5 Common Symptoms of STDs in Women You Shouldn’t Neglect

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are conditions that appear as a result of infection. In most cases, a person can get an infection through sexual intercourse including oral and anal sex. However, certain STDs like human papillomavirus (HPV) can be transmitted even through skin-to-skin contact. This means that it is essential to choose partners carefully. 

It is also important to know that in many cases, STDs can develop asymptomatically. This means that you can be infected and even infect your sexual pertinent or partners. That’s why it is essential to perform STD testing regularly. However, many people still develop STD’s symptoms that make the diagnosing easies. In this article, we gathered five common symptoms of STDs in women you shouldn’t neglect.

1. Abnormal vaginal discharge

Abnormal vaginal discharges tend to be one of the most common symptoms of various STDs. You should also know that different infections cause different smells, colors, and texture of vaginal discharges. For example, gonorrhea causes yellowish discharge while trichomoniasis leads to green discharge with the unpleasant smell. It is important to understand that abnormal discharge can manifest an advanced stage of the STD. That’s why it is better to make an appointment with your gynecologist as soon as possible. 

2. Pelvic pain

Women with STDs tend to experience pelvic pain that usually intensifies during sex. This means that your vagina and pelvic organs may be infected and the inflammation already occurs. Some people can also experience painful sensations in the pelvic area during bowel movements. In this case, the infection had reached the intestines. Pelvic pain is most often caused by chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhea. That’s why it is essential to visit your gynecologist if the pelvic pain affairs suddenly after unprotected sex.

3. Genital itching

Despite the fact that there are a lot of conditions that can cause vaginal itching, sexually transmitted infections can be considered one of the most common culprits. For example, HPV can cause itching in the genital area due to the development of warts. Moreover, pubic lice can also cause itching. These tiny crabs can attach your pubic hair and other body areas that are covered with hair. If you experience unpleasant sensations and itching, you should visit a doctor for a detailed examination. 

4. Pain while urination

Some infections can affect not only genitals but the urinary tract as well. It means that you may experience discomfort, burning, and even painful sensations while urination. It is important to know that chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes can cause the changes in urination. This means that you should get tested for these STIs after developing pain while urination. If left untreated, the infection can penetrate your kidneys and lead to the inflammation. 

5. Bumps, warts, or sores

Certain STDs like herpes, HPV, or syphilis can cause skin rases and growth that may develop in the genital area or mouth (in case of oral sex with the infected partner). These bumps, warts, or sores can be considered a sign of STD advancement. You should also know that genital warts caused by HPV usually manifest its malignant types. However, there are other types of HPV (16th and 18th) that are considered the most common causes of cervical cancer. 

The bottom line

Due to the fact that the symptoms listed above can occur on the advanced stages or STD can develop asymptomatically, you should always think about contraception. Many STDs can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that has a lot of unpleasant consequences. Without timely and proper treatment, PID can lead to severe pelvic pain, fever, and even infertility.