Common STD Myths That Can Put Your Health at Risk
Burning͏͏ Sensation͏͏ While͏͏ Urinating͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ a͏͏ UTI)
One͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ frequent͏͏ misconceptions͏͏ about͏͏ STDs͏͏ is͏͏ confusing͏͏ symptoms͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ urinary͏͏ tract͏͏ infection͏͏ (UTI).͏͏ Burning͏͏ or͏͏ pain͏͏ while͏͏ urinating͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ hallmark͏͏ of͏͏ UTIs,͏͏ but͏͏ it’s͏͏ also͏͏ a͏͏ common͏͏ symptom͏͏ of͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea.
The͏͏ Research
A͏͏ 2020͏͏ study͏͏ published͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Clinical͏͏ Microbiology͏͏ found͏͏ that͏͏ 30-50%͏͏ of͏͏ women͏͏ who͏͏ tested͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ initially͏͏ thought͏͏ they͏͏ had͏͏ a͏͏ UTI.͏͏ Another͏͏ study͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ CDC͏͏ reports͏͏ that͏͏ 75%͏͏ of͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ cases͏͏ in͏͏ women͏͏ and͏͏ 50%͏͏ in͏͏ men͏͏ are͏͏ asymptomatic—meaning͏͏ many͏͏ people͏͏ may͏͏ only͏͏ notice͏͏ mild͏͏ irritation,͏͏ if͏͏ anything͏͏ at͏͏ all.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Sarah,͏͏ 26,͏͏ thought͏͏ she͏͏ had͏͏ a͏͏ UTI͏͏ after͏͏ experiencing͏͏ a͏͏ burning͏͏ sensation͏͏ when͏͏ urinating͏͏ and͏͏ mild͏͏ pelvic͏͏ pain.͏͏ Her͏͏ doctor͏͏ prescribed͏͏ antibiotics,͏͏ but͏͏ the͏͏ symptoms͏͏ persisted.͏͏ It͏͏ wasn’t͏͏ until͏͏ she͏͏ saw͏͏ a͏͏ gynecologist͏͏ weeks͏͏ later͏͏ that͏͏ she͏͏ tested͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ chlamydia.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ you͏͏ think͏͏ you͏͏ have͏͏ a͏͏ UTI͏͏ but͏͏ antibiotics͏͏ don’t͏͏ work͏͏ or͏͏ symptoms͏͏ persist,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ crucial͏͏ next͏͏ step.
Itchy͏͏ or͏͏ Irritated͏͏ Skin͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Allergies͏͏ or͏͏ Razor͏͏ Burn)
Mild͏͏ itchiness,͏͏ redness,͏͏ or͏͏ irritation͏͏ can͏͏ easily͏͏ be͏͏ blamed͏͏ on͏͏ dry͏͏ skin,͏͏ shaving,͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ an͏͏ allergic͏͏ reaction͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ soap͏͏ or͏͏ detergent.͏͏ However,͏͏ these͏͏ can͏͏ also͏͏ be͏͏ early͏͏ signs͏͏ of͏͏ herpes,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ or͏͏ pubic͏͏ lice͏͏ (crabs).
The͏͏ Research
According͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ study͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ European͏͏ Academy͏͏ of͏͏ Dermatology͏͏ and͏͏ Venereology,͏͏ nearly͏͏ 20%͏͏ of͏͏ patients͏͏ with͏͏ genital͏͏ herpes͏͏ initially͏͏ thought͏͏ their͏͏ symptoms͏͏ were͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ razor͏͏ burn͏͏ or͏͏ an͏͏ allergic͏͏ reaction.͏͏ Similarly,͏͏ syphilis͏͏ sores͏͏ often͏͏ start͏͏ as͏͏ painless͏͏ ulcers͏͏ that͏͏ people͏͏ mistake͏͏ for͏͏ cuts͏͏ or͏͏ skin͏͏ irritation.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
James,͏͏ 30,͏͏ noticed͏͏ small͏͏ red͏͏ bumps͏͏ on͏͏ his͏͏ groin͏͏ and͏͏ assumed͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ an͏͏ allergic͏͏ reaction͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ laundry͏͏ detergent.͏͏ A͏͏ month͏͏ later,͏͏ the͏͏ bumps͏͏ turned͏͏ into͏͏ painful͏͏ ulcers.͏͏ He͏͏ later͏͏ tested͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ syphilis.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ skin͏͏ irritation͏͏ appears͏͏ suddenly͏͏ and͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ go͏͏ away,͏͏ consider͏͏ getting͏͏ tested—especially͏͏ if͏͏ it͏͏ occurs͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ genital͏͏ area.
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Flu-Like͏͏ Symptoms͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ a͏͏ Cold͏͏ or͏͏ the͏͏ Flu)
Many͏͏ STDs,͏͏ including͏͏ HIV,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ and͏͏ herpes,͏͏ have͏͏ flu-like͏͏ symptoms͏͏ in͏͏ their͏͏ early͏͏ stages,͏͏ such͏͏ as:
- Fever
- Sore͏͏ throat
- Body͏͏ aches
- Fatigue
These͏͏ symptoms͏͏ make͏͏ it͏͏ easy͏͏ to͏͏ assume͏͏ you͏͏ just͏͏ have͏͏ the͏͏ flu,͏͏ leading͏͏ many͏͏ people͏͏ to͏͏ ignore͏͏ them.
The͏͏ Research
The͏͏ CDC͏͏ states͏͏ that͏͏ over͏͏ 50%͏͏ of͏͏ new͏͏ HIV͏͏ cases͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ early͏͏ stage͏͏ present͏͏ with͏͏ flu-like͏͏ symptoms,͏͏ which͏͏ disappear͏͏ after͏͏ a͏͏ few͏͏ weeks—only͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ infection͏͏ to͏͏ continue͏͏ spreading͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ body.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Alex,͏͏ 24,͏͏ felt͏͏ tired,͏͏ feverish,͏͏ and͏͏ had͏͏ body͏͏ aches.͏͏ Assuming͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ a͏͏ mild͏͏ flu,͏͏ he͏͏ took͏͏ over-the-counter͏͏ medicine͏͏ and͏͏ rested.͏͏ Weeks͏͏ later,͏͏ after͏͏ a͏͏ routine͏͏ blood͏͏ test,͏͏ he͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ HIV.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ flu-like͏͏ symptoms͏͏ linger͏͏ longer͏͏ than͏͏ expected͏͏ or͏͏ come͏͏ with͏͏ swollen͏͏ lymph͏͏ nodes,͏͏ night͏͏ sweats,͏͏ or͏͏ unexplained͏͏ weight͏͏ loss,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ may͏͏ be͏͏ necessary.
Unusual͏͏ Discharge͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Normal͏͏ Vaginal͏͏ or͏͏ Penile͏͏ Secretions)
Changes͏͏ in͏͏ vaginal͏͏ or͏͏ penile͏͏ discharge͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ normal͏͏ fluctuations,͏͏ diet͏͏ changes,͏͏ or͏͏ minor͏͏ infections.͏͏ However,͏͏ abnormal͏͏ discharge͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ clearest͏͏ warning͏͏ signs͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ STD,͏͏ especially͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ or͏͏ trichomoniasis.
The͏͏ Research
The͏͏ American͏͏ Sexual͏͏ Health͏͏ Association͏͏ reports͏͏ that͏͏ over͏͏ 50%͏͏ of͏͏ trichomoniasis͏͏ infections͏͏ in͏͏ women͏͏ go͏͏ unnoticed͏͏ because͏͏ symptoms͏͏ like͏͏ yellow-green͏͏ discharge͏͏ or͏͏ a͏͏ fishy͏͏ odor͏͏ are͏͏ confused͏͏ with͏͏ bacterial͏͏ vaginosis͏͏ (BV).
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Melissa,͏͏ 28,͏͏ noticed͏͏ a͏͏ strong͏͏ odor͏͏ and͏͏ slightly͏͏ greenish͏͏ discharge͏͏ but͏͏ assumed͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ BV.͏͏ After͏͏ weeks͏͏ of͏͏ over-the-counter͏͏ treatments͏͏ with͏͏ no͏͏ success,͏͏ she͏͏ got͏͏ tested͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ trichomoniasis.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ discharge͏͏ has͏͏ a͏͏ different͏͏ color,͏͏ odor,͏͏ or͏͏ texture͏͏ than͏͏ usual,͏͏ don’t͏͏ ignore͏͏ it—get͏͏ tested.
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Pelvic͏͏ or͏͏ Lower͏͏ Abdominal͏͏ Pain͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Menstrual͏͏ Cramps͏͏ or͏͏ Indigestion)
Pelvic͏͏ pain͏͏ is͏͏ frequently͏͏ dismissed͏͏ as͏͏ menstrual͏͏ cramps,͏͏ IBS,͏͏ or͏͏ digestive͏͏ issues,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ can͏͏ also͏͏ indicate͏͏ an͏͏ advanced͏͏ STD͏͏ infection,͏͏ particularly͏͏ pelvic͏͏ inflammatory͏͏ disease͏͏ (PID),͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ untreated͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ or͏͏ gonorrhea.
The͏͏ Research
A͏͏ study͏͏ published͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ American͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Obstetrics͏͏ and͏͏ Gynecology͏͏ found͏͏ that͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 30%͏͏ of͏͏ women͏͏ with͏͏ PID͏͏ initially͏͏ assumed͏͏ their͏͏ pain͏͏ was͏͏ menstrual-related.͏͏ PID͏͏ can͏͏ lead͏͏ to͏͏ infertility͏͏ if͏͏ untreated.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Amanda,͏͏ 32,͏͏ had͏͏ severe͏͏ cramps͏͏ and͏͏ bloating͏͏ that͏͏ felt͏͏ like͏͏ her͏͏ usual͏͏ period͏͏ pains.͏͏ But͏͏ after͏͏ missing͏͏ a͏͏ period͏͏ and͏͏ experiencing͏͏ persistent͏͏ pain,͏͏ she͏͏ got͏͏ checked͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ PID͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ untreated͏͏ gonorrhea.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ pelvic͏͏ pain͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ align͏͏ with͏͏ your͏͏ cycle͏͏ or͏͏ persists͏͏ longer͏͏ than͏͏ usual,͏͏ consider͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ screening.
Mouth͏͏ Sores͏͏ or͏͏ Sore͏͏ Throat͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Canker͏͏ Sores͏͏ or͏͏ Strep͏͏ Throat)
Oral͏͏ STDs,͏͏ particularly͏͏ herpes,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ mouth͏͏ sores,͏͏ throat͏͏ pain,͏͏ or͏͏ swollen͏͏ lymph͏͏ nodes.͏͏ Because͏͏ these͏͏ symptoms͏͏ resemble͏͏ common͏͏ conditions͏͏ like͏͏ canker͏͏ sores,͏͏ strep͏͏ throat,͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ dental͏͏ infections,͏͏ many͏͏ people͏͏ overlook͏͏ them.
The͏͏ Research
A͏͏ study͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Oral͏͏ Microbiology͏͏ found͏͏ that͏͏ more͏͏ than͏͏ 30%͏͏ of͏͏ people͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ oral͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ or͏͏ syphilis͏͏ initially͏͏ sought͏͏ treatment͏͏ for͏͏ a͏͏ sore͏͏ throat,͏͏ assuming͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ strep͏͏ throat.͏͏ The͏͏ CDC͏͏ also͏͏ reports͏͏ that͏͏ oral͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ is͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ rise,͏͏ often͏͏ going͏͏ undiagnosed͏͏ because͏͏ doctors͏͏ rarely͏͏ test͏͏ for͏͏ it͏͏ unless͏͏ requested.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Mark,͏͏ 27,͏͏ developed͏͏ a͏͏ painful͏͏ sore͏͏ on͏͏ his͏͏ tongue͏͏ and͏͏ assumed͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ a͏͏ canker͏͏ sore.͏͏ When͏͏ it͏͏ persisted͏͏ for͏͏ over͏͏ two͏͏ weeks͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ joined͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ swollen͏͏ lymph͏͏ node,͏͏ he͏͏ saw͏͏ a͏͏ doctor͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ oral͏͏ syphilis.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ a͏͏ sore͏͏ throat,͏͏ swollen͏͏ glands,͏͏ or͏͏ mouth͏͏ ulcers͏͏ last͏͏ longer͏͏ than͏͏ expected,͏͏ an͏͏ oral͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ considered—especially͏͏ if͏͏ you've͏͏ engaged͏͏ in͏͏ oral͏͏ sex.
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Rashes͏͏ or͏͏ Bumps͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Acne͏͏ or͏͏ Eczema)
Rashes͏͏ or͏͏ small͏͏ bumps͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ skin—especially͏͏ around͏͏ the͏͏ genital,͏͏ anal,͏͏ or͏͏ mouth͏͏ area—can͏͏ be͏͏ misinterpreted͏͏ as͏͏ pimples,͏͏ insect͏͏ bites,͏͏ or͏͏ eczema.͏͏ However,͏͏ certain͏͏ STDs͏͏ like͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ and͏͏ HPV͏͏ often͏͏ present͏͏ with͏͏ these͏͏ symptoms.
The͏͏ Research
The͏͏ World͏͏ Health͏͏ Organization͏͏ (WHO)͏͏ reports͏͏ that͏͏ 90%͏͏ of͏͏ syphilis͏͏ cases͏͏ start͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ painless͏͏ sore͏͏ or͏͏ rash,͏͏ often͏͏ going͏͏ unnoticed.͏͏ Similarly,͏͏ genital͏͏ herpes͏͏ often͏͏ starts͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ few͏͏ small͏͏ blisters,͏͏ which͏͏ some͏͏ people͏͏ mistake͏͏ for͏͏ regular͏͏ acne͏͏ or͏͏ shaving͏͏ irritation.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Tina,͏͏ 31,͏͏ noticed͏͏ red͏͏ bumps͏͏ on͏͏ her͏͏ inner͏͏ thigh͏͏ and͏͏ assumed͏͏ they͏͏ were͏͏ ingrown͏͏ hairs͏͏ from͏͏ shaving.͏͏ After͏͏ they͏͏ became͏͏ blisters,͏͏ she͏͏ finally͏͏ saw͏͏ a͏͏ doctor͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ genital͏͏ herpes.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ a͏͏ rash,͏͏ bump,͏͏ or͏͏ lesion͏͏ appears͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ genital͏͏ or͏͏ mouth͏͏ area͏͏ and͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ heal͏͏ as͏͏ expected,͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ is͏͏ essential.
Pain͏͏ During͏͏ Sex͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Vaginal͏͏ Dryness͏͏ or͏͏ Muscle͏͏ Tension)
Discomfort͏͏ during͏͏ sex͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ attributed͏͏ to͏͏ vaginal͏͏ dryness,͏͏ lack͏͏ of͏͏ arousal,͏͏ or͏͏ muscle͏͏ tension,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ may͏͏ also͏͏ signal͏͏ an͏͏ underlying͏͏ STD͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ trichomoniasis,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ or͏͏ chlamydia.
The͏͏ Research
A͏͏ study͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ American͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Obstetrics͏͏ &͏͏ Gynecology͏͏ found͏͏ that͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 60%͏͏ of͏͏ women͏͏ with͏͏ untreated͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ experience͏͏ pain͏͏ during͏͏ intercourse͏͏ but͏͏ assume͏͏ it’s͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ normal͏͏ sensitivity͏͏ or͏͏ hormonal͏͏ changes.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Julia,͏͏ 29,͏͏ started͏͏ experiencing͏͏ pain͏͏ during͏͏ sex͏͏ but͏͏ attributed͏͏ it͏͏ to͏͏ hormonal͏͏ birth͏͏ control͏͏ affecting͏͏ her͏͏ lubrication͏͏ levels.͏͏ When͏͏ the͏͏ pain͏͏ worsened͏͏ and͏͏ she͏͏ noticed͏͏ abnormal͏͏ discharge,͏͏ she͏͏ got͏͏ tested͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ chlamydia.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ sex͏͏ becomes͏͏ unusually͏͏ painful,͏͏ especially͏͏ with͏͏ other͏͏ symptoms͏͏ like͏͏ discharge͏͏ or͏͏ bleeding,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ considered.
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Swollen͏͏ Testicles͏͏ or͏͏ Lower͏͏ Back͏͏ Pain͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Exercise-Related͏͏ Strain)
For͏͏ men,͏͏ swollen͏͏ or͏͏ tender͏͏ testicles͏͏ can͏͏ indicate͏͏ epididymitis,͏͏ often͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ untreated͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ or͏͏ chlamydia.͏͏ Many͏͏ assume͏͏ this͏͏ pain͏͏ is͏͏ from͏͏ physical͏͏ strain,͏͏ a͏͏ minor͏͏ injury,͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ kidney͏͏ stones,͏͏ delaying͏͏ diagnosis.
The͏͏ Research
According͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ study͏͏ published͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ British͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Urology,͏͏ over͏͏ 40%͏͏ of͏͏ men͏͏ with͏͏ chlamydia-related͏͏ epididymitis͏͏ initially͏͏ believed͏͏ their͏͏ discomfort͏͏ was͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ sports͏͏ injury͏͏ or͏͏ strain.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
David,͏͏ 33,͏͏ experienced͏͏ dull͏͏ pain͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ lower͏͏ back͏͏ and͏͏ slight͏͏ swelling͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ testicles͏͏ after͏͏ working͏͏ out.͏͏ He͏͏ assumed͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ a͏͏ pulled͏͏ muscle.͏͏ After͏͏ weeks͏͏ of͏͏ persistent͏͏ pain,͏͏ he͏͏ finally͏͏ saw͏͏ a͏͏ doctor͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ gonorrhea-related͏͏ epididymitis.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ you͏͏ have͏͏ persistent͏͏ lower͏͏ abdominal,͏͏ groin,͏͏ or͏͏ testicular͏͏ pain,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ on͏͏ your͏͏ checklist—especially͏͏ if͏͏ no͏͏ recent͏͏ injury͏͏ explains͏͏ it.
Anal͏͏ Itching͏͏ or͏͏ Discomfort͏͏ (Mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ Hemorrhoids͏͏ or͏͏ Irritation)
Many͏͏ people͏͏ ignore͏͏ rectal͏͏ discomfort,͏͏ assuming͏͏ it’s͏͏ from͏͏ hemorrhoids,͏͏ dietary͏͏ issues,͏͏ or͏͏ poor͏͏ hygiene.͏͏ However,͏͏ rectal͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ and͏͏ HPV͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ itching,͏͏ irritation,͏͏ pain,͏͏ or͏͏ discharge.
The͏͏ Research
A͏͏ 2019͏͏ study͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ International͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ STD͏͏ &͏͏ AIDS͏͏ found͏͏ that͏͏ over͏͏ 35%͏͏ of͏͏ people͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ rectal͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ or͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ initially͏͏ thought͏͏ they͏͏ had͏͏ hemorrhoids.͏͏ This͏͏ is͏͏ particularly͏͏ common͏͏ among͏͏ those͏͏ who͏͏ engage͏͏ in͏͏ anal͏͏ sex,͏͏ as͏͏ many͏͏ are͏͏ unaware͏͏ that͏͏ STDs͏͏ can͏͏ infect͏͏ the͏͏ rectal͏͏ area.
Real-Life͏͏ Example
Chris,͏͏ 38,͏͏ had͏͏ persistent͏͏ itching͏͏ and͏͏ discomfort͏͏ but͏͏ assumed͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ hemorrhoids͏͏ from͏͏ prolonged͏͏ sitting͏͏ at͏͏ work.͏͏ After͏͏ trying͏͏ over-the-counter͏͏ creams͏͏ with͏͏ no͏͏ relief,͏͏ he͏͏ got͏͏ tested͏͏ and͏͏ was͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ with͏͏ rectal͏͏ gonorrhea.
Key͏͏ Takeaway
If͏͏ you͏͏ have͏͏ unexplained͏͏ anal͏͏ irritation,͏͏ pain,͏͏ or͏͏ discharge,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ screening͏͏ for͏͏ rectal͏͏ infections͏͏ is͏͏ important.
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FAQ
1.͏͏ Can͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ go͏͏ unnoticed͏͏ for͏͏ years?
Yes.͏͏ Some͏͏ STDs,͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ HIV,͏͏ and͏͏ HPV,͏͏ can͏͏ remain͏͏ asymptomatic͏͏ for͏͏ months͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ years.͏͏ This͏͏ is͏͏ why͏͏ routine͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ recommended,͏͏ even͏͏ if͏͏ you͏͏ feel͏͏ fine.
2.͏͏ Can͏͏ a͏͏ UTI͏͏ actually͏͏ be͏͏ an͏͏ STD?
Yes,͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ urinary͏͏ tract͏͏ symptoms͏͏ that͏͏ mimic͏͏ a͏͏ UTI,͏͏ including͏͏ burning͏͏ urination͏͏ and͏͏ frequent͏͏ urges͏͏ to͏͏ pee.͏͏ If͏͏ a͏͏ UTI͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ improve͏͏ with͏͏ antibiotics,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ good͏͏ next͏͏ step.
3.͏͏ Is͏͏ it͏͏ possible͏͏ to͏͏ mistake͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ for͏͏ a͏͏ yeast͏͏ infection?
Absolutely.͏͏ Trichomoniasis,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ and͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ itching,͏͏ discharge,͏͏ and͏͏ irritation—symptoms͏͏ that͏͏ are͏͏ often͏͏ confused͏͏ with͏͏ yeast͏͏ infections.͏͏ If͏͏ over-the-counter͏͏ yeast͏͏ infection͏͏ treatments͏͏ don’t͏͏ work,͏͏ consider͏͏ STD͏͏ testing.
4.͏͏ Do͏͏ herpes͏͏ sores͏͏ always͏͏ look͏͏ like͏͏ blisters?
No.͏͏ Herpes͏͏ sores͏͏ can͏͏ start͏͏ as͏͏ small͏͏ red͏͏ bumps,͏͏ cuts,͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ tiny͏͏ pimples͏͏ before͏͏ turning͏͏ into͏͏ painful͏͏ ulcers.͏͏ Some͏͏ people͏͏ never͏͏ see͏͏ blisters͏͏ and͏͏ only͏͏ experience͏͏ mild͏͏ irritation͏͏ or͏͏ discomfort.
5.͏͏ Can͏͏ flu-like͏͏ symptoms͏͏ be͏͏ a͏͏ sign͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ STD?
Yes.͏͏ HIV,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ and͏͏ herpes͏͏ can͏͏ all͏͏ cause͏͏ fever,͏͏ body͏͏ aches,͏͏ sore͏͏ throat,͏͏ and͏͏ fatigue͏͏ in͏͏ their͏͏ early͏͏ stages,͏͏ leading͏͏ many͏͏ to͏͏ mistake͏͏ them͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ flu.͏͏ If͏͏ flu͏͏ symptoms͏͏ last͏͏ longer͏͏ than͏͏ expected͏͏ or͏͏ are͏͏ accompanied͏͏ by͏͏ swollen͏͏ lymph͏͏ nodes,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ recommended.
6.͏͏ Can͏͏ STDs͏͏ cause͏͏ skin͏͏ rashes͏͏ or͏͏ acne-like͏͏ bumps?
Yes.͏͏ Syphilis,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ and͏͏ HPV͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ rashes͏͏ or͏͏ bumps͏͏ that͏͏ may͏͏ look͏͏ like͏͏ pimples,͏͏ eczema,͏͏ or͏͏ allergic͏͏ reactions.͏͏ If͏͏ a͏͏ rash͏͏ appears͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ genital͏͏ area͏͏ and͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ go͏͏ away,͏͏ see͏͏ a͏͏ doctor.
7.͏͏ Can͏͏ STDs͏͏ make͏͏ sex͏͏ painful?
Yes.͏͏ STDs͏͏ like͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ and͏͏ trichomoniasis͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ pain͏͏ during͏͏ intercourse,͏͏ often͏͏ mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ vaginal͏͏ dryness͏͏ or͏͏ hormonal͏͏ changes.
8.͏͏ How͏͏ do͏͏ I͏͏ know͏͏ if͏͏ a͏͏ sore͏͏ throat͏͏ is͏͏ from͏͏ an͏͏ STD?
If͏͏ you͏͏ engage͏͏ in͏͏ oral͏͏ sex,͏͏ a͏͏ sore͏͏ throat͏͏ could͏͏ be͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ oral͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ or͏͏ herpes.͏͏ If͏͏ your͏͏ sore͏͏ throat͏͏ doesn’t͏͏ improve͏͏ with͏͏ standard͏͏ cold͏͏ medicine͏͏ or͏͏ lasts͏͏ longer͏͏ than͏͏ normal,͏͏ consider͏͏ getting͏͏ tested.
9.͏͏ Can͏͏ STDs͏͏ cause͏͏ lower͏͏ back͏͏ pain͏͏ or͏͏ testicle͏͏ pain?
Yes.͏͏ Chlamydia͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ testicular͏͏ pain͏͏ (epididymitis)͏͏ in͏͏ men,͏͏ while͏͏ PID͏͏ (pelvic͏͏ inflammatory͏͏ disease)͏͏ can͏͏ lead͏͏ to͏͏ lower͏͏ back͏͏ and͏͏ abdominal͏͏ pain͏͏ in͏͏ women.
10.͏͏ Can͏͏ hemorrhoid-like͏͏ symptoms͏͏ actually͏͏ be͏͏ an͏͏ STD?
Yes.͏͏ Rectal͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ and͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ can͏͏ cause͏͏ itching,͏͏ pain,͏͏ and͏͏ discharge,͏͏ which͏͏ people͏͏ often͏͏ mistake͏͏ for͏͏ hemorrhoids.͏͏ If͏͏ symptoms͏͏ don’t͏͏ improve͏͏ with͏͏ home͏͏ treatment,͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ advised.
Don’t͏͏ Ignore͏͏ the͏͏ Signs—Get͏͏ Tested
Many͏͏ STDs͏͏ don’t͏͏ have͏͏ obvious͏͏ symptoms͏͏ or͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ easily͏͏ mistaken͏͏ for͏͏ something͏͏ else.͏͏ If͏͏ you’ve͏͏ been͏͏ experiencing͏͏ any͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ symptoms͏͏ mentioned͏͏ in͏͏ this͏͏ article͏͏ and͏͏ they͏͏ haven’t͏͏ resolved͏͏ with͏͏ standard͏͏ treatments,͏͏ it’s͏͏ important͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested.
Early͏͏ detection͏͏ is͏͏ key—not͏͏ only͏͏ for͏͏ your͏͏ own͏͏ health͏͏ but͏͏ also͏͏ to͏͏ prevent͏͏ unknowingly͏͏ spreading͏͏ infections͏͏ to͏͏ others.͏͏ Whether͏͏ you͏͏ prefer͏͏ a͏͏ doctor’s͏͏ visit͏͏ or͏͏ an͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kit,͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ is͏͏ quick,͏͏ private,͏͏ and͏͏ essential͏͏ for͏͏ peace͏͏ of͏͏ mind.
If͏͏ you͏͏ suspect͏͏ something͏͏ is͏͏ off,͏͏ don’t͏͏ wait—take͏͏ charge͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ health͏͏ today.
Sources
1.- UTIs and STDs: How to Differentiate Symptoms
2.- Is It UTI or STD? Discerning the Differences
3.- Can an STD Cause Infertility? – Verywell Health
4.- How Oral Sex Infected Genitals May Trigger Eye Infection (Punch)
5.- Sexually Transmitted Conjunctivitis: The Really Sticky Eye (EyeNews)
