STIs and their symptoms

STI: it may be a new term for you but it stands for something we should all know about. An STI is a Sexually Transmitted Infection, formerly called a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Sexually Transmitted Infections can affect everyone no matter race, sexuality, religion, or belief. STIs affect 1 in 4 Americans. Everyday 33,000 Americans acquire an STI. By the end of each calendar year more than 12 million people in the United States will contract an STI.

Anyone who has ever had sexual contact with a partner is at risk to contract an STI. STIs are spread when an infected person, whether they are knowledgeable about their status or not, has sexual contact with another person. Sexual contact includes simple skin-to-skin contact, kissing, manual stimulation, vaginal, anal, and oral sex; any way that skin can touch or fluids can be passed.

How do you know if you have and STI? One clue is physical symptoms – your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Be alert to changes in your body. When something feels or looks different, seek medical care immediately. Even if it isn't an STI, you may have another problem that requires professional treatment.

Early symptoms of an STI are usually more noticeable in men; women often do not have any symptoms. Frequently, a woman's first clue that she may have an STI is learning that a sex partner has one. Besides knowing your own and partner's bodies, regular medical exams will also help detect STIs.

• Abdominal Pain
• Genital Bleeding
• Genital Burning
• Genital Discharge
• Genital Itching
• Genital Lumps and Bumps
• Painful Intercourse: In women, pain during intercourse can mean chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Genital Sores: Painful or itchy sores on or near the genitals may be herpes; painless sores may be syphilis.
• Urine Changes: Dark urine may be hepatitis B, while an increase in urination can be caused by chlamydia or trichomoniasis. If blood is found in the urine, a bladder infection or pelvic inflammatory disease, may the problem.
• No Symptoms: Some symptoms take months, even years to develop. Sometimes symptoms go away on their own but the disease stays and, unless treated, often gets worse.

For more information on specific STIs go to www.ashastd.org.