Symptoms

Chlamydia

Most women and half of all men with the disease never have symptoms. Women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease, which infects the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

In women, symptoms may include:

• Bleeding after intercourse
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• An unusual vaginal discharge
• Abdominal pain or low back pain
• Burning sensation with urination

For men, the symptoms can include:

• Discharge from penis
• A burning feeling when urinating
• Swollen or painful testicles

Herpes

Some people never have symptoms and don't know they are infected. However, it is still possible to transmit the disease.

Blisters may appear on the genitals, thighs, buttocks, and anus or on the lips, mouth, throat, tongue, and gums. For women, blisters may also appear in the vagina or cervix. An outbreak can be triggered by stress, sunlight or sickness.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Itching
• Flu-like symptoms during a first episode: fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and swollen glands

Human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital warts.

About half of people with HPV never develop genital warts. However, they can still spread the disease. In women, genital warts can occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the cervix or around the anus. In men, genital warts are less common, but occur on the tip of the penis, on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum or around the anus. Rarely, genital warts can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person.

Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses. They may not hurt at first, but left untreated, the condition can worsen and warts can look like cauliflower. Some HPV strains have been linked to cervical cancer because they can cause changes in the cells of the cervix.

Characteristics of a HPV infection include:

• Firm, rough warts, sometimes flat, sometimes clustered
• Irritation, burning and itching
• Foul smell
• Painful intercourse
• Increased vaginal discharge

Syphilis

The first symptom usually includes a small painless sore or ulcer called a chancre, which appears in areas such as the penis, vagina, anus, rectum or mouth. The sore appears where the bacterium entered the body. It is usually seen about two to six weeks after you contract it and it disappears within several weeks. This may not be noticed because symptoms are mild and disappear. This does not mean the infection has gone away.

If untreated, a rash may develop and go away after a few weeks, but eventually the bacterium may cause dementia, heart disease, paralysis, blindness and death. The course of the disease may take years. Later symptoms may include:

• Rashes, blotches, bumps, warts or white patches that appear all over the body
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Tiredness

Gonorrhea

The disease can affect the genitals, rectum or throat. However, many people do not have symptoms at all.

For a woman, symptoms may include:

• Painful or burning urination
• Having to urinate often
• Increased or abnormal vaginal discharge
• Bleeding after intercourse
• Bleeding between periods
• Abdominal or pelvic pain

For men, symptoms may include:

• Discharge from penis
• Pain or burning when urinating
• Having to urinate often
• Swollen or painful testicles

Gonorrhea infections of the rectum, which can happen from receptive anal sex, often do not have symptoms. However, symptoms may include rectal discomfort, pain, discharge and anal itching.

HIV/AIDS

Primary HIV infection is the first stage of the disease. Some of those who have just been infected have flu-like symptoms. These symptoms last a few days and may include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Rashes

After years of infection, the immune system loses its effectiveness, leading to several complications. One of the first symptoms is enlargement of the lymph nodes lasting more than three months. Other symptoms appearing months or years after HIV infection include:

• Lack of energy
• Weight loss
• Frequent fevers or sweating
• Persistent or frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
• Persistent skin rashes or flakey skin
• Pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respond to treatment
• Short-term memory loss
• Unusual infection indicating a weakened immune system

Some people develop frequent and severe herpes infections or a painful nerve disease called shingles.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

It is possible to have PID and not have symptoms.

However, the main symptom is lower abdominal or pelvic pain. Mild cases may mean slight cramping while, for others, the pain is intense and constant. This pain can feel worse during physical activity or sex. Other symptoms may include:

• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Fever
• Chills
• Bleeding between periods
• Painful intercourse
• Nausea and vomiting

Trichomoniasis

Men and women can be infected with the condition. Often, there aren't any symptoms.

Symptoms in women may include:

• Heavy vaginal discharge, which can be bubbly, pale green or gray
• Vaginal itching
• Burning or redness of the vulva and vagina
• Strong, fishy odor

Symptoms in men include:

• Discharge from penis
• Burning with urination

Hepatitis B

Some people - about 30 percent - don't have symptoms or only have mild signs. Some may have flu-like symptoms or have jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Other symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Nausea
• Light stools
• Pain on the right side
• Dark urine

Pubic lice

You may have itching as your only symptom. Lice do not cause a rash. You can see lice with the naked eye. The insects are pale gray but darken in color when swollen with blood.

More on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.