As with any form of health, all men who are sexually active can benefit from knowing the symptoms of common STI's ( sexually transmitted infections). Early recognition of potential STD's can make diagnosis and treatment much easier and can help prevent the spread to other people.
Today I want to cover the symptoms associated with common sexual infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis and HIV.
Symptoms of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea:
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea present in similar ways with discharge from the penis and pain or discomfort with passing urine. Both bugs can easily grow in the urethra after transmission from the throat, anus and cervix.
By far the most common symptom is burning or itching with urination. Chlamydia can sometimes have a discharge while gonorrhoea will almost always have a thick creamy discharge from the urethra.
Occasionally these diseases can present as difficulty urinating or signs of prostate inflammation.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea, sometimes called the clap, can be diagnosed from swab of the urethra or a PCR test of a urine sample.
Treatment is generally straight forward with antibiotics being very effective however there are some new strains of gonorrhoea that are becoming more difficult to treat.
Symptoms of Herpes:
Herpes usually presents as a painful red, blistering rash on the penis, scrotum, foreskin and even the anus. Occasionally there can be pus in the blisters or on the skin if there has been a secondary infection.
In some people the symptoms can be extremely distressing however some people have very mild symptoms and may only notice a mild rash or a few blisters.
Herpes can be diagnosed with a swab of the blisters where herpes DNA is tested for.
While the rash and blisters are present herpes is very easily transmitted to other people via skin to skin contact.
Unfortunately there is no cure for herpes however there are medications that can help reduce the severity of symptoms as well as the pain. Some people who have frequent episodes may choose to go onto daily medications to help reduce the frequency and sometimes even stop episodes.
Symptoms of Syphilis:
When first infected Syphilis presents as a flat, painless ulcer. This is normally on the penis or scrotum but can also be around the anus or in the mouth as it's spread via skin to skin contact with either syphilis rash or ulcer. Frequently the sore will come and then go away weeks later. For this reason it may be written off as a simple sore and ignored.
If untreated Syphilis can develop to secondary syphilis which is a rash that covers the whole body.
Today I want to cover the symptoms associated with common sexual infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis and HIV.
Symptoms of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea:
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea present in similar ways with discharge from the penis and pain or discomfort with passing urine. Both bugs can easily grow in the urethra after transmission from the throat, anus and cervix.
By far the most common symptom is burning or itching with urination. Chlamydia can sometimes have a discharge while gonorrhoea will almost always have a thick creamy discharge from the urethra.
Occasionally these diseases can present as difficulty urinating or signs of prostate inflammation.
Chlamydia and gonorrhoea, sometimes called the clap, can be diagnosed from swab of the urethra or a PCR test of a urine sample.
Treatment is generally straight forward with antibiotics being very effective however there are some new strains of gonorrhoea that are becoming more difficult to treat.
Symptoms of Herpes:
Herpes usually presents as a painful red, blistering rash on the penis, scrotum, foreskin and even the anus. Occasionally there can be pus in the blisters or on the skin if there has been a secondary infection.
In some people the symptoms can be extremely distressing however some people have very mild symptoms and may only notice a mild rash or a few blisters.
Herpes can be diagnosed with a swab of the blisters where herpes DNA is tested for.
While the rash and blisters are present herpes is very easily transmitted to other people via skin to skin contact.
Unfortunately there is no cure for herpes however there are medications that can help reduce the severity of symptoms as well as the pain. Some people who have frequent episodes may choose to go onto daily medications to help reduce the frequency and sometimes even stop episodes.
Symptoms of Syphilis:
When first infected Syphilis presents as a flat, painless ulcer. This is normally on the penis or scrotum but can also be around the anus or in the mouth as it's spread via skin to skin contact with either syphilis rash or ulcer. Frequently the sore will come and then go away weeks later. For this reason it may be written off as a simple sore and ignored.
If untreated Syphilis can develop to secondary syphilis which is a rash that covers the whole body.
Syphilis is detected via a simple blood test and is treated with a course of antibiotic injections or tablets if required.
Symptoms of HIV:
HIV can have a wide and diverse range of symptoms. After exposure a person can have a severe flu like illness that is called the seroconversion illness. This is often reported as a "the worst flu I've ever had".
Often there is a rash on the body however this is not always the case. Usually a week or two later the person is back to their normal self and would not know they were infected with HIV.
For this reason all sexually active men and women should be sure to get a HIV test as part of their regular sexual health checkup. If a person is found to be HIV positive it's important to be seen by a specialist HIV doctor to ensure the best care is provided.
Good news is that there is great treatments available for HIV that makes HIV now a manageable disease rather than the death sentence it used to be considered.
Getting a regular men's health checkup is an important part of your whole sexual health. For this reason it's recommended get yourself a good men's health doctor and book in for a sexual health screening as part of your regular annual check up for guys.
Symptoms of HIV:
HIV can have a wide and diverse range of symptoms. After exposure a person can have a severe flu like illness that is called the seroconversion illness. This is often reported as a "the worst flu I've ever had".
Often there is a rash on the body however this is not always the case. Usually a week or two later the person is back to their normal self and would not know they were infected with HIV.
For this reason all sexually active men and women should be sure to get a HIV test as part of their regular sexual health checkup. If a person is found to be HIV positive it's important to be seen by a specialist HIV doctor to ensure the best care is provided.
Good news is that there is great treatments available for HIV that makes HIV now a manageable disease rather than the death sentence it used to be considered.
Getting a regular men's health checkup is an important part of your whole sexual health. For this reason it's recommended get yourself a good men's health doctor and book in for a sexual health screening as part of your regular annual check up for guys.