Symptoms | Progression | Effects

A female pharmacist sits with a male customer in the pharmacist consultation area and discusses his prescription and choice of medication viewing the details on a digital tablet. In the background a senior woman and granddaughter stand at the dispensing counter and are served by a female pharmacy assistant .
A female pharmacist sits with a male customer in the pharmacist consultation area and discusses his prescription and choice of medication viewing the details on a digital tablet. In the background a senior woman and granddaughter stand at the dispensing counter and are served by a female pharmacy assistant .

Sexually transmitted infections can remain asymptomatic, cause mild symptoms, or involve a wide range of different symptoms. Typical symptoms indicative of a sexually transmitted infection include:

  • Urethral discharge
  • Rectal discharge (mainly in the form of mucus coating on the stool)
  • Burning or pain when urinating, itching
  • Ulcers, blisters, nodules, or warts on the genitals, around or inside the mouth, in the anal region, or in other body regions
  • Redness or whitish or yellowish coating in the mouth, on the genitals, or in the anal region
  • Pain and swelling of the genitals
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area or in the area surrounding ulcers
  • Unusual skin changes, e.g. weeping sores, rash, redness.

Sexually transmitted infections that mainly affect the gastrointestinal tract may additionally cause symptoms such as blood or mucus in the stool, discoloration or decoloration of the urine or stool, recurring diarrhoea, possibly alternating with constipation, persistent feeling of pressure in the abdomen, abdominal pain, and lack of appetite.

Non-specific symptoms, such as persistent exhaustion, fever of unknown origin, or general malaise are possible as well.