How do you know if it’s an STD Symptom?

December 20, 2007 – 3:40 pm

STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases should be a concern for everyone who:

Hasn’t been thoroughly tested
Isn’t monogamous and isn’t sure their sex partner is
Has been raped or sexually abused
Is statistically at risk, including:
- Adolescents
- People with multiple partners
- Homosexuals
- Prostitutes
- Teenage runaways
- Immigrants

Sadly, many of the high risk groups are unconcerned about STDs, even if they have an STD symptom.

Deal with HIV exposure quickly!

Remember that there may be no STD symptom for HIV for years or even a decade. You can contract the HIV virus and not get AIDS for a long time. But if you think you might have been infected with HIV, get tested, and you can get preventive anti-HIV treatment within 72 hours of exposure.

The kinds of sexual transmission that leads to the STDs that cause your STD symptom are:

Contact with:
- secretions
- mucus membranes
- skin abrasions
Non-intercourse sex can still transmit:
- Herpes simplex virus
- Condyloma
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia

STD Symptom / Sign Table

Diseases:

HSV

Cnd

Gon

Chl

Cha

LGV

Syph

NGU

PID

HPVCD

HIV

HBV

Ped

Int Unnec

Painful Ulcer

Non-painful ulcer

No ulcers

VagDis

Post-co spotting

Dyspar

Cervicitis

Key to table: Int Unnec = Intercourse unnecessary to get these, ulcer = a wearing away of the skin, a shallow hole, VagDis = vaginal discharge, Post-co spotting = slight bleeding after sex (post-coitus), Dyspar = dyspareunia (pain with sexual intercourse), Cervicitis = inflammation of the cervix (visible to physician on examination), HSV = herpes simplex virus, Cnd = condyloma, Gon = gonnorhea, Chl = chlamydia, HG = herpes genitalia, Cha = chancroid ulcer, GI = granuloma inguinale, LGV = lymphogranuloma venerueum, Syph = syphilis (painless only in early stage), NGU = non-gonococcal urethritis, PID = pelvic inflammatory disease, HPVCD = human papilloma virus or cervical dysplasia, HBV = hepatitis B virus, Ped = pediculosis pubis.

If you have any lingering questions or concerns,
please see your regular doctor