Chlamydia is a bacterial infection caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. It can affect the reproductive system, as well as the urinary tract.
Even without noticeable symptoms, chlamydia can damage your reproductive system.
No. It's possible to have chlamydia and experience no symptoms at all. STD testing, health checkups, and routine screenings can help you determine if you've contracted chlamydia.
Most people develop symptoms within one to three weeks after exposure, if they are going to experience symptoms.
Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) bacteria. It infects the mucus membrane within the reproductive and urinary systems.
Untreated, gonorrhea can lead to serious complications.
Women with gonorrhea rarely experience symptoms. If they do, they might mistake them for a bladder or vaginal infection.
No. Not everyone experiences symptoms when they have gonorrhea.
This is one of the reasons why it's so important for you to undergo routine health screenings, STD testing, and checkups, to help you determine if you've contracted gonorrhea.
Symptoms typically develop within two to 14 days after exposure. However, not everyone experiences symptoms.
Hepatitis is a viral infection with multiple forms. Depending on the form, it's caused by the HAV, HBV, or HCV virus. All forms are infections of the liver.
The main difference between Hepatitis A, B, and C is in how the infections are spread.
The symptoms of chronic hepatitis can take years to develop and are usually similar to the initial acute infection. Many are related to liver health.
No. Many people experience no symptoms until the virus has progressed to its later stages. It's important to undergo STD testing, health checkups, and routine screenings can help you determine if you've contracted hepatitis.
Symptoms of hepatitis A typically appear within two to seven weeks after exposure and can last anywhere from two to six months.
Symptoms of hepatitis B can appear any time between eight weeks to five months after exposure. They usually last several weeks, but you might feel sick for up to six months.
Hepatitis C symptoms usually appear within two weeks to six months after exposure. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis can take years to develop.
There are two different types of herpes. Both are viral infections caused by exposure to the herpes simplex virus.
Herpes prevalence is high, with the World Health Organization (WHO), estimating that approximately several billion people worldwide are living with herpes infections.4
Oral herpes, which is caused by the herpes simplex I (HSV-1) virus, causes blisters or sores to develop around the mouth and lips.
Common symptoms of oral herpes for men and women include:
Common symptoms of genital herpes for men and women include:
No, not everyone develops sores after exposure to herpes I or II. Outbreaks are also sporadic, so you likely won't constantly have sores even with the active virus in your body.
It's also possible to transmit the disease to other people without realizing you have it, so you should undergo routine health screenings, STD testing, and health checkups to help you determine if you've contracted herpes.
If sores develop after exposure to herpes I, the first occurrence typically happens within two to 12 days after exposure. In cases of herpes II, symptoms might appear within a week or two after exposure to the herpes II virus.
Some people never experience symptoms or experience very mild symptoms that get ignored as some skin condition. Still, they can easily transmit the herpes virus to other people.
HIV 1 and 2 are viral infections caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In both cases, the virus attacks your immune system, leaving you susceptible to different illnesses as time passes.
HIV occurs in three stages, each of which has differing symptoms. For example:
This stage occurs two to four weeks after exposure to the virus. Symptoms that occur during this stage tend to resemble the flu and affect both men and women. They include:
HIV is highly infectious during this stage.
During this stage, the virus is active but it's reproducing at very low levels. There may be only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all during this stage.
Some people remain in this stage for several years, even without treatment. However, it's still possible to spread the virus during this stage, even without symptoms.
This is the final and most severe stage of HIV infection. Symptoms for men and women both during this stage include:
With proper medical care, HIV can be managed effectively, and progression to AIDS can be delayed or prevented.
Symptoms are milder for people with HIV 2, but as the disease progresses, you'll likely experience:
No, especially in the early stages. It's important to undergo STD screenings, routine health checkups, and health screenings, and encourage your sexual partners to do the same.
There is usually an acute phase of the virus that occurs within two to four weeks after exposure. Some people don't realize they've been exposed at this point and dismiss this initial phase as a cold or flu.
In both HIV 1 and 2, a recurrence of symptoms usually takes years to arise.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were more than 8 million new cases of syphilis in 2022.7
Syphilis occurs in four stages, each of which has differing symptoms that affect both men and women. For example:
Symptoms during this stage include the appearance of a single or multiple painless sores (chancres) at the site where the bacteria entered the body.
During this stage, you might develop a skin rash with a rough, reddish-brown appearance, mucous membrane lesions (such as sores in the mouth or genital area), and flu-like symptoms.
Untreated, syphilis can enter a latent stage. During this time, there are no symptoms, but the infection remains in the body and can be spread to others.
This stage occurs years after your initial exposure to syphilis. During this stage, you'll develop severe complications, including damage to the heart, brain, and other organs.
No, especially during the earliest stage of the infection and once the infection becomes latent. A doctor can help you determine if you've contracted syphilis with STD testing and routine health screenings.
Symptoms usually develop within approximately three weeks after exposure, but not in every case.
Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis.
Some people don't experience symptoms.
You may experience symptoms within 5 to 28 days after getting the infection, but some people don't develop symptoms until much later.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterial infection caused by Mycoplasma genitalium.
Not everyone has symptoms after their exposure to Mycoplasma genitalium.
If you experience symptoms, you'll notice them within a week to a month.
HPV is a viral infection caused by the human papillomavirus. There are two types: "non-oncogenic" (wart-causing) or "oncogenic" (cancer-causing).
Any of the following around your genitals, mouth, or throat could indicate HPV for both men and women:
No. The virus can be dormant in your body and no symptoms occur. Most HPV infections clear up on their own within two years.
Lesions or warts typically develop within a few weeks or months. The exact time it takes varies depending on your immune response and the specific strain of HPV you were exposed to.
The virus can also cause cellular changes that increase your risk of certain types of cancer.
Exposure to an STD can be frightening, but you shouldn't let fear deter you from seeking medical treatment. Many of these infections are manageable with proper care.
STD screenings are one of the most critical and reliable methods to detect if you have any of these STDs. Once you know you have any STD, you can actively treat the same.
