STD Testing

Symptoms of Chlamydia

Early-stage chlamydia infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When signs or symptoms occur, they usually start one to two weeks after exposure to chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.

Signs and symptoms of chlamydia infection may include:

• Painful urination
• Lower abdominal pain

Signs and symptoms of chlamydia infection in women include:

• Vaginal discharge in women
• Painful sexual intercourse in women
• Bleeding between periods and after sex in women

Signs and symptoms of chlamydia infection in men include:

• Testicular pain in men
• Discharge from the penis in men

Symptoms of Gonorrhea

In many cases, gonorrhea infection causes no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, gonorrhea infection can affect multiple sites in your body, but it commonly appears in the genital tract.

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in men include:

• Painful urination
• Pus-like discharge from the tip of the penis
• Pain or swelling in one testicle

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea infection in women include:

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Painful urination
• Vaginal bleeding between periods, such as after vaginal intercourse
• Abdominal pain
• Pelvic pain

Gonorrhea can also affect these parts of the body:

• Rectum – Signs and symptoms include anal itching, pus-like discharge from the rectum, spots of bright red blood on toilet tissue and having to strain during bowel movements.
• Eyes – Gonorrhea that affects your eyes may cause eye pain, sensitivity to light and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.
• Throat- Signs and symptoms of a throat infection may include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
• Joints – If one or more joints become infected by bacteria (septic arthritis), the affected joints may be warm, red, swollen and extremely painful especially when you move an affected joint.

Symptoms of HIV

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. It is spread through genital contact and contact with blood. HIV can also be passed from mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding. HIV can become AIDS if left untreated. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS; however, medications can provide symptom relief and diminish disease progression.

The symptoms of HIV depend on the stage of infection.

Primary infection occurs 2-4 weeks after the virus enters the body. You can spread the disease more easily during primary infection. Some individuals may have no symptoms. Possible symptoms in both men and women include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Rash
• Sore throat and painful sores in the mouth and on the skin
• Swollen lymph nodes, mainly on the neck
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Cough

Clinical latent infection is when HIV is still in the body and cells of the immune system; however, many people don’t have symptoms during this stage. This stage can last for years if therapy is not initiated. If the disease becomes symptomatic during clinical latent infection, symptoms in both men and women include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Oral yeast infection, also called thrush
• Shingles
• Pneumonia

AIDS is the final progression of the HIV infection. Individuals with AIDS are more likely to become sick with other infections because of the damage that AIDS does to your immune system. Some symptoms of these infections in both men and women include:

• Sweats
• Chills
• Fever that keeps coming back
• Ongoing diarrhea
• Swollen lymph glands
• Constant white spots or lesions on the tongue or in the mouth
• Constant fatigue
• Weakness
• Rapid weight loss
• Skin rashes or bumps

SYMPTOMS OF SYPHILIS

Syphilis is an infection that is caused by bacteria. The disease typically starts as a painless sore on the genitals, rectum, or mouth and is spread through direct contact with these sores. Syphilis can remain in the body for years without causing symptoms but can become active. Early syphilis is curable with medication called penicillin. Pregnant woman with syphilis can pass the disease onto their unborn child, leading to congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis can lead to very poor outcomes in newborns if treatment is not received quickly, such as deafness, teeth problems, and in some cases death.

Syphilis develops in stages and the symptoms are different with each stage.

Primary syphilis causes a small sore called a chancre that occurs about three weeks after you are exposed to the syphilis bacteria. The sore is often painless and may be hidden within the vagina or rectum. The chancre usually heals within 3-6 weeks on its own.

Secondary syphilis causes a rash while the chancre heals. The rash can cover the chest, stomach area, pelvis, back, and can appear on the limbs and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rash is often not itchy, may look rough, red, or reddish-brown, and might be difficult to see. Other symptoms can include:

• Wartlike sores in the mouth or genital area
• Hair loss
• Muscle aches
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Swollen lymph nodes

Latent or hidden syphilis occurs if treatment is not received during the primary or secondary stages. During this stage, no symptoms are present. This stage can last for years and can lead to major health problems.

Tertiary or late syphilis causes major health problems and can happen years later if the original infection is not treated. The disease may damage the:

• Brain
• Nerves
• Eyes
• Heart
• Blood vessels
• Liver
• Bones and joints