Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), typically cause symptoms such as itching and discharge from the penis, the appearance of wounds in the intimate area or burning sensation when urinating.
To identify this type of infection and prevent complications, it is important that men with an active sex life consult a urologist at least once a year, so that the reproductive system can be evaluated and possible diseases can be treated quickly.
As they are sexually transmitted infections, it is important that both the affected man and his partner are also treated, so that the person does not catch the disease again. Furthermore, to avoid these infections, it is important to have protected sex with the use of a condom. See how to put on a male condom correctly.
STI symptoms in men
The main symptoms indicative of a sexually transmitted infection in men are:
1. Itching
Itching is very common in STIs such as genital herpes, proctitis or pediculosis pubis and is normally associated with infections.
Genital herpes is an infection located in the genital area that, in addition to itching, can also cause symptoms such as redness, pain or burning and blisters, which later turn into sores.
Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum and anus, which can be caused by infections, and pediculosis pubis, an infection caused by a parasite popularly known as “boring” and which, in addition to itching, can cause wounds and discharge. Find out more about the annoying and main symptoms.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
Skin redness is a common symptom in infections such as genital herpes, HIV, cytomegalovirus infection or pediculosis pubis.
HIV is a virus that destroys the person’s immune system and, although at an initial stage the person may not show symptoms, one of the symptoms caused by the infection is redness in skin lesions, which can be associated with other symptoms such as tiredness, loss of weight, fever and sore tongues.
Redness can also be a symptom of cytomegalovirus infection, which can present other symptoms such as fever and yellow skin and eyes, however the development of the infection most often happens when the immune system is weakened. Learn more about cytomegalovirus infection.
3. Dor
The pain caused by sexually transmitted infections depends on where the infection appears. Genital herpes usually causes pain in the penis, gonorrhea and genital chlamydia infection cause pain in the testicles and proctitis causes pain in the rectum.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia infection are infections caused by bacteria and have other symptoms such as discharge and pain or burning when urinating.
4. Bubbles
Blisters, or vesicles, can appear in infections such as genital herpes, molluscum contagiosum, HPV, lymphogranuloma venereum or pediculosis pubis.
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that causes pink or pearl-white blisters. On the other hand, lymphogranuloma venereum is characterized by being a bacterial infection that causes blisters that later evolve into wounds.
The blisters that appear in HPV are known as warts and are similar in shape to a small cauliflower. Find out about other symptoms of HPV in men and how to catch it.
5. Wounds on the genital organ
Sores on the genitals are common in infections such as genital herpes, HPV, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, proctitis and pediculosis pubis, but they can also be present in the mouth or throat if there has been contact in these regions with the secretions. from the infected partner.
Syphilis is an infection caused by bacteria, which leads to the appearance of wounds on the penis, scrotal region and groin, in some cases, and which can lead to the appearance of other symptoms such as tiredness, fever and sore tongue. See more about what syphilis is and the main symptoms.
6. Discharge
The presence of discharge can also be indicative of STIs, especially infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, proctitis or trichomoniasis.
In the case of gonorrhea, the presence of a yellowish discharge similar to pus may be noted and, if there has been oral or anal contact with the infected person, pain in the throat and inflammation in the anus may appear, for example.
Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a protozoan, the Trichomonas sp., and which can cause, in addition to discharge, pain and burning when urinating and itching in the penis. Learn more about trichomoniasis.
7. Pain or burning when urinating
The feeling of pain or burning when urinating is usually a symptom of a urinary infection, but it can also be indicative of sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis.
This type of symptom can also be associated with genital herpes infection, but this usually happens when the blisters are close to the urethra. It is also common to have pain or burning when defecating in the presence of a genital herpes infection, if the blisters are close to the anus.
8. Excessive tiredness
STI symptoms are not always related to changes in the genital region, as is the case with HIV infection, hepatitis B and syphilis, where one of the main symptoms is excessive tiredness with no apparent cause.
HIV is a disease that affects the immune system and, therefore, other diseases may arise once immunological protection is low. Hepatitis B, despite being acquired through unprotected sexual intercourse, has as its main consequence liver damage, increasing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
9. Mouth sores
Mouth sores can appear if there is contact between the mouth and secretions from the infected region of the infected partner. In addition to sores in the mouth, other symptoms may appear such as sore throat, whitish plaques on the cheeks, gums and throat.
10. Fever
Fever is a normal defense of the body and, therefore, is the main symptom associated with any type of infection, including sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus infection or syphilis.
The fever can be high, but in many cases, STIs cause a constant low fever, which can be confused with the flu or a cold, for example.
11. Jaundice
Jaundice is a symptom characterized by yellow skin and eyes, which occurs in STIs such as hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus infection. Understand what causes jaundice and how to treat it.
12. Sore tongues
The presence of sore tongues, as well as fever, is another very common symptom that indicates the presence of some type of infection in the body, such as STIs, for example syphilis or HIV.
In syphilis, the place where the lumps normally appear is the groin, however, HIV can cause enlargement of lymph nodes in various parts of the body.
What to do in case of suspicion
If an STI is suspected, it is important that a urologist, infectious disease specialist or general practitioner is consulted, as this will enable the diagnosis to be made, which is carried out based on the analysis of the signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to a physical examination, in which An observation of the male genital region is made.
However, to confirm the diagnosis of STI and identify the infectious agent, some tests may be requested according to the doctor’s suspicion, and a blood test may be recommended, such as a blood count, C-reactive protein measurement and blood test. infectious agent in the blood, such as the HIV virus, for example. In addition, serological tests may be requested, which are also carried out with a blood sample, to check the presence of antigens or antibodies, being useful in diagnosing diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
In addition to blood tests, penile discharge analysis may also be requested, in which a sample of the discharge/secretion is collected, which is analyzed in the laboratory and helps to identify the infectious agent responsible for the STI. In the case of suspected infection by Trichomonas sp., for example, urinalysis can also be useful, as this parasite can be identified in urine.
STI treatment
Treatment for STIs may vary depending on the type of infection. In the case of infections caused by viruses, the use of antiviral medications may be recommended to combat the infectious agent and thus alleviate symptoms. In some cases, especially when the infection compromises the immune system, the use of antibiotics may also be indicated as a way to prevent secondary infections.
In the case of infections caused by bacteria, the treatment recommended by the doctor is antibiotics, which may vary according to the bacteria related to the infection. In the case of pediculosis pubis, for example, the use of antiparasitic medications in the form of ointments or creams may be indicated.
Furthermore, during treatment, it is recommended to avoid sexual relations, and it is extremely important to carry out the treatment according to the doctor’s instructions, even if there are no more apparent symptoms.
