- 1. Itching, redness and pain in the penis
- 2. Wounds on the genital organ
- 3. Runny
- 4. Pain and burning when urinating
- 5. General malaise, weight loss and mouth sores
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), usually cause symptoms such as itching and discharge from the penis, the appearance of warts or sores in the intimate area and burning when urinating.
To identify this type of infections and prevent complications, men with an active sex life should visit the urologist or family doctor at least once a year, so that the reproductive system is evaluated and the diseases are treated quickly.
Because 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 get the disease again. In addition, to avoid these infections, the most important thing is to have protected sex with the use of condoms. Here's how to put the male condom on correctly.
The main symptoms related to sexually transmitted diseases in men are:
1. Itching, redness and pain in the penis
These symptoms are usually indicative of fungal infection, mainly by the fungus Candida albicans , which can be acquired during intimate contact, for example, and manifest when the man's immune system is weak and unable to fight the infection. This fungus can also develop in the mouth due to unprotected oral sex and causes symptoms such as sore throat, bad breath or whitish plaques on the cheeks, gums and throat.
In addition to candidiasis, these symptoms can be indicative of genital herpes, which is a very common type of STI and which in addition to these symptoms, is characterized by the presence of microbubbles in the intimate region.
How to treat: in the case of Candidiasis, treatment is usually done with the application of creams or ingestion of antifungal drugs, such as Fluconazole or Clotrimazole, which should be recommended by the urologist or general practitioner. In the case of genital herpes, the urologist may recommend the use of antivirals or the application of ointments, such as Acyclovir or Fanciclovir, for example, which should be used for 10 to 14 days or according to the doctor's guidance. Know what precautions to take when treating for genital herpes.
2. Wounds on the genital organ
The presence of wounds, lumps or blisters on the genital organ usually happens due to infection by a microorganism during sexual contact, and is therefore indicative of an STI.
HPV, which is a disease caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, is characterized by the presence of warts on the penis, scrotum or anus, but can also be present in the mouth or throat if these regions have had contact with the secretions of the infected partner.
Other diseases that can be characterized by the presence of small wounds or blisters in the genital region are genital herpes and syphilis, which is characterized by the presence of wounds in the intimate region that do not hurt, in addition to lumps in the neck that cause pain and result in pain headache, general malaise and fever.
How to treat: The treatment for genital herpes is done with the use of antiviral drugs according to medical advice. In the case of HPV, the doctor may recommend the application of ointment at home to eliminate the wart, such as Podophyllin, or be applied in the office if there are several warts.
Treatment for syphilis depends on the stage of the disease, and it is usually recommended by the doctor to give an injection of Penicillin in the early stages and, in the more advanced stages, several injections may be necessary. See more about how syphilis is treated.
3. Runny
The presence of discharge may also be indicative of STIs, especially Gonorrhea or Chlamydia. In the case of Gonorrhea, the presence of yellowish discharge similar to pus can be noted, in addition to pain and burning when urinating and low fever. If there has been oral or anal contact with the infected person, pain in the throat and inflammation in the anus may arise, for example.
Chlamydia is also an STI that can present discharge on the penis, in addition to small and non-painful wounds on the penis and the formation of tongue in the intimate region.
How to treat: these STIs are caused by bacteria, thus, a urologist usually indicates the use of antibiotics, such as Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone or Doxycycline for at least 1 week or according to the doctor's guidance. It is important that the treatment of Chlamydia be carried out as instructed by the doctor, because if it is not treated correctly, it can result in infertility. Learn more about Chlamydia treatment.
4. Pain and burning when urinating
Pain and burning when urinating are usually symptoms of urinary infections, but they can also be indicative of sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Candidias and, for example.
How to treat: in these cases it is important to go to the urologist or family doctor so that tests can be requested to identify the cause and, thus, start the treatment, which can be done with antiviral, antibiotic or antifungal drugs.
5. General malaise, weight loss and mouth sores
STI symptoms are not always related to changes in the genital region, such as HIV infection, whose initial symptoms are similar to the flu, such as fever, malaise and headache. In addition, there may be a high and persistent fever, rapid weight loss, tiredness, diarrhea, red spots on the skin and mouth sores.
How to treat it: HIV infection has no cure, however it can be controlled by taking antiviral drugs to prevent the progression of the infection, the occurrence of AIDS or the appearance of some complications. Know which remedies are used in the treatment.
Watch the conversation between nutritionist Tatiana Zanin and Dr. Drauzio Varella about STIs, in which they discuss ways to prevent and / or cure the infection:
How to avoid getting an STI
