Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in women, such as chlamydia, trichomoniasis or gonorrhea, can cause symptoms such as genital itching, burning, bad smell, vaginal discharge, bad smell, wounds in the intimate area or pain when urinating, for example.
These STIs are caused by microorganisms transmitted during intimate contact without the use of a condom with the infected partner, and symptoms generally take some time to manifest, which can be around 5 to 30 days.
Read too: Sexually transmitted infections: top 10 STIs, treatment (and cure)
If an STI is suspected, a gynecologist should be consulted so that clinical and/or laboratory tests can be carried out, the type of infection identified and the most appropriate treatment initiated.
11 symptoms of STIs in women
The main symptoms of sexually transmitted infections in women are:
1. Burning or itching in the vagina
The burning or itching sensation in the vagina can arise either from skin irritation due to infection or from the formation of wounds, and can be accompanied by redness in the intimate area.
These symptoms may be constant or worsen when urinating or during intimate contact.
Possible causes: some STIs responsible for this symptom are chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, trichomoniasis or genital herpes, for example.
These symptoms do not always indicate an STI, but can also be situations such as allergies or dermatitis, for example, therefore, whenever these symptoms appear, it is important to consult a gynecologist who can carry out tests to identify the cause. Check out our quick test that helps indicate the cause of your itchy vagina and what to do.
Read too: 10 STI tests: what they are, what they detect (and when to do them)
2. Vaginal discharge
STI vaginal discharge is usually yellowish, greenish or brown in color and is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a bad odor, burning or redness.
Each type of STI can present discharge with its own characteristics, which can be thin, frothy and greenish-yellow in trichomoniasis, or brown in gonorrhea, for example. Understand what each color of vaginal discharge may indicate and how to treat it.
Possible causes: the STIs that usually cause discharge are trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea or Mycoplasma genitalium.
3. Pain during intimate contact
Pain during intimate contact may be caused by injuries or inflammation of the vaginal mucosa caused by the STI, and may be accompanied by discharge that may have a bad smell or bleeding during or after intercourse.
In addition to STIs, other possible causes of pain during intimate contact are lack of lubrication, hormonal changes or vaginismus. Learn more about the causes of pain during intimate contact and how to treat it.
Possible causes: some possible causes include injuries caused by chlamydia, trichomoniasis or gonorrhea, as well as injuries caused by syphilis, chancroid, genital herpes or donovanosis, for example.
Read too: Bleeding after intercourse: 6 causes (and what to do)
4. Bad smell
Bad odor in the vaginal region usually appears during STIs, and is also associated with poor intimate hygiene.
Possible causes: STIs that can cause a bad smell are usually caused by bacteria, as happens in bacterial vaginosis, caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, in this case having the smell of rotten fish. Understand better what bacterial vaginosis is.
5. Genital wounds
Sores, ulcers or genital warts are also characteristic of certain STIs, which may be visible in the vulva region or may be hidden inside the vagina or cervix.
These lesions do not always cause symptoms, they can worsen over time, and in some cases even increase the risk of cervical cancer, which is why periodic evaluation with a gynecologist is recommended to detect this change early.
Possible causes: genital ulcers are usually caused by syphilis, chancroid, donovanosis or genital herpes, while warts are generally caused by the HPV virus.
6. Pain in the lower abdomen
Pain in the lower belly region can also indicate an STI, as the infection can reach not only the vagina and cervix, but spread throughout the internal part of the uterus, tubes and even the ovary, causing endometritis or an inflammatory disease. pelvic (DIP).
Possible causes: This type of symptom can be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, Mycoplasmatrichomoniasis, genital herpes, bacterial vaginosis or bacterial infections that can affect the region.
Read too: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
7. Pain or burning when urinating
Pain or burning when urinating may arise due to inflammation caused in the urinary tract by the STI, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as frequent urge to urinate, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, for example.
Possible causes: the main STIs that cause this symptom are chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, Mycoplasma of the genitalsin addition to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
8. Fever
Fever caused by an STI may appear as a natural response from the body to fight bacteria or viruses, and may be accompanied by chills or fatigue.
Possible causes: STIs that can cause fever are genital herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, hepatitis B or syphilis, for example.
In the case of HIV infection, in addition to fever, other symptoms such as headache, throat or muscle pain may appear, which usually occur around 2 to 6 weeks after infection. Know how to identify the symptoms of HIV.
9. Nausea and vomiting
Another symptom of STIs is nausea and vomiting, which can be caused by liver inflammation.
Normally, nausea and vomiting can be accompanied by symptoms such as malaise, tiredness, abdominal pain, joint pain and skin rashes, for example.
Possible causes: The main STI that can cause nausea and vomiting is hepatitis A, B or C. However, it can also occur in other STIs such as chlamydia, HIV or syphilis, for example. See other symptoms of hepatitis.
10. Sore throat
A sore throat is most common due to oral sex, which can cause inflammation and infection in the throat.
Another symptom that may arise is pain or difficulty swallowing.
Possible causes: This symptom can be caused by STIs such as gonorrhea, HIV, chlamydia or genital herpes.
11. Inguas
Lumps may appear due to the enlargement of lymph nodes, as a response from the immune system to combat the STI.
Generally, the bumps appear close to the site of infection, which can occur in the groin, abdomen, neck, armpit or chest, for example.
Possible causes: The main STIs that can cause diarrhea are HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis B, chancroid, herpes or gonorrhea in the throat. See other symptoms of gonorrhea.
Watch the following video in which nutritionist Tatiana Zanin and Dr. Drauzio Varella talk about STIs and discuss ways to prevent and/or cure the infection:
What to do
In the presence of symptoms that indicate an STI, it is very important to consult a gynecologist, to confirm whether it is an infection, after a clinical examination or tests, and to indicate the appropriate treatment.
Make an appointment with the gynecologist in the region closest to you:
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How to deal with
The treatment of STIs must be carried out under the guidance of a gynecologist who may recommend the use of medicines, such as antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals, in the form of ointments, tablets or injections, for example. Find out how to treat the main STIs.
Although most STIs can be curable, in some cases, such as HIV, hepatitis, genital herpes or HPV, a cure is not always possible.
Furthermore, in many cases, the partner also needs to undergo treatment to avoid reinfection. Also know how to identify the symptoms of STIs in men.
How to prevent
The main way to prevent STIs is to use a male or female condom in all sexual relations, whether vaginal, anal or oral. Learn how to use a female condom.
In addition, there are also vaccines that help prevent STIs, such as the hepatitis B vaccine and the HPV vaccine.
Read too: HPV vaccine: what it is for, doses, when to take it (and other questions)
In the case of HIV infection, it is also possible to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of contracting the virus or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent the HIV virus from multiplying and reduce the risk of developing HIV. infection after risky behavior.
