Last Updated on February 21, 2021 by Jenelle Pierce, MBA, CSE, CHES, Board President
This is a general overview of common STD symptoms for the STDs listed. Click the red links to find detailed descriptions of symptoms specific to that STD and links to pictures of the STDs that can present visual symptoms.
Chancroid
Within 1 day – 2 weeks after getting chancroid, a person will get a small bump in the genitals. The bump becomes an ulcer within a day of its appearance. The ulcer may look like a chancre, the typical sore of primary syphilis.
Chlamydia
Half of all infected men and 80% of infected women have no symptoms at all. If you do get chlamydia symptoms, they may begin in as little as 5 to 10 days after contracting the infection or they may be so mild they are not noticed. Signs and symptoms can also show up many months later, or not until the infection spreads to other parts of the body.
- an itching feeling inside the penis . This may be a tingling or itch in the urethra; sometimes referred to as “urethral awareness”.
- heavy period or bleeding between periods (including women who are using hormonal contraception)
- low-grade fever
- pain in the abdominal, lower back, or lower stomach area
- pain or a burning feeling while urinating
- swelling inside the vagina or around the anus
- the urge to urinate more than usual
- unusual vaginal discharge
- pain or swelling of the testicles
- white/cloudy and watery discharge from penis
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Occasionally, a first-time infection with CMV may cause mononucleosis. Symptoms include swollen glands, liver, and spleen; fever; increased white blood cells; headache; fatigue; and sore throat. About 8 percent of all mononucleosis cases are due to CMV infection.
- Swollen glands, fatigue, fever, and general weakness
- Irritations of the digestive tract, nausea, diarrhea
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Genital Warts (HPV) Most people with an HPV infection will not develop visible warts and the virus will go away on its own. Often they are so tiny, or so difficult to see, that you don’t even know you have them. This means you may not know whether you or your partner have the virus. If warts do appear, this can happen from three weeks to many months or even years, after coming into contact with the virus. You might notice small, fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes which may appear anywhere in or on the genital or anal area. Because hepatitis B often has no symptoms, most people are not aware that they have the infection. When hepatitis B symptoms do occur, they may mimic the flu and can include: Many people with herpes will not have any visible signs or symptoms at all, or not be aware of them. It is estimated that 80% of persons in the United States has some form of herpes and 1 in 5 persons has genital herpes; however, as many as 90% are unaware that they have the virus. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Most people infected with HIV do not know that they have become infected and have no signs and symptoms at all. About half of people who become infected with HIV experience flu-like symptoms within a few weeks after infection. Then there are usually no HIV symptoms for many years. That is why it can be hard to know if you have HIV. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of viruses that infect the skin. There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Certain types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet, and other types can cause warts on the genitals – these are called low-risk types of HPV. Other types of genital HPV are linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix (detected through Pap tests) that can lead to cervical cancer – these are called high-risk types of HPV. Generally, there aren’t any noticeable HPV symptoms for high-risk types of HPV in women or men. LGV has three stages. In its primary stage, the disease is more likely to be detected in men; it may go unnoticed in both men and women. After an incubation period of 3 to 30 days, a small painless ulcer or blister usually develops in the genital area. Second-stage LGV develops between 1 and 6 weeks later. In this stage, the infection spreads to the lymphatic system, forming buboes (swellings) in the lymph nodes of the groin area. Third-stage LGV is marked by rectal pain, constipation, a discharge containing pus or bloody mucus, and the development of strictures (narrowing or tightening of a body passage) in the rectum or vagina. The average incubation period is between 2 and 7 weeks but in some cases, it can take up to 6 months for symptoms to appear. Typically, a small group of painless lesions appears, but sometimes the bumps may itch or feel tender to the touch. The bumps may be alone or in a patch of as many as 20. Often there are no other symptoms. People do not usually notice symptoms until having pubic lice for anywhere from 5 days up to several weeks. Some people will not have any symptoms, or may not notice the lice or eggs at all. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Often, syphilis has no symptoms or has such mild symptoms that a person doesn’t notice them. The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a painless sore or open, wet ulcer, known as a chancre (pronounced ‘shanker’), within 10 to 90 days after contact with the bacteria and at the site of infection. It usually appears as a single, painless sore, that is raised or elevated. The secondary stage of syphilis can develop 3 to 6 weeks after the sores appear. Symptoms can last from 2 to 6 weeks and they may come and go for up to 2 years. Symptoms of late stage or tertiary syphilis can occur 2 to 30+ years after infection. Complications during this stage can include: It is common not to notice trichomoniasis symptoms. When there are symptoms, they usually start within 5 to 28 days after sexual contact. In some cases, it can take months for symptoms to appear. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Vaginitis is a name for swelling, itching, burning or infection in the vagina that can be the result of different factors. The most common kinds of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast, a fungus. Sometimes, trichomoniasis (trich, pronounced “trick”) is called vaginitis too. When symptoms do occur, they may include: Get a quick, confidential STD test at a lab of your choice. Test for STDs from the comfort of your own home. Did these STD symptoms help you narrow down symptoms you’re experiencing? Have you had similar symptoms? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! More On This:Gonorrhea (‘The Clap’)
Hepatitis (A, B, & C)
Herpes (HSV1 & HSV2)
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
Intestinal Parasites
LGV (Lymphogranuloma Venereum)
Molluscum Contagiosum
Mononucleosis (‘Mono’)
Mycoplasma Genitalium
NGU (Nongonococcal Urethritis)
PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
Pubic Lice (‘Crabs’)
Scabies
Syphilis
Trichomoniasis
Vaginitis
Think you might have an STD?