Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that you could get after sexual contact with another person. These include HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, different forms of hepatitis, chlamydia, among others. If you ever get infected with an STD, you may experience some symptoms, which may seem like the effect of a normal cold. Here are a few symptoms that you may experience during the initial infections of an STD.

Fever

With a viral infection such as HIV, a high fever is very common. However, you may be unsure whether the fever is caused by a normal bacterial infection, by HIV, or by other sources (such as dengue fever or tonsillitis). The only way to be sure is to go for a screening in an STD Clinic Singapore.

Sores in your genital area

It can be really scary to see red nodes near your genitals, especially if it hurts. These sores likely contain an infection that you had gotten from previous contact with a similar sore. Sores are common among people who are infected with syphilis and herpes. It is important to note that herpes sores may also appear in the throat, and can be transferred through oral sex.

Pain when urinating

Sharp pain when urinating, especially for men, may come as a result of an STD known as gonorrhea. Accompanying the pain is often an excess discharge when urinating. However, this pain may be caused due to other factors as well – pain when urinating comes naturally when there is an infection in the urinary tract, or when there is something amiss in the bladder.

Itchiness in the genital area

Itchiness in the groin could be sign for an STD. This can come in the form of a rash, or blisters. When a man starts scratching their crotch for too long, it could mean that he has caught the herpes virus or some other skin infections like warts. The symptoms may soon develop into something a little more severe, like an outbreak. However, itchiness can also be caused by allergies, or normal acne growing around the groin.

Painful sex

When sex becomes more pain than pleasure, this is probably a sure sign of an STD. In women, this pain could come from the vagina, which is a very common sign of chlamydia. Gonorrhea and genital herpes could also produce similar symptoms. In men, chlamydia might even manifest as pain inside the testicles or when ejaculating.

What can you do when experiencing any of these symptoms?

First off, stop having any further sexual encounters. When you notice these symptoms, you may want to consult your preferred general practitioner, to see what they think the root of the problem could be. These symptoms may not always be signs of an STD infection. However, if you have a sneaking suspicion that the symptoms are caused by an STD, you might want to visit an STD clinic in Singapore, where you can undergo HIV testing and other screening for such diseases. Doctors in a specialised clinic will be able to get to the root cause of the symptoms, while providing care and emotional support for you.