Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOral HerpesGenital HerpesGenital WartsChlamydia and Gonorrhea (Males)Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (Females)Primary SyphilisPubic LiceScabiesChancroid (Early)Chancroid (Late)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Oral Herpes
Genital Herpes
Genital Warts
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (Males)
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea (Females)
Primary Syphilis
Pubic Lice
Scabies
Chancroid (Early)
Chancroid (Late)
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and it sometimes helps to have an actual picture of what different STIs look like. This includes commonsexually transmitted infectionslike herpes, HPV, and syphilis that differ in the kind of skin lesions they cause and the parts of the body they can affect.
However, the only way to know for sure if you have an STI is toget tested. Even if you haveno notable symptoms, it is important to get tested, especially if you think you’ve been exposed to an STI likeHIV.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male” and “female” as the sources use them
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male” and “female” as the sources use them
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoCold sores around the mouth.Avatar_023 / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Avatar_023 / Getty Images
Symptoms of oral herpes include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoGenital herpes on a penis.Dr. N.J. Flumara and Dr. Gavin Hart/CCD
Dr. N.J. Flumara and Dr. Gavin Hart/CCD
Symptoms of genital herpes may include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoGenital warts.Dr. Wiesner/CDC
Dr. Wiesner/CDC
Human papillomavirus (HPV)is the virus associated withgenital warts. There are well over 200 HPV types, most of which are harmless and cause no symptoms. Around 12 are high-risk HPV types associated withcervical,penile, andanal cancer. The HPV types that cause genital warts arenotlinked to cancer.
Signs and symptoms of genital wartsinclude:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPenis discharge.Jim Pledger/CDC
Jim Pledger/CDC
Males commonly experienceurethritis(inflammation of the tube through which urine exits the body, called theurethra).
Symptoms of chlamydia and gonorrhea in males include:
If the anus is involved, there may also be:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoCervicitis viewed through a vaginal speculum.CDC
CDC
In females, bacterial infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea manifest withcervicitis, or inflammation of thecervix. Because these bacterial STIs are internalized in females, the inflammation may only be recognized during apelvic examwithout any accompanying symptoms.
If symptoms do appear, they may include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Signs of primary syphilis include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPubic lice.SOA-AIDSAmsterdam/Wikimedia Commons
SOA-AIDSAmsterdam/Wikimedia Commons
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoGroin with scabies.Susan Lindsley/CDC
Susan Lindsley/CDC
Scabies symptoms include:
Unlike pubic lice, you cannot see the creatures with the naked eye and will instead need to view a skin scraping under the microscope.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoEarly Chancroid.CDC
Early signs of chancroid include:
Males tend to have one pustule, while females can have several. As the pustule enlarges, it can rupture and form an ulcer.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLate Chancroid.J. Pledger/CDC
J. Pledger/CDC
When a chancroid pustule bursts open, it forms an ulcer with very distinctive characteristics. Common signs and symptoms include:
Because chancroid is oftenasymptomaticin females, the disease may go unnoticed until a more serioussecondary infection(likecellulitisorHIV) occurs.
Summary
Symptoms of sexually transmitted infections can vary, with some causing skin lesions (like herpes, HPV, syphilis, and chancroid) and others causing discharge from the penis, vagina, or anus (like gonorrhea and chlamydia).
There are also parasitic infestations like pubic lice and scabies that are not technically STIs but are predominantly sexually transmitted.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wagenlehner FM, Brockmeyer NH, Discher T, Friese K, Wichelhaus TA.The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(1-02):11-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0011Mount Sinai.Herpes simplex virus.Crimi S, Fiorillo L, Bianchi A, et al.Herpes virus, oral clinical signs and QoL: systematic review of recent data.Viruses. 2019;11(5). doi:10.3390/v11050463Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines,2021: genital herpes.American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Human papillomavirus(HPV).Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.Young C, Argáez C.Management and treatment of cervicitis: a review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.Sangaré A, Doumbo O, Raoult D.Management and treatment of human lice.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:8962685. doi:10.1155/2016/8962685.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: signs & symptoms.González-Beiras C, Marks M, Chen CY, Roberts S, Mitjà O.Epidemiology of Haemophilus ducreyi infections.Emerging Infect Dis. 2016;22(1):1-8. doi:10.3201/eid2201.150425
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wagenlehner FM, Brockmeyer NH, Discher T, Friese K, Wichelhaus TA.The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(1-02):11-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0011Mount Sinai.Herpes simplex virus.Crimi S, Fiorillo L, Bianchi A, et al.Herpes virus, oral clinical signs and QoL: systematic review of recent data.Viruses. 2019;11(5). doi:10.3390/v11050463Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines,2021: genital herpes.American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Human papillomavirus(HPV).Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.Young C, Argáez C.Management and treatment of cervicitis: a review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.Sangaré A, Doumbo O, Raoult D.Management and treatment of human lice.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:8962685. doi:10.1155/2016/8962685.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: signs & symptoms.González-Beiras C, Marks M, Chen CY, Roberts S, Mitjà O.Epidemiology of Haemophilus ducreyi infections.Emerging Infect Dis. 2016;22(1):1-8. doi:10.3201/eid2201.150425
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wagenlehner FM, Brockmeyer NH, Discher T, Friese K, Wichelhaus TA.The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(1-02):11-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0011Mount Sinai.Herpes simplex virus.Crimi S, Fiorillo L, Bianchi A, et al.Herpes virus, oral clinical signs and QoL: systematic review of recent data.Viruses. 2019;11(5). doi:10.3390/v11050463Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines,2021: genital herpes.American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Human papillomavirus(HPV).Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.Young C, Argáez C.Management and treatment of cervicitis: a review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.Sangaré A, Doumbo O, Raoult D.Management and treatment of human lice.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:8962685. doi:10.1155/2016/8962685.American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: signs & symptoms.González-Beiras C, Marks M, Chen CY, Roberts S, Mitjà O.Epidemiology of Haemophilus ducreyi infections.Emerging Infect Dis. 2016;22(1):1-8. doi:10.3201/eid2201.150425
Wagenlehner FM, Brockmeyer NH, Discher T, Friese K, Wichelhaus TA.The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(1-02):11-22. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0011
Mount Sinai.Herpes simplex virus.
Crimi S, Fiorillo L, Bianchi A, et al.Herpes virus, oral clinical signs and QoL: systematic review of recent data.Viruses. 2019;11(5). doi:10.3390/v11050463
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines,2021: genital herpes.
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Human papillomavirus(HPV).
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Young C, Argáez C.Management and treatment of cervicitis: a review of clinical effectiveness and guidelines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
Sangaré A, Doumbo O, Raoult D.Management and treatment of human lice.Biomed Res Int.2016;2016:8962685. doi:10.1155/2016/8962685.
American Academy of Dermatology.Scabies: signs & symptoms.
González-Beiras C, Marks M, Chen CY, Roberts S, Mitjà O.Epidemiology of Haemophilus ducreyi infections.Emerging Infect Dis. 2016;22(1):1-8. doi:10.3201/eid2201.150425
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