You know that sexually transmitted diseases are not a joke. Even if you only had unprotected sex once, if your partner was infected by any type of STD, you too can suffer the consequences. What’s tricky about STDs is that most of the time, there are no visible signs. You might think you’re doing well and healthy, but in reality, your body and your health are already deteriorating – without you even knowing it. Because of this, you’re now determined to know more about this disease and how it can affect men. It’ll be easier for you to battle something when you know what you’re up against, right?
STDs have different effects on each individual. You can’t expect that just because someone has an STD, you too would experience the same effects once you’re infected. Gender is also one factor which makes the difference – the STDs more likely experienced by women are different compared to men. To give you information about the later, here are some of the most common STDs in men:
- Chlamydia
Everyone is at risk of chlamydia. This is a bacterial infection that is common among young individuals who often practice unprotected sex. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. If you don’t seek medical attention for chlamydia, your urethra (the tube which men pass urine) will be severely affected. You can also have epididymitis and inflammation of the rectum.
The most common symptoms of chlamydia in men are:
- Burning and itching around the opening of the penis;
- Experiencing a burning sensation whenever urinating;
- Having small amounts of discharge from the tip of the penis which is either clear or cloudy; and
- Pain and swelling in the testicles.
- Gonorrhea
Just like chlamydia, gonorrhea is a bacterial infection which does not have any visible signs and symptoms. Since most people don’t know they are already infected with gonorrhea, such infection can remain untreated for a long time. Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria and is also responsible for some of its symptoms later on. When gonorrhea takes over your body, urinating can become a struggle. Your rectum and throat can also be infected, and because this can spread to different parts of your body, you can experience rash and joint pains.
The most common symptoms of gonorrhea in men are:
- A persistent sore throat;
- A pus-like discharge or drip from your penis which is usually white, yellow, beige or greenish;
- Greater frequency or urgency of urination; and
- Swelling and redness at the opening of the penis and in the testicles;
- Trichomoniasis
This is a sexually transmitted infection which is caused by the trichomonas vaginalis parasite. Similar to other STDs, this one does not have any symptoms, so many individuals will not know that they’re already infected. If it does cause symptoms, you can experience urethritis along with an itching sensation and unusual discharge from the urethra. Fortunately, trichomoniasis can be cured with an antibiotic medication namely Metronidazole and tinidazole.
The most common symptoms of trichomoniasis in men are:
- Burning sensation when urinating and ejaculating;
- Discharge from the penis; and
- Itching and irritation inside the penis.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
This is perhaps the most feared STD. Transmission of the HIV can happen during unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner, by sharing needles or from an infected woman to her baby – yes, even an unborn child can get the virus if the mother has been infected of the virus. The virus causes dysfunction to the body’s immune system.
The most common symptoms of HIV in men are:
- Fever;
- Rash in different parts of the body;
- Severe and recurring headaches; and
- A sore throat.
- Genital Herpes
The bacteria that transmits genital herpes is called herpes simplex viruses. It is responsible for causing blistering sores on sexually-exposed areas such as the genitals and the anus. These can be transmitted through any form of sexual contact. There are two types of HSVs. HSV-1 can cause cold sores in the mouth while HSV-2 causes genital herpes to the infected person. Unlike other STDs, HSV infection cannot be cured and can affect you for life.
The most common symptoms of HSV in men are:
- Achy, flu-like feeling;
- Being unable to pee;
- Fever and nausea; and
- Swollen lymph glands in the neck, groin and under the arms which can remain swollen for up to six weeks.
- Hepatitis
Simply defined, hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B and C are viral diseases which can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected partner. Just like the HIV virus, hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted through the blood of an infected person. One of the primary danger of hepatitis is long-term liver damage and chronic hepatitis B. When you have hepatitis B, you’re at risk of developing liver cancer.
The most common symptoms of hepatitis in men are:
- Abdominal pain;
- Clay-colored bowel movements;
- Dark urine;
- Jaundice; and
- Joint pain
Key Takeaway Points
An STD is a serious disease, for sure. It’ll affect different organs in your body and if left untreated, it can produce several complications which can become the reason for your death. Knowing what are the common STDs in men will help you to determine what to avoid, and what could be the signs and symptoms associated with such disease. Once you’re equipped with this information, it’ll be easier for you to seek immediate medical attention.
Getting screened for STDs can be beneficial to your health. Thus if you want to be aware of the common symptoms of STDs, you may click here for further information.
Angela Hall
Angie is a health enthusiast who specialises in spreading STD education across the country. She enjoys what she does and loves to travel to different areas. She loves to write for websites and is a family girl at heart.
