Sexually transmitted diseases are the infections that are transmitted during a sexual intercourse or sexual contact. Some types of STDs are curable while few are hard to be cured. Most of the men assume that if they have an STD, they would be aware of it, but this is a false assumption. Few STDs may show severe signs and symptoms, but some are contracted without any noticeable symptoms. These types of silent STDs can spread, as the infected people do not know that they are already infected. So, it is important for the sexually active men to understand the risks and symptoms associated of common STDs.
In men, STDs are categorized into three groups;
- STDs that can cause sores and abnormal lesions on the genital organs- this type of STDs may also cause genital warts and painful blisters.
- STDs that cause inflammation of the urethral region (urethritis)- this type of STDs often cause urinary tract infections too, which includes painful or burning micturition, unusual discharge from the urethra.
Many STDs affect sexually active men. Here is the list of 6 common types of STDs that occur in men:
Chlamydia
Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterium that causes chlamydia which is common in the young adults who are active sexually. These bacteria may infect both men and women, but the infection may or may not show any signs and symptoms. However, few begin to display the symptoms several weeks later.
Some of the symptoms of Chlamydia in men are:
- Painful urination
- Inflammation of Urethra
- Swelling near the testicles
- Discharge from penile region
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is also a bacterial infection that is transmitted sexually. It may remain undiagnosed as it does not show up any signs or symptoms. The worst part is that it may also infect the rectum and throat. It is transmitted during the anal, oral, or vaginal sex if the partner is infected.
Some of the symptoms of Gonorrhea include:
- Painful micturition
- Swelling of testicles
- Rashes and joint pains
- Discharge form penis, usually greenish, whitish or yellowish in color
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is the most debilitating STD as unlike other STDs it does not show any symptoms near the genital area; it causes inflammation of the liver. It is transmitted by contact with the body fluids or blood of a Hepatitis B virus infected person.
Some of the symptoms of Hepatitis B include:
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Loss of appetite
- Low-grade fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Joint and muscle pains
Herpes simplex virus infection
Herpes simplex virus causes (HSV) infection which is not curable and stays with you for life. You will be prescribed antiviral medications as an ongoing therapy to suppress the viral outbreaks. HSV infection reflects as blisters and many ignore them for being pimples or any other skin problems. You can expect the symptoms between two days or two weeks after the infection.
Here are the common symptoms of HSV infection,
- Loss of appetite
- Blisters around the anus, butts, or thighs
- Muscle aches near the lower back, knees, and thighs
- Sensation of burning, tingling or itching at the area where blisters pop up
Human papillomavirus infection
Human papillomavirus infection causes genital warts which are common symptoms of STD. This virus has more than 150 strains in which some are harmless; some are potentially harmful. Low-risk strains would result in genital warts. While in men with high-risk strains it could lead to most complicated cancers near the anus, penis, and throat. The most unfortunate thing is that HPV infection can be transmitted through skin contact with the person who has been affected.
Symptoms of HPV infection in men include:
- Genital warts which are flat and light colored or group of tiny bumps
- Warts in mouth or throat which is spread through oral sex
The best safety measure you may take is to have protected sex. HPV can be prevented by vaccination.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial STD, which is transmitted through oral, anal or vaginal sex. Syphilis is linked to HIV, as there is a higher risk for a syphilis-infected person to develop HIV. Syphilis is categorized into four phases, primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. Each phase is presented with different symptoms, below are the symptoms for each phase:
Primary syphilis
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Tiny, firm, and painless sore, on the penis, anus, or lips.
Secondary syphilis
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Non-itchy skin rashes
Latent syphilis
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Latent syphilis is the phase next to secondary syphilis. The symptoms would be like secondary syphilis but are a more severe version of secondary symptoms.
Tertiary syphilis
- Joint pains
- Nerve damage
- Damage to heart
Many people are prone to STDs without experiencing any noticeable symptoms. Few STDs are curable, and few are tough to cure. So, it is always best to follow the old proverb “prevention is better than cure.” It is crucial to practice safe sex if you want to stay away from STDs. It is important to have protected intercourse, refrain from multiple sex partners and be hygienic.
