Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSTIs That Cause ItchingChlamydiaGonorrheaTrichomoniasisGenital HerpesGenital WartsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
STIs That Cause Itching
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Trichomoniasis
Genital Herpes
Genital Warts
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Some can even be passed through skin-to-skin contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 26 million new STI cases are reported each year, though many others go undiagnosed.
Without proper diagnosis and treatment, STIs can cause severe health problems and infect more people unknowingly. Learning the common STI symptoms can help you get the care you need early with the best results.
Some of the most common STIs cause itching and irritation in your genital area. While these symptoms can be a sign of other health conditions, such as skin problems, yeast infections, or even stress, they should prompt you to seek care.
This article discusses the STIs that cause itching, as well as other common symptoms. It also presents how each of these STIs is diagnosed and treated.
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STI or Not?Many STIs have mild symptoms that can be easily ignored or confused with other conditions. STI symptoms such as itching can resemble symptoms of the following problems:AllergensEczemaReaction to irritants like perfumesYeast infections
STI or Not?
Many STIs have mild symptoms that can be easily ignored or confused with other conditions. STI symptoms such as itching can resemble symptoms of the following problems:AllergensEczemaReaction to irritants like perfumesYeast infections
Many STIs have mild symptoms that can be easily ignored or confused with other conditions. STI symptoms such as itching can resemble symptoms of the following problems:
There are more than 20 different types of STIs.Symptomscan range from mild to intense, depending on the type of disease you get. People also differ in their responses to a specific STI, which depends on factors such as other health conditions. This can make it challenging to determine what causes vaginal itching or itching surrounding the penis.
Whilegenital itchingand irritation can suggest one of several common STIs, only a healthcare provider can diagnose and treat the problem. Identifying the STI helps you begin treatment as early as possible to prevent transmission, reinfection, and complications.
When to Seek Medical TreatmentConsulting with a healthcare provider is the only way to know whether you have an STI. Contact your provider if you know you’ve been exposed to an STI or have any of the following STI symptoms:Persistent itchingDischarge from the vaginaor penisAbnormal vagina odorRashBlistersLesionsPainful or frequent urinationFeverAbdominal painAnal itching, soreness or bleeding
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Consulting with a healthcare provider is the only way to know whether you have an STI. Contact your provider if you know you’ve been exposed to an STI or have any of the following STI symptoms:Persistent itchingDischarge from the vaginaor penisAbnormal vagina odorRashBlistersLesionsPainful or frequent urinationFeverAbdominal painAnal itching, soreness or bleeding
Consulting with a healthcare provider is the only way to know whether you have an STI. Contact your provider if you know you’ve been exposed to an STI or have any of the following STI symptoms:
Any ongoing genital itching should prompt you to consult your healthcare provider. Your problem may be a sign of many health problems or one of the following STIs:
Chlamydia affects men in the urethra (where urine leaves the body), rectum, or throat. In women, the disease affects the cervix (opening to the womb), rectum, or throat. Women can also pass chlamydia to their babies during childbirth.
Symptoms
It’s common for chlamydia to occur without symptoms, making it hard to know you have it. When symptoms do occur, they usually appear several weeks after you’re infected.
Women who have chlamydia can have the following symptoms:
Men who have symptoms of chlamydia often experience the following problems:
Chlamydia Symptoms
Diagnosis
NAATs can be performed on the following types of samples:
How Chlamydia Is Diagnosed
Treatment
If you’re diagnosed with chlamydia, it’s important to begin treatment as soon as possible. Chlamydia is a preventable cause ofpelvic inflammatory disease (PID)and infertility. About 10%–15% of women with untreated chlamydia develop PID.
Chlamydia is treated with oral antibiotics. The CDC recommends the use of 100 milligrams of doxycycline twice daily for seven days to treat chlamydia. When doxycycline can’t be used, a single 1-gram dose ofazithromycinor a seven-day regimen of 500 milligrams of levofloxacin taken once daily is advised.
Can You Treat Chlamydia Without Going to the Doctor?
More than 1.5 million new gonococcal infections occur in the United States annually. Gonorrhea ranks second to chlamydia as the most commonly reported bacterial infectious disease.
Gonorrhea doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed.
With gonorrhea, itching is most likely to occur when the disease infects your anus. In addition to anal itching, symptoms of anal gonorrhea can include:
Generally, men are more likely than women to have symptoms of gonorrhea. These commonly begin within a week of infection and can involve the following symptoms:
Most women don’t get symptoms of gonorrhea. When problems occur, they usually appear within a week of infection. In women, symptoms of gonorrhea include:
Symptoms of Gonorrhea
A diagnosis of gonorrhea requires confirmation via a microscope ofgram-stained samples, a bacterial culture, or NAATs. The following types of samples may be used for these tests:
Everything You Need to Know About Gonorrhea
Treatment for gonorrhea is important for both women and men who want to protect their fertility. In women, untreated gonorrhea can infect thefallopian tubesoruterus, which can lead to PID, a cause of infertility. In men, the disease can cause inflammation of the testicle tubes (epididymitis), a rare condition that can also lead to infertility.
The high infection and reinfection rates of gonorrhea have caused the bacterium to develop resistance to most types of antibiotics. This complicates treatment because there are limited antibiotics that remain effective against the disease.
To try to prevent antibiotic resistance, treatment of gonorrhea involves the use of two antibiotics in the following regime:
How Gonorrhea Is Treated
Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as “trich,” occurs as a result of infection with the protozoan parasiteTrichomonas vaginalis. It is the most common nonviral STI.
The infection usually affects women in the lower genital tract in areas that include the vulva, vagina, cervix, or urethra. Men typically get infected in the urethra.
Like many other STIs, trichomoniasis can occur without symptoms. About 7 out of 10 people infected with the disease don’t have symptoms.
When symptoms occur, they usually begin between five and 28 days of infection. Signs of the disease can also occur much later, or they may come and go.
Women who have symptoms of trichomoniasis usually experiencevaginitisand report the following problems:
While symptoms are rare in men, they usually involveurethritisand the following issues:
Signs and Symptoms of Trichomoniasis
There are several options for getting an accurate diagnosis of trichomoniasis. They usually involve the testing of vaginal or urethral secretions in one of the following techniques:
How Trichomoniasis Is Diagnosed
Trichomoniasis is treated with oralnitroimidazoles. Cream or lotion versions of these medications are not effective in eradicating the disease.
The CDC recommends the following nitroimidazoles for the treatment of trichomoniasis:
How Trichomoniasis Is Treated
You can have genital herpes without having any noticeable symptoms. You can also confuse the symptoms with other conditions that range from pimples to the flu.
Symptoms usually last for two to four weeks. During this time, the blisters rupture, ooze, crust over, heal, then usually reappear at a later time.
Genital Herpes (HSV-2): Everything You Need to Know
If you have symptoms of genital herpes, consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis of your symptoms. A physical examination can often show signs of genital herpes.
If you don’t have symptoms of genital herpes but have concerns about having close contact with an infected person, a blood test may be used for diagnosis. If you have genital herpes, your blood will have evidence ofantibodiesused to fight the disease.
How Herpes Is Diagnosed
The first outbreak of genital herpes can cause severe or prolonged symptoms. The CDC advises antiviral therapy with one of the following regimens for all people who experience their first episode of genital herpes:
Some patients benefit from episodic therapy for genital herpes. This requires starting a prescribed regimen of acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir within one day of a genital herpes outbreak. You’ll take these drugs for one to five days, depending on the dosage given.
Treatments That Heal Herpes Sores Faster
Genital warts usually develop on thelabia, the area near the vaginal opening, in women. In men, they are most likely to appear at the tip of the penis or along the shaft. They can also occur in other genital areas of both sexes, including the anus.
Genital warts appear aswhitish or skin-colored bumpsthat resemble cauliflower. They can occur alone or in bunches, and can vary in size. Genital warts can itch, but they usually aren’t painful.
It can be hard to know when you got the infection, because symptoms can appear weeks, months, or even years after sexual contact with a person infected with genital warts.
What Genital Warts Look Like and Where They Appear
No swabs or blood tests exist to diagnose genital warts. Part or all of the warts may be removed and sent to a laboratory for microscopic evaluation. While tests exist for HPV, they only test for HPV strains that pose therisk for cervical cancer, which does not include the strains of HPV that cause genital warts.
How HPV Is Diagnosed
While there is no cure for genital warts, there are several types of treatments that can reduce symptoms and the severity of your infection. Without treatment, genital warts may remain the same, change in size, or resolve spontaneously.
Patient-applied treatments for genital warts include:
Options for physician-applied treatments for genital warts include:
How Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Is Treated
Know Your Risk of Getting an STISTIs affect sexually active men and women of all ages. People in the following categories have the highest risk of catching an STI:People who engage in sex without a condom (unprotected)Adolescents and adults 15–24 years oldMen who have sex with men (MSM)People who use drugs or people whose sexual partners use drugsPeople whose sex partners had sex with other people during their relationship
Know Your Risk of Getting an STI
STIs affect sexually active men and women of all ages. People in the following categories have the highest risk of catching an STI:People who engage in sex without a condom (unprotected)Adolescents and adults 15–24 years oldMen who have sex with men (MSM)People who use drugs or people whose sexual partners use drugsPeople whose sex partners had sex with other people during their relationship
STIs affect sexually active men and women of all ages. People in the following categories have the highest risk of catching an STI:
Summary
STIs are health problems that often occur without proper treatment. If you have an STI and ignore or delay the care you need, you may be risking your fertility and future health.
While itching is a common symptom of STIs, only a healthcare provider can define the source of your problem and the type of STI you have. Some STIs can be found with an exam, though most need a special test to confirm they exist.
Knowing STI symptoms can help you find these problems early. Getting the right care and treatment can help you reduce symptoms and protect your well-being.
A Word From Verywell
Having an STI can have both physical and emotional effects. Common STI symptoms, such as itching and pain, can cause discomfort and make it hard to function normally. From an emotional aspect, it’s also common to feel embarrassed about seeking care or discussing the situation with your sex partner.
Having an STI is relatively common and affects more people than you realize. With the right physical and emotional support, you can concentrate on healing and ways to reduce your risk of infection in the future.
Frequently Asked QuestionsOnly a healthcare provider can determine whether you have a yeast infection or an STI. While symptoms like itching can let you know that something is wrong, you’ll need a medical exam and special tests for an accurate diagnosis.Learn MoreHow STIs Are DiagnosedChlamydia may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms occur, chlamydia can involve an unusual sore and/or abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis. It can also cause testicular swelling in men.Learn MoreSymptoms of ChlamydiaItching without discharge is a common symptom of genital herpes. Other causes of itching are medical conditions like eczema, pubic lice, orlichen sclerosis. Itching can also originate from sweating or razor burn.Learn MoreCauses of Vaginal Itching With No DischargeThe amount of time it takes for an STI to show up varies based on the STI. Some STIs produce symptoms within a few days of infection. Other STIs, like genital warts, can take years to appear. Some people have STIs without ever knowing they exist because they never produce symptoms.Learn MoreSigns and Symptoms of STDs
Only a healthcare provider can determine whether you have a yeast infection or an STI. While symptoms like itching can let you know that something is wrong, you’ll need a medical exam and special tests for an accurate diagnosis.Learn MoreHow STIs Are Diagnosed
Only a healthcare provider can determine whether you have a yeast infection or an STI. While symptoms like itching can let you know that something is wrong, you’ll need a medical exam and special tests for an accurate diagnosis.
Learn MoreHow STIs Are Diagnosed
Chlamydia may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms occur, chlamydia can involve an unusual sore and/or abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis. It can also cause testicular swelling in men.Learn MoreSymptoms of Chlamydia
Chlamydia may or may not have symptoms. When symptoms occur, chlamydia can involve an unusual sore and/or abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis. It can also cause testicular swelling in men.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Chlamydia
Itching without discharge is a common symptom of genital herpes. Other causes of itching are medical conditions like eczema, pubic lice, orlichen sclerosis. Itching can also originate from sweating or razor burn.Learn MoreCauses of Vaginal Itching With No Discharge
Itching without discharge is a common symptom of genital herpes. Other causes of itching are medical conditions like eczema, pubic lice, orlichen sclerosis. Itching can also originate from sweating or razor burn.
Learn MoreCauses of Vaginal Itching With No Discharge
The amount of time it takes for an STI to show up varies based on the STI. Some STIs produce symptoms within a few days of infection. Other STIs, like genital warts, can take years to appear. Some people have STIs without ever knowing they exist because they never produce symptoms.Learn MoreSigns and Symptoms of STDs
The amount of time it takes for an STI to show up varies based on the STI. Some STIs produce symptoms within a few days of infection. Other STIs, like genital warts, can take years to appear. Some people have STIs without ever knowing they exist because they never produce symptoms.
Learn MoreSigns and Symptoms of STDs
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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.
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MedlinePlus.Gonorrhea test.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of herpes?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection.
Planned Parenthood.Genital warts symptoms.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know the facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to GYT.
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