In general, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) can be transmitted through various forms of sexual contact, and can cause tremendous discomfort and have a negative impact on your long-term health if not treated promptly. Unfortunately, not all STDs show real symptoms that can be used as benchmarks to detect the emergence of infection. Some types of STDs are even accompanied by mild symptoms or even experience dormancy after the first outbreak. Therefore, try to read this article to recognize the common symptoms of PMS, and immediately visit a doctor for an examination and get the right treatment before it's too late.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of STDs Caused by Bacteria
Step 1. Watch for abnormal vaginal discharge or penile discharge
Both trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are accompanied by abnormal genital discharge. In particular, you should be wary of genital discharge that has a strange color or smell, as both are symptoms of STDs due to a bacterial infection. In addition, STDs due to bacterial infections can also occur if genital fluid comes out even though you are not urinating or ejaculating (for men).
- Women should also be wary if the vaginal discharge looks yellowish, greenish, or white or opaque and has a thick texture.
- Watch out for abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Both are symptoms of trichomoniasis. In addition, you may also experience pain during sexual intercourse or difficulty urinating if you have a trichomoniasis infection.
Step 2. Watch for pain during sexual intercourse, or unexplained pain in the pelvic area
Generally, STDs due to bacterial infections such as chlamydia and trichomoniasis are indicated by pain that is generalized or centered at one point during sexual intercourse. Meanwhile, pain in the pelvic area caused by STDs can also cause discomfort in the pelvic or genital area, including making it difficult for you to urinate.
Men who are infected with STDs often experience pain in their testicles even when they are not having sex or ejaculating
Step 3. Watch for pain or difficulty urinating
These symptoms may be accompanied by pain in the pelvic area in women, or abnormal fluid production and a burning sensation in men. In general, these symptoms can indicate the occurrence of chlamydia or another STD.
Step 4. Watch for abnormal vaginal bleeding
Vaginal bleeding outside of menstrual periods is a symptom of PMS (specifically, chlamydia and gonorrhea). In addition, bacterial infections can also increase the volume of menstrual blood drastically.
However, even chlamydia is not easy to diagnose, especially since symptoms usually appear at least three weeks after infection occurs
Step 5. Watch out for open sores on the genitals
One of the symptoms of herpes is the appearance of round, open sores, which are painful and may last up to 2-3 weeks. Meanwhile, the appearance of a painless open sore in the infected area (commonly on the genitals, and called a chancre), may be a symptom of syphilis or chancroid. These types of sores will generally appear within 10 to 90 days after infection occurs.
- Other symptoms of herpes infection include fever, chills, discomfort (called malaise), and trouble urinating.
- If not treated immediately, the symptoms of syphilis will worsen. As a result, the number of larger wounds will increase. In addition, you will experience vomiting, fatigue, and fever accompanied by a rash. In general, syphilis is divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. If it is still in the primary or secondary stage, STDs will be easier to treat. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you detect the appearance of PMS symptoms.
- Symptoms of chancroid can include fever, chills, and body discomfort. Meanwhile, some people also have difficulty urinating and removing fluid from their genital organs. Over time, the first sores can rupture, spread, and increase in number.
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of STDs Caused by Virus
Step 1. Observe the genital area for small sores or warts
Many STDs due to viral infections, including genital herpes, are characterized by the appearance of red bumps, blisters, warts, or even open sores around the genitals. Generally, the appearance of warts or lumps is accompanied by pain or burning.
- If you've had oral or anal sex recently and are worried about getting an STD afterwards, also watch for warts and/or lumps on your buttocks, anal area, lips, and mouth.
- In fact, the growth of the herpes virus in the body can be stopped for a certain period of time. Although subsequent outbreaks are usually not as painful as the first outbreak, a person infected with the herpes virus can continue to relapse for the next ten years.
- Although oral herpes can be transmitted to the genital area, generally the virus will go into dormancy after the first outbreak.
Step 2. Watch for blisters or bumps on the surface of the skin
The most common symptom of genital warts or human papillomavirus (HPV) is the appearance of lumps or warts in the genital and/or oral area. Although it is a serious type of STD, the true existence of HPV is not easy to detect. Some types of HPV are even accompanied by skin that swells, is gray in color, and forms lumps that resemble cauliflower.
- Genital warts, although not a serious STD, can be itchy and uncomfortable.
- Some types of HPV can increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer. If you are worried about having HPV, check with your gynecologist regularly to monitor the appearance and/or development of the virus.
Step 3. Watch for persistent fever, nausea, and fatigue
Although general and non-specific, these three symptoms can indicate the presence of two types of STDs due to serious viruses: hepatitis or early-stage HIV. Early stages of HIV can also cause rashes and swollen lymph nodes. Meanwhile, people who are infected with hepatitis (a disease that damages liver function) often also experience pain in the lower abdomen and dark urine.
Hepatitis viruses and HIV can also be transmitted without sexual contact, such as through the exchange of infected blood (or other body fluids), or the exchange of intravenous needles
Method 3 of 3: See a Doctor
Step 1. Perform a PMS check
If you think you have STDs, see your doctor immediately, and make an appointment to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Generally, PMS tests are inexpensive and tend to be easy to perform, so you don't need to ask for a referral or consult a specialist beforehand.
- Generally, PMS examinations include urine analysis and culture, analysis of blood samples, pelvic examination, and sampling of body tissues.
- Do not delay the examination. Remember, most STDs can be painful and uncomfortable. In addition, delaying the examination will also increase your risk of contracting other STDs, including HIV.
Step 2. Consult appropriate treatment options
In fact, most STDs are easily treatable. For example, bacterial infections can be cured with the help of antibacterial drugs that are commonly prescribed in the form of pills, tablets, or injectable liquids. Meanwhile, STDs caused by parasites, including scabies and lice, can be treated using special medical shampoos.
Although STDs caused by viruses (including herpes and HIV) cannot be treated or cured, doctors can prescribe medications to relieve the intensity of the symptoms that appear
Step 3. Perform regular PMS checks
If you are currently sexually active, especially if you are not in a monogamous relationship or change sexual partners frequently, having regular STD checks is a must. Remember, some types of PMS do not cause noticeable symptoms, while some PMS symptoms can take weeks or even months to show.
- When you go to the doctor, make sure you ask him to do a PMS test. Don't assume your doctor will do a test just because they did a pap smear or took your blood.
- Also, always ask your partner to get tested for STDs before having sex with you to minimize the risk of spreading it.
- If you don't currently have a subscription clinic or are worried about the cost of checking and treating STDs, try consulting an NGO that carries out a program similar to Planned Parenthood in the United States, namely to fight for women's sexual and reproductive health rights, such as PKBI (Indonesian Family Planning Association)..
- Although the tariff for health services at PKBI in each region may be different, in general the cost is still relatively cheap for those of you who want to do an STD check.
Warning
- Make sure you always use protection when having sex with a new person or several different people. Using condoms can significantly reduce the risk of STDs, though not completely eliminate them.
- STDs can be transmitted through various types of sexual activity, including vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, as well as various forms of genital interaction.
- If the test results show that you are positive for STDs, immediately inform all sexual partners you have had within the last 6 months. Encourage them to participate in the examination and treatment if they receive a positive test result.
- In fact, all the symptoms in this article do not necessarily prove the presence of PMS in a person's body. For example, an increase in the amount of vaginal discharge due to a yeast infection is often misunderstood as a symptom of PMS.
