Which of the following are symptoms of STIs?

Overview

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) — or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — are generally acquired by sexual contact. The bacteria, viruses or parasites that cause sexually transmitted diseases may pass from person to person in blood, semen, or vaginal and other bodily fluids.

Table of Contents Show

When to see a doctor
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Risk factors
Transmission from mothers to infants
Complications
What are 5 common symptoms of STI?
What are 5 examples of STI?
What are the 4 types of STIs?
What are the 5 most common STI?

Sometimes these infections can be transmitted nonsexually, such as from mothers to their infants during pregnancy or childbirth, or through blood transfusions or shared needles.

STIs don't always cause symptoms. It's possible to contract sexually transmitted infections from people who seem perfectly healthy and may not even know they have an infection.

Symptoms

STDs or STIs can have a range of signs and symptoms, including no symptoms. That's why they may go unnoticed until complications occur or a partner is diagnosed.

Signs and symptoms that might indicate an STI include:

Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area
Painful or burning urination
Discharge from the penis
Unusual or odorous vaginal discharge
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Pain during sex
Sore, swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the groin but sometimes more widespread
Lower abdominal pain
Fever
Rash over the trunk, hands or feet

Signs and symptoms may appear a few days after exposure. However, it may take years before you have any noticeable problems, depending on the organism causing the STI.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor immediately if:

You are sexually active and may have been exposed to an STI
You have signs and symptoms of an STI

Make an appointment with a doctor:

When you're considering becoming sexually active or when you're 21 — whichever comes first
Before you start having sex with a new partner

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Causes

STDs or STIs can be caused by:

Bacteria. Gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia are examples of STIs that are caused by bacteria.
Parasites. Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a parasite.
Viruses. STIs causes by viruses include HPV, genital herpes and HIV.

Other kinds of infections — hepatitis A, B and C viruses, shigella infection and giardia infection — can be spread through sexual activity, but it's possible to be infected without sexual contact.

Risk factors

Anyone who is sexually active risks some degree of exposure to an STD or STI. Factors that may increase that risk include:

Having unprotected sex. Vaginal or anal penetration by an infected partner who isn't wearing a latex condom significantly increases the risk of getting an STI. Improper or inconsistent use of condoms can also increase risk.
Oral sex may be less risky, but infections can still be transmitted without a latex condom or a dental dam — a thin, square piece of rubber made with latex or silicone.
Having sexual contact with multiple partners. The more people you have sexual contact with, the greater your risk.
Having a history of STIs. Having one STI makes it much easier for another STI to take hold.
Being forced to engage in sexual activity. Dealing with rape or assault is difficult, but it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible to receive screening, treatment and emotional support.
Misuse of alcohol or use of recreational drugs. Substance misuse can inhibit your judgment, making you more willing to participate in risky behaviors.
Injecting drugs. Needle sharing spreads many serious infections, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Being young. Half the new STIs occur in people between the ages of 15 and 24.

Transmission from mothers to infants

Certain STIs — such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis — can be passed from mothers to their infants during pregnancy or delivery. STIs in infants can cause serious problems or even death. All pregnant women should be screened for these infections and treated.

Complications

Because many people in the early stages of an STD or STI experience no symptoms, screening for STIs is important to prevent complications.

Possible complications include:

Pelvic pain
Pregnancy complications
Eye inflammation
Arthritis
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Infertility
Heart disease
Certain cancers, such as HPV-associated cervical and rectal cancers

Prevention

There are several ways to avoid or reduce your risk of STDs or STIs.

Abstain. The most effective way to avoid STIs is to not have (abstain from) sex.
Stay with one uninfected partner. Another reliable way of avoiding STIs is to stay in a long-term relationship in which both people have sex only with each other and neither partner is infected.
Wait and test. Avoid vaginal and anal intercourse with new partners until you have both been tested for STIs. Oral sex is less risky, but use a latex condom or dental dam to prevent skin-to-skin contact between the oral and genital mucous membranes.
Get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated early, before sexual exposure, is also effective in preventing certain types of STIs. Vaccines are available to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys ages 11 and 12, although it can be given as early as age 9. If not fully vaccinated at ages 11 and 12, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine through age 26.
The hepatitis B vaccine is usually given to newborns, and the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for 1-year-olds. Both vaccines are recommended for people who aren't already immune to these diseases and for those who are at increased risk of infection, such as men who have sex with men and IV drug users.
Use condoms and dental dams consistently and correctly. Use a new latex condom or dental dam for each sex act, whether oral, vaginal or anal. Never use an oil-based lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, with a latex condom or dental dam.
Condoms made from natural membranes are not recommended because they're not effective at preventing STIs. Also, keep in mind that while latex condoms reduce your risk of exposure to most STIs, they provide less protection for STIs involving exposed genital sores, such as HPV or herpes.
Also, nonbarrier forms of contraception, such as birth control pills or intrauterine devices (IUDs), don't protect against STIs.
Don't drink alcohol excessively or use drugs. If you're under the influence, you're more likely to take sexual risks.
Communicate. Before any serious sexual contact, communicate with your partner about practicing safer sex. Be sure you specifically agree on what activities will and won't be OK.
Consider male circumcision. For men, there's evidence that circumcision can help reduce the risk of acquiring HIV from a woman with HIV by as much as 60%. Male circumcision may also help prevent transmission of genital HPV and genital herpes.
Consider using preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of two combination drugs to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at very high risk. They're emtricitabine plus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada) and emtricitabine plus tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (Descovy).
Your doctor will prescribe these drugs for HIV prevention only if you don't already have HIV. You will need an HIV test before you start taking PrEP and then every three months as long as you're taking it.
Your doctor will also test your kidney function before prescribing Truvada and continue to test it every six months. If you have hepatitis B, you should be evaluated by an infectious disease or liver specialist before beginning therapy.
These drugs must be taken every day, exactly as prescribed. If you use Truvada daily, you can lower your risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% and from injection drug use by more than 74% percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research suggests that Descovy is similarly effective in reducing the risk of getting HIV from sex. However, Descovy hasn't been studied in people who have receptive vaginal sex. Using additional prevention, such as condoms, can lower your risk even more and prevent other STIs.