Severe STD symptoms and immediate medical intervention

Key Takeaway Points

• Common STDs with severe symptoms include Chlamydia, HIV, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis.
• Each has symptoms ranging from mild to severe, while others are asymptomatic for a while.
• Seeking immediate care for severe symptoms could protect your long-term health.
• Early detection and treatment can prevent complications.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a common health concern, affecting millions of people every year.¹

They can be spread through anal, vaginal, or oral sexual intercourse and have diverse symptoms that range from mild to severe.

It's important to remember that not everyone with an STD will experience these severe symptoms, and some STDs may not have any symptoms at all. However, knowing the warning signs can help you quickly get the treatment you need.

Understanding Severe STD Symptoms

Chlamydia

Chlamydia, which primarily affects women, has a high prevalence in the country,with around 1.6 million infected individuals in 2022.² The bacterial STD is sometimes asymptomatic, making it hard for people to get help in time.

Some severe Chlamydia symptoms that can make you go to the emergency room include:

• Purulent urine and pain during sex.
• Burning and painful urination.
• Heavy bleeding in women in between periods.
• Severe pelvic or abdominal pain

Immediate Action:

Seek immediate care if you experience:

• Severe abdominal pain, especially if it is sudden or accompanied by vaginal bleeding or discharge.
• Anal pain, swelling, or tenderness.
• Fever above 100.4°F, with any of the severe symptoms listed above.

Gonorrhea

Another common STD that affects both men and women is Gonorrhea, with a prevalence of more than 600,000.³ The disease manifests with diverse symptoms for different reproductive parts.

Severe Gonorrhea symptoms that can compel a visit to hospital for both men and women are:

• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Pain during sex.
• Sharp abdominal pain.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Soreness in the anus area.
• Painful bowel movements.
• Men might observe painful testicular swelling and a pus discharge from the penis.
• Women might bleed in between periods.

Immediate Action
Visit a doctor for urgent care if you have severe abdominal pain, especially if accompanied by fever or vomiting. These signs indicate complications.

Syphilis

Syphilis is an STD that progresses through diverse stages, including congenital, primary and secondary, latent and late Syphilis.⁴ Severe symptoms include:

• Severe headaches.
• Difficulty coordinating muscle movements.
• Sudden vision loss.
• Chest pain or shortness of breath, which indicates cardiovascular involvement.
• Severe rashes covering large areas of the body.

Immediate Action
Any of these symptoms means you could be in the late stages of syphilis. This warrants an emergency room visit. In fact, neurological symptoms such as vision loss and severe headaches should be treated as an emergency.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a viral disease affecting the liver and has mild to no symptoms up to 8 weeks to 5 months days after exposure.⁵

Here are some common severe symptoms of the disease to look out for.

• Fever and nausea.
• Swelling and abdominal pain
• Joint pain
• Severe jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Immediate Action
You should seek immediate medical help if you experience severe abdominal pain, swelling, or significant jaundice, as these could signal severe liver damage.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C or HCV, is a disease with a prevalence of around 69,000.⁶ It is transmitted either through unprotected sex or by sharing injection needles with infected individuals.

In most cases, HCV goes unnoticed, but severe symptoms can include:

• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
• Fever and fatigue.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal swelling.
• Pain in the right upper abdomen

Immediate Action

If you experience severe abdominal pain, jaundice, or swelling (especially in the legs or abdomen), these are serious symptoms that could point to liver problems. Go to the hospital immediately.

Herpes I (Oral) and Herpes II (Genital)

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) comes in two types:

• HSV-1: This is the virus most commonly responsible for oral herpes, which spreads through oral contact, like kissing.
• HSV-2: This virus causes genital herpes⁸ and is spread through sexual contact.

Severe symptoms of Genital Herpes may include:

• Severe genital pain and multiple large sores.
• Painful urination or difficulty urinating.
• Fever and swollen lymph nodes.
• Body aches.

Immediate Action

You should see a doctor right away if you're experiencing:

• Intense pain.
• Trouble urinating.
• Fever and headaches or confusion.
• Trouble breathing.
• Changes in your vision.
• Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.

HIV I and 2

HIV I is the first stage of the infection, and within 28 days after exposure to the virus,⁸ you might experience the following severe symptoms:

• Night sweats
• Fever and chills
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue and muscle aches

At the second HIV stage, known as clinical latency, you might notice some serious signs like:

• Chronic diarrhea.
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Recurrent respiratory illnesses.
• Oral thrush and mouth sores.

Immediate Action

If you notice any of these serious symptoms, it's important to get medical help right away. These could be signs of opportunistic infections, which can be very dangerous if you have a weakened immune system.

If you suspect you have been exposed to HIV, please see a doctor immediately or as soon as possible to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication within the first 72 hours to lower your HIV risk. You have to continue taking this medication every day for 28 days.⁹

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic STD that can cause severe vaginal irritation and pain during intercourse if untreated.¹⁰ In rare cases, it contributes to infertility.

Potentially fatal symptoms for this STD include:

• Severe abdominal pain.
• High fever, which indicates a rare sign of advanced infection.

Immediate Action
While rare, if you have any of these intense symptoms, you should check in an STD clinic to prevent further complications.

Mycoplasma Genitalium

Mycoplasma Genitalium (MG) is a bacterial STD transmitted through sexual intercourse.¹¹ It infects the cervix opening to the uterus and the urethra or rectum.

Once you see the indicators below, you should get checked out immediately.

• A foul-smelling discharge from the vagina or penis.
• Bleeding between periods.
• Burning, painful, or stinging sensation when urinating.
• An unusual sore.
• Discharge from the penis.

Immediate Action
If you're in a lot of pain or experiencing strange symptoms that don't get better even with over-the-counter medicine, don't wait. Go to the hospital right away.

Summary

Sexually transmitted infections come with diverse symptoms that range from mild to severe. Some are asymptomatic, making it hard for patients to seek medical help because they cannot suspect a viral, parasitic, or bacterial infection.

If the symptoms become too severe, it's important to consult a physician.

For more information on STDs and testing options, please visit Safer STD Testing.