How do you recognize an STI?
STIs, or sexually transmitted diseases, come in many different types; all with different symptoms and complaints. How do you recognise an STI? And do you always have complaints if you have an STI? The answer is simple: no. You don't always have complaints if you have caught an STI. Sometimes you only experience symptoms later, in other cases you don't notice that you have an STI at all. This can have unpleasant consequences, such as infertility. Some STIs can even kill you. So it is important to get tested for STIs on a regular basis.
Complaints and symptoms of all STIs in a row
So you don't have to experience symptoms with every STI. After how long your STI symptoms last, it is difficult to tell. On this page we list all possible symptoms for you. An STI in a woman can cause different symptoms for some STIs than the STI symptoms in a man. This page gives you more insight into how to recognise an STI. Also use our test guide to get more insight into which STIs are relevant for you to test!
Complaints and symptoms of chlamydia
Symptoms in women
- More or different discharge than usual
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Blood loss between two menstrual periods
- Blood loss after making love
- Pain during and after making love
- Itching or irritation of the anus
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- (Bloody) discharge at the faeces
- Inflammation of the pelvic area
- Fever
Complaints to men
- Separation from the urethra,
mainly in the morning - Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Pain in the scrotum
- (Bloody) discharge at the faeces
- Itching or irritation of the anus
- Fever
Complaints and symptoms gonorrhoea
Symptoms in women
- Pain or irritation when urinating
- Laryngitis or swollen glands in the neck
- Irritation or itching at the anus
- Other inflammations in the body
- Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods due to
Complaints to men
- Pain or irritation when urinating
- Laryngitis or swollen glands in the neck
- Irritation or itching when urinating
- Other inflammations in the body
- Swollen testicles
Complaints and symptoms hepatitis
Hepatitis has an incubation period of about four to six months.
Common features of such an infection are:
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Decrease in appetite
- Muscle and joint pain
Complaints and symptoms of herpes
The incubation period of herpes varies from one day to one week. Genital herpes is usually evident by the (burning) vesicles. These are located on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals, anus and/or mouth. This can be accompanied by pain, fever and swollen glands, urination, on the other hand, can also be very painful. After a few weeks, the blisters dry up and the burning/pain disappears again. However, the virus always remains active in your body and can be revealed again if your resistance decreases. Usually the first attack is the most severe.
Complaints and symptoms of HIV
HIV is a virus that breaks down the immune system and can cause AIDS.
- The symptoms initially resemble flu, fever, rash or a general feeling of malaise.
- An HIV infection that develops further is characterized by fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, diarrhea, shortness of breath and skin rashes.
Complaints and symptoms of mycoplasma
With a mycoplasma infection, you do not have to experience any obvious symptoms. It is therefore possible that you are infected without noticing it yourself. Mycoplasma has a number of (vague) complaints/symptoms that can flare up, such as:
Symptoms in women
- Pain in the pelvis
- Pain when urinating
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding
- Pain during sex
- Lots of discharge
Complaints to men
- Pain in the testicle
- Separation
Complaints and symptoms of syphilis
Syphilis, also called lues, goes through different stages and the characteristics are not the same at each stage.
There are several symptoms that can occur with a syphilis infection:
Stage 1
Time: two to twelve weeks after infection
Characteristic: ulcer on the mucous membrane
Stage 2
Time: when the ulcer is gone
Features:
* Sense of disease
* Spots all over the body
* Bare patches between the hairs
* Inflammation of the eyes and less can see
* White-grey, wart-like spheres at penis, anus or vagina
Stage 3
Time: up to thirty years after infection
Characteristic: inflammation and damage throughout the body
Complaints and symptoms of trichomonas
The incubation period of trichomonas varies from four days to three weeks. A large majority of women with trichomonas do not experience any complaints. In general, there are few, if any, complaints noticeable in men. You can recognize a trichomonas if you suffer from the following characteristics:
Symptoms in women
- Non-fresh smelling discharge
- Yellow/green light foaming discharge
- Pain when urinating or making love
- Itching when urinating or making love
- Burning when urinating or making love
Complaints to men
- Ignition in the urethra
- Separation from the urethra
- Irritated penis or urethra
Afraid you have an STI? Get tested at one of the STI clinics of OneDayClinic.
Are you afraid you've caught one or more of these STIs? Have yourself tested as soon as possible in one of our STI clinics in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Den Bosch or Rotterdam! At OneDayClinic, an STI test is always completely anonymous. If it turns out that you have an STI, you can also have the treatment carried out by OneDayClinic. So you don't have to tell your doctor that you have or have had an STI.
