What are all the different STIs?

Recognize the symptoms of chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasma, and trichomonas, and get tested at OneDayClinic!

Er zijn veel verschillende seksueel overdraagbare aandoeningen (soa’s). Bij OneDayClinic helpen we je graag verder met wat je moet weten over de verschillende soa’s. Lees verder om meer te leren over de verschillende geslachtsziekten en hun symptomen. In deze blog gaan we het hebben over chlamydia, gonorroe, mycoplasma en gonorroe. Voor symptomen van andere soa’s, zoals HIV, syfilis, hepatitis B en hepatitis C, klik dan hier.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: the most common STIs

In the Netherlands, chlamydia and gonorrhea are among the most common STIs. These infections can cause various symptoms, depending on the gender and location of the infection. The symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea are similar. Based on the symptoms alone, it is often impossible to tell which of the two is causing the infection.

Chlamydia or gonorrhea in the vagina

Unfortunately, women often have no symptoms. Only 10% of women with chlamydia experience symptoms. The small proportion of women who do experience symptoms may suffer from the following:

• pain or a burning sensation when urinating
• changes in vaginal discharge (in consistency, color, or amount)
• vaginal bleeding during sex
• pain during sex
• bleeding between periods
• lower abdominal pain

In rare cases, there is a risk of inflammation in the lower abdomen, such as in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. This is something to consider if you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, and general illness. The consequences can be serious, with a risk of reduced fertility and ectopic pregnancy.

Chlamydia or gonorrhea in the urethra in men

Men experience symptoms more often than women. However, approximately half of infected men do not experience any symptoms. Symptoms associated with chlamydia or gonorrhea infection include:

• pain when urinating
• a burning sensation
• pain in the scrotum
• a pus-like (greenish-yellow) discharge from the penis (also known as gonorrhea!)

If you continue to ignore it for too long, there is a risk of an epididymitis or prostate infection.

Chlamydia or gonorrhea in the anus

Chlamydia or gonorrhea in the anus often causes no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur with such an infection include:

• itching and irritation around the anus
• mucous or bloody discharge from the anus
• diarrhea

Other symptoms of chlamydia

In most cases, you will not experience any symptoms at all if you have chlamydia or gonorrhea in your throat. Sometimes you may experience a mild sore throat or a lot of mucus in your throat. In very rare cases, chlamydia or gonorrhea can also cause symptoms consistent with inflammation in various joints. Other symptoms may also occur, such as eye inflammation.

Mycoplasma and Trichomonas

Mycoplasma genitalium, or mycoplasma for short, is a rare STI. The main symptom associated with mycoplasma is pain when urinating. Trichomonas is also an STI that is less common than chlamydia and gonorrhea. Symptoms that occur with an infection include itching, irritation, an unpleasant odor from vaginal discharge, and a greenish-yellow discharge with bubbles. It is often recommended to test for mycoplasma and trichomonas when chlamydia and gonorrhea tests are negative but the symptoms persist.

Get tested at OneDayClinic

Do you recognize any of the above symptoms in yourself? Or have you had unsafe sex but no symptoms? At OneDayClinic, you can get an (anonymous) STI test. When you visit one of our clinics, the doctor or nurse will discuss your symptoms with you and advise you on the most appropriate tests. We also offer rapid tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas at our STI clinics in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, and The Hague, with results available within 90 minutes! Schedule an appointment for an anonymous test right away. Remember that you can carry STIs even if you have no symptoms. Take care of yourself and others; better safe than sorry!

List of sources:

1. Peipert JF. Clinical practice. Genital chlamydial infections. N Engl J Med. 2003;349(25):2424-2430. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp030542
2. Holmes KK et al. Watts Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 4th edition. New York: Mc Graw Hill Medical. 2008.
3. Kent CK et al. Prevalence of rectal, urethral, and pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhea detected in 2 clinical settings among men who have sex with men: San Francisco, California, 2003. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 41: 67-74.
4. Stamm WE. Chlamydia trachomatis infections in adults. In: Holmes KK. Sexually transmitted diseases. McGraw-Hill, NYC, 1999 [Chapter 29].
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6. Quint KD et al. Mucocutaneous abnormalities in reactive arthritis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Ned Tijdschr. Geneesk 2010; 154: A1614
7. Morris SR, Klausner JD, Buchbinder SP, Wheeler SL, Koblin B, Coates T, Chesney M, Colfax GN. Prevalence and incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea in a longitudinal sample of men who have sex with men: the EXPLORE study. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43: 1284–1289.
8. Jungmann E, Ison C, Martin IM, Fenton KA. Gonorrhea in young heterosexuals attending urban STD clinics in Britain: a cross-sectional survey. Int J STD AIDS 2004;15: 243–8
9. Sexually Transmitted Infections – Multidisciplinary Guideline 2018 (Update 2019)
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