SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
Sexually transmitted infections are infections that are spread through sexual contact,
Including vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse. Some STIs can be spread through touching and
kissing.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially those that are ulcerative, are associated with
an increased risk of HIV infection and have significant implications for reproductive health
outcomes.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is caused by bacteria. It can be passed from mother to baby during delivery.
If untreated, gonorrhea can increase a person’s risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
The symptoms may be absent despite an active gonorrheal infection. Symptoms can appear
anywhere from 1-14 days following exposure to the infection. Men and women experience
slightly different symptoms; these can include:
Signs in men Signs in women
1. white, yellow, or green urethral 1. painful sexual intercourse
discharge, resembling pus 2. fever
1. inflammation or swelling of the 3. yellow or green vaginal discharge
foreskin 4. vulvar swelling
2. pain in the testicles or scrotum 5. bleeding in-between periods
3. painful or frequent urination 6. heavier periods
4. anal discharge, itching, pain, 7. bleeding after intercourse
bleeding, or pain when passing 8. vomiting and abdominal or pelvic pain
stools 9. painful or frequent urination
5. itching, difficulty swallowing, or 10. sore throat, itching, difficulty
swollen neck lymph nodes swallowing, or swollen neck lymph
6. eye pain, light sensitivity, or eye nodes
discharge resembling pus 11. eye pain, light sensitivity, and eye
7. red, swollen, warm, painful joints discharge resembling pus
12. red, swollen, warm, painful joints
Signs of Anal Gonorrhea in both men and women
1. Itching, bleeding, or pain with passing bowel movements
2. Anal discharge
Syphilis
It is caused by the bacteria. There are three stages: Primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can escalate severely without treatment. It
is spread through sexual contact with sores, known as chancres. Shared contact with surfaces
like doorknobs or tables will not spread the infection. Early treatment with penicillin can cure it.
Syphilis will not come back after treatment, but it can recur with further exposure to the
bacteria. Having syphilis once does not prevent a person from contracting it again.
Women can pass syphilis to their unborn child during pregnancy, with potentially disfiguring or
fatal consequences.
The infection can lie dormant for up to 30 years before returning as tertiary syphilis.
Signs and Symptoms
Primary symptoms
The symptoms of primary syphilis are one or many painless, firm, and round syphilitic sores
called chancres. These appear about 3 weeks after exposure. Chancres disappear within 3 to 6
weeks, but, without treatment, the disease may progress to the next phase.
Secondary symptoms
Secondary syphilis symptoms include: a non-itchy rash that starts on the trunk and spreads to
the entire body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may be rough, red, or
reddish-brown in color. There may also be oral, anal, and genital wart-like sores. A person with
syphilis may also experience muscle aches, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, patchy hair
loss, headaches, weight loss and fatigue.
These symptoms can resolve a few weeks after they appear, or they can return several times
over a longer period. Untreated, secondary syphilis can progress to the latent and late stages.
Latent syphilis
The latent phase can last several years. During this time the body will harbor the disease
without symptoms.
After this, tertiary syphilis may develop, or the symptoms may never come back.
However, the T. pallidum bacteria remain dormant in the body, and there is always a risk of
recurrence.
Treatment is still recommended, even if symptoms are not present.
Late or tertiary syphilis
Tertiary syphilis can occur 10 to 30 years after onset of the infection, normally after a period of
latency, where there are no symptoms.
Symptoms include: damage to the heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. They may also
include soft tissue swellings that occur anywhere on the body. Late syphilis may also lead to
organ damage means that tertiary syphilis can often be fatal.
Neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is a condition where the bacteria has spread to the nervous system. It is often
associated with latent and tertiary syphilis, but it can appear at any time after the primary
stage.
It may be asymptomatic for a long time, or it can appear gradually.
Symptoms include: dementia or altered mental status, abnormal gait, numbness in the
extremities, problems with concentration, confusion, headache or seizures, vision problems or
vision loss, weakness.
Congenital syphilis
Congenital syphilis is severe and frequently life-threatening. Infection can transfer from a
mother to her fetus through the placenta, and also during the birth process. Data suggests that
without screening and treatment, 70 percent of women with syphilis will have an adverse
outcome in pregnancy.
Adverse outcomes include early fetal death, preterm or low birth weight, neonatal deaths, and
infection in infants.
Symptoms of congenital syphilis in newborns include: saddle nose, in which the bridge of the
nose is missing. They may also have fever, difficulty gaining weight and a rash of the genitals,
anus, and mouth. The newborn may also have small blisters on the hands and feet that change
to a copper-colored rash and spread to the face, which can be bumpy or flat. They may also
have watery nasal fluid.
Older infants and young children Hutchinson teeth, or abnormal, peg-shaped teeth.
They may also experience bone pain, vision loss, hearing loss, joint swelling, a bone problem in
the lower legs and scarring of the skin around the genitals, anus, and mouth.
They may also have gray patches around the outer vagina and anus.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is cause by Bacteria. Chlamydia is 50 times more common than syphilis and more
than three times more common than gonorrhea. Most people with chlamydia do not show
symptoms. Chlamydia has been known to cause serious and sometimes permanent damage to
the reproductive system. It can be spread to an infant during childbirth, potentially causing an
eye infection or pneumonia. Chlamydia is a treatable infection and requires the use of
prescribed antibiotics by both sexual partners.
Signs and symptoms
Although most people with chlamydia do not exhibit symptoms, they may start to appear
5 to 10 days after contracting the infection.
Chlamydia symptoms in women
These may include: abdominal pain, large quantities of vaginal discharge that may be foul-
smelling and yellow, bleeding between periods, low-grade fever, painful intercourse, bleeding
after intercourse, burning with urination, swelling in the vagina or around the anus and needing
to urinate more often or discomfort with urinating.
Chlamydia symptoms in men
These may include: pain and burning with urination, penile discharge (pus, watery, or milky
discharge), testicle swelling and tenderness.
If the rectum is affected in men or women, it can cause anal irritation. Most people, though,
have no symptoms at all.
Genital Warts
Genital warts are flesh-colored or gray growths found in the genital area and anal region in
both men and women. They are viral infections caused by human papillomaviruses
(HPVs). HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. It can also be transmitted from an infected
mother to an infant during childbirth. An infected person may transmit the virus despite
exhibiting any signs or symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of Genital Warts
Although genital warts are painless, they may be bothersome because of their location, size, or
due to itching. The size may range from less than one millimeter across to several square
centimeters when many warts join together. Men and women with genital warts will often
complain of painless bumps, itching and discharge. Rarely, bleeding or urinary obstruction may
be the initial problem when the wart involves the urethral opening (the opening where urine
exits the body.) Warts in more than one area are common.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Genital herpes virus is
passed from one person to another through sexual contact. This happens even if the person
with the virus doesn’t have symptoms or signs of infection.
Once the virus enters through the skin, it travels along nerve paths. It may become dormant
(inactive) in the nerves and remain there indefinitely.
Signs and Symptoms of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes most often appears as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum.
When these blisters burst they leave the tender sores known as ulcers. The first time a person
has a herpes outbreak, the ulcers may take two to four weeks to heal.
The next outbreaks may not occur for weeks, months, or even later. When they do, they usually
are less severe than the first outbreak. Herpes infection doesn’t go away, but the outbreaks
tend to become less frequent over time.
Genital herpes symptoms also include: Numbness, tingling, or burning in the genital region.
There may also be a burning sensation while urinating or having intercourse.
Painful urination, difficulty urinating, or a frequent need to urinate. Watery blisters in the
genital area.
Candidiasis
Candidiasis, often called yeast infection or thrush, is a type of infectious disease. It is a fungal
infection (mycosis). The disease is caused by any of the Candida species of yeast. Candida
albicans is the most common species. Candida yeasts are common in most people. The yeast is
usually controlled in the body. When the yeast grows without control, an infection happens. A
weakened, unhealthy, or young immune system may allow candidiasis to develop. Candidiasis is
a very common cause of vaginal irritation, or vaginitis. It can also occur on the penis or scrotum.
Symptoms of Candidiasis
Signs and symptoms in women include white discharge that is thick and often described as
having a cottage cheese appearance. There may also be itching and irritation on the vagina and
surrounding outer tissues. A Person can also experience pain with sexual intercourse and a
burning with urination
Summary of common signs and symptoms of STIs in men and women
People with STIs may feel ill and notice some of the following signs and symptoms:
• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• Sores or warts on the genital area
• Painful or frequent urination
• Itching and redness in the genital area
• Blisters or sores in or around the mouth
• Abnormal vaginal odor
• Anal itching, soreness, or bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
Note
In some cases, people with STIs have no symptoms. Over time, any
symptoms that are present may improve on their own. It is also possible for
a person to have an STI with no symptoms and then pass it on to others
without knowing it.
If you are concerned that you or your sexual partner may have an STI, talk to
your health care provider. Even if you do not have symptoms, it is possible
you may have an STI that needs treatment to ensure your and your partners’
sexual health.
