 6 weeks and 6 months after infection
Step 7. Identify unnatural itching
Some STDs can cause itching or a burning sensation in the genital area so it is important to pay attention. For example, itching or irritation in the penis may be a symptom of trichomoniasis in men or BV in women. Chlamydia also causes itching, especially in the anal area.
- Symptoms of trichomoniasis usually appear within 3–28 days of the outbreak.
- Symptoms of BV will appear between 12 hours to 5 days. BV disease is also not only transmitted through sexual intercourse (eg through the use of the copper IUD as a contraceptive, smoking, or frequent bubble baths). Therefore, this disease is still debated as part of STDs.
Part 2 of 2: Treating and Preventing STDs
Step 1. Visit a doctor
If you think you have a sexually transmitted disease, make an appointment with a doctor right away, or visit a health clinic. Prompt treatment of STDs is crucial to preventing the long-term effects and spread of the disease. If left untreated, some STDs can cause serious long-term health problems including baldness, arthritis, infertility, birth defects, cancer, and death (although rare).
Step 2. Follow the instructions for treating the infection
Some STDs can be treated with antibiotics while some are completely incurable. Depending on the situation, you will need to follow your doctor's instructions to manage or cure your condition. If you have STDs, your doctor will suggest treatment options that can be taken and how to prevent transmitting your disease to others.
- Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the disease, or at least reduce the severity of your symptoms.
- HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, or herpes cannot be cured. However, there are several treatments that can be done to relieve the symptoms.
Step 3. Do everything you can to prevent STDs
There are several ways to prevent the spread of STDs. Make sure you choose the method that is most effective with your lifestyle. Several methods can be used, including:
- Do not have sex. The only way to make sure you're not spreading STDs to other people is to abstain from engaging in oral, vaginal, or anal sexual activity.
- Use contraception. If you have sexual activity, use a latex condom to reduce the chance of transmitting STDs.
- Don't change partners. One of the most reliable ways to prevent STDs is to stay intimate with only one partner. Start an open conversation with your partner about getting an STD test before having sex.
- Vaccinate yourself. You can get vaccines for hepatitis B and HPV. This helps ensure that you don't catch the disease even if you get it during sexual intercourse. The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given in infancy, but it's best to be sure. The HPV vaccination consists of a 3-dose series of injections and will protect the recipient against the most common forms of HPV.
Warning
- Many people contract STDs without showing symptoms. That is, the patient does not show signs of being infected. The only way to find out is through a test by a doctor.
- Other people can catch it if you don't practice safe sex.
- Your body can be damaged by STDs, so visit your doctor as soon as possible if you have it. Untreated STDs can lead to infertility (not being able to have children), an increased risk of developing cancer, and possibly infection in your partner.
