STIs may cause only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Always see a doctor if you suspect you may have got STIs. You should seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications and spreading the infection.
Be sure to tell your recent sex partners, they should receive check up and treatment as well to avoid cross-infection and re-infection. Before recovery, you should refrain from sex.
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| Syphilis |
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Incubation period: |
9 to 90 days |
Route of Transmission: |
An infected person may present at different stages with varying signs and symptoms if without effective treatment. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
Primary stage:
It is characterised by a chancre (a painless sore).
Second stage:
Rash will appear, but this can easily be mistaken for something else.
Latent Syphilis:
Patient does not have any signs and symptoms and the diagnosis can only be made by a blood test.
Late Syphilis:
Organs like internal organs, eye, bones and central nervous etc.
Using condom for fucking will reduce the risk of syphilis transmission, but, transmission can occur through oral sex or even by touching a sore or rash, so, again, regular testing is important. |
Treatment: |
A course of antibiotics can be used to cure syphilis especially in early stages. People diagnosed with syphilis are advised to inform your partner to get tested and treatment if needed, to prevent "ping-pong ball" transmission |
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| Gonorrhoea |
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Incubation period: |
from 2 to 5 days |
Route of Transmission: |
through direct sexual contact, such as oral sex and anal sex. Also other mucus membrane such as eye membrane can be infected by the discharge of an infected partner. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
There is purulent urethral discharge associated with pain and frequency of urination. The bacteria may also cause anorectal or pharyngeal infections. Most of the infections are asymptomatic. Anorectal infections usually occur after unprotective anal sex. Symptoms can include anal pruritis and mucopurulent discharge. Occasionally, rectal pain, tenesmus and bleeding with bowel movement are found. Unprotective orogenital exposure may lead to pharyngeal infections that may cause sore throat. |
| Treatment: |
Gonorrhoea can be treated by antibiotics. Due to the recent emergence of drug-resistant strains of gonococci, it is dangerous to treat yourself without medical advice. If gonorrhoea is not treated, complications may arise such as prostatitis, urethral stricture, semino-vesiculitis, and epididymo-orchitis. Besides, gonococci can cause generalized gonorrhea and can even damage the joints or the body parts. |
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NGU
Incubation period: |
from 1 to 2 weeks |
Route of Transmission: |
direct sexual contact, such as oral sex and anal sex, the mucus membrane can be infected by the discharge of an infected partner. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
usually present with symptoms which are similar to but milder than that of gonorrhoea, such as urethral discharge, frequency and burning sensation during urination. It may be asymptomatic. |
| Treatment: |
NGU can be treated by antibiotics. |
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| Genital warts |
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Incubation period: |
from a few weeks to a few months. |
Route of Transmission: |
direct sexual contact, such as oral sex and anal sex. The virus can be transmitted to the sex organ through articles and fingers contact. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
usually presents with cauliflower-like growths over external genitalia or around the anus. These may then slowly increase in size. The lesions are delicate. They can be traumatized easily causing infection and bleeding. |
| Treatment: |
include topical application of specific medicine, cautery, cryotherapy, and surgical excision. As there is no definite curative measure, relapse is common. |
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| Genital herpes |
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Incubation period: |
from 5 to 6 days. |
Route of Transmission: |
direct sexual contact, such as oral sex and anal sex. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
The affected area has a burning or tingling sensation at first, followed by the appearance of characteristic grouped small vesicles in pin-pointed to green bean size. These vesicles usually rupture in 3 to 4 days, leaving erosion with a narrow bright red margin. The lesions often heal within 10 days if there is no other infection. Some patients may also suffer from generalized symptoms such as fever, malaise, joint pain and appearance of lymph glands in the groin which will last for 2 to 3 weeks. As the virus can remain latent in the nerve ganglion of the infected person, genital herpes is liable to relapses. About 50% to 80% of patients develop recurrences albeit with milder symptoms. |
| Treatment: |
Although there is still no medication that can kill the virus completely, severity and duration of symptoms can be minimized by proper treatment. Patients can find out and avoid any triggers or precipitating factors to minimize the chance of recurrences. |
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Chlamydia
Incubation period: |
9 to 90 days. |
Route of Transmission: |
Direct sexual contact, such as oral sex and anal sex. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
It is quite common with no symptoms. Some people may have urethral discharge, painful urination, frequency of urination, penile pain or with itchiness. |
| Treatment: |
Can be treated by a course of antibiotics. |
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| Pubic lice |
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Route of Transmission: |
Transmitted through close body contact, not necessarily though sexual contact. |
Sign & Symptoms: |
Intense itchiness may occur one week after contact. There are dark red marks left in the public area as bitten by the pubic lice. Usually the lice are not visible, only the nits which sticked onto the hair are easier to discover. |
Treatment: |
Specific topical application can kill the lice and a special comb can be used to remove the nits. At the time of treatment wash all your bed linen, towels and clothing in warm, soapy water. |
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| （Photo source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA） |
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