A Complete List of STDs [Signs, Symptoms, & Cures]

Date
Jun, 14, 2021

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It’s finally here!

The complete list of STDs!

Every STD that is currently recognized, its signs & symptoms, and treatments!

All in one place!

Now you may be saying to yourself, “that’s a lot of excitement for some STDs.”

And you’d be correct, but what I am really excited about is being able to give y’all a concise table that contains all the information you scour through the internet for.

STDs are part of sexual wellness, and we should not turn a blind eye to them.

They are here to stay, and it is important that you recognize that. 

This way, you can take the proper precautions to protect not only yourself but also your partners.

How Do You Get An STD?

Well, duh, you have unprotected sex.

Yes, everyone knows that, but I want to clarify that you don’t just get an STD when you put your dick in someone’s vagina.

The STD, whether it be a bacteria, a parasite, or a virus, is located in the bodily fluids of the infected person.

This means that most STD transmission occurs when you come into contact with bodily fluid.

This fluid includes blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and saliva.

So if you put your dick into someone and see fluid, that is where an STD lives.

STDs can also transmit through blood transfusions, sharing needles with an infected person, and even transfer from mother to child during pregnancy or birth.

Related Article: The Survival Guide to STDs: What They Are & How To Protect Yourself

Difference Between Signs & Symptoms

There is one last thing we need to cover before we jump into the complete list of STDs.

We need to talk about the difference between signs and symptoms is because these two terms are often used interchangeably.

Signs

Signs are objective characteristics that a patient has while experiencing a disease.

These are characteristics that the doctor identifies through testing and physical examination.

Examples of this include (not limited to) rashes and high cholesterol.

Scenario:

Maybe there is a rash on your back that you didn’t know about, and then you go to your doctor, they see it and diagnose it.

It could be a sign of a disease or an STD. 

A doctor may require you to do further testing.

Symptoms

Symptoms are subjective characteristics that a patient experiences.

A doctor will not be able to tell if a patient is suffering from a symptom just by looking at them.

The patient needs to say to the doctor that they are experiencing it.

Examples include (not limited to) dizziness and headaches.

woman in gray tank top while sitting on bed
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Scenario:

You’ve been hooking up with someone for over seven months.

 All of a sudden, you are experiencing pain during sex.

You would have to tell your doctor what you are experiencing, and the doctor will then ask you more questions and possibly require some testing to get to the bottom of the issue.

Get it? 

If not, that’s okay!

Some sources linked down below go into more depth about the difference between signs and symptoms. 

Complete List of STDs

I have broken down the list of STDs into three categories: Bacterial, Viral, and Parasitical.

This way, you can develop a clear understanding of the types of STDs and how they work.

Bacterial STDs are some of the most common ones and transmit through bodily fluids.

Viral STDs cannot be cured and can transfer through bodily fluids or breaks in the skin.

So if you have a cut on your lip and kiss someone who is infected with the herpes virus, there is a chance of contracting herpes. 

Parasitic STDs are tiny, microscopic organisms that transfer from one person to the next.

Please keep in mind that this list does not substitute a doctor’s visit!!

If you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms below, make an appointment with your doctor ASAP!

Now that we have covered the basics let’s jump in!

Scroll Left To View the Full Table ????????

Name

What Is it?

Strain

Curable/

Treatment

Signs & Symptoms

Diagnosed

Potential Issues if left untreated 

How is it transmitted?

Bacterial

Chlamydia

(Most Common Bacterial STI)

Bacterial Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis

Yes/ Antibiotics 

-Asymptomatic;

if do have symptoms will develop one to 3 weeks exposure

- Pain, and/or from anus  

- Abnormal vaginal (strong smell or yellow color)

-Pain or burning while peeing


1. Urine Test
2. Swab sample of either the urethra, vagina, cervix, or anus

1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

2. Cystitis   

3. Prostatitis

4. Infertility 

5. Scarring of the urethra

6.Epididymitis

Oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Exchange of bodily fluids such as cum, pre-cum, vaginal fluid

Gonorrhea (aka

"the clap" or

"the drip")

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Yes/

A single injection of (ceftriaxone)

-Symptoms develop 2 to 5 exposure in males; 10 in females

- Pain or burning feeling when you pee
- Abnormal from vagina (yellowish or bloody)
- Bleeding between periods
- Yellow, white, or from penis
- Pain or burning feeling when you pee
- Pain or swelling in testicles
- Itching in or around anus
- Discharge from anus
- Pain when pooping

  • Urine Test

  • Swab of the urethra, vagina, cervix, or anus

1. Prostatitis

2. Scarring of the urethra

3. Infertility

4.Epididymitis

5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease       

6. Miscarriage

7. Cystitis    

8. Chronic pain

9. Ectopic pregnancy 

Spread through vagina, anal, oral sex; carried in semen, pre-cum, and vaginal fluid

Syphilis

Treponema pallidum

Yes/ 

Antibiotics (usually penicillin)

Primary Stage: A single, painless sore Syphilis sore (chancre) pops up 10 to 90 days post exposure
Last 3 to 6 weeks then leave with or without treatment
Secondary Stage: Rash on the palms of hands, soles of feet, and other parts of your body
Flu-like symptoms such as fever and sore throat
Sores in mouth, vagina, or anus, and weight or hair loss
Symptoms last 2 to 6 weeks at a time and come and go up to 2 years
Symptoms leave with or without treatment
Latent/ Late Stage: No symptoms for months or years
Late Stage: Bumps or tumors on skin, bones, liver, problem with heart and blood vessels, or chronic nervous system disorders, such as blindness, insanity, and paralysis

  • Blood Tests

  • Taking fluid from swollen lymph nodes or lesions

Damage to brain, heart, nervous system, paralysis, blindness, or even death

When vulva, vagina, penis, anus, or mouth comes in with someones chancres sores

Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU)

Infection of the urethra

Trichnomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium

Yes/

Antibiotics 

In with penises:

-Itching, irritation, or tenderness
-Burning or when peeing
-Discharge from penis
In with vaginas:

-Abnormal from vagina
-Burning or when peeing
-Abdominal or abnormal vaginal bleeding
-Rectal itching, or while pooping

1. Urine

2. Swab

In men:

- Epididymitis

- Arthritis       

- Discharge   

- Skin Lesions
In women:

-Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases
-Infertility
-Chronic Pelvic Pain
-Urethrities
-Vaginitis
-Mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC)
- Inflamed rectum

Passed during vaginal, anal, or oral sex

Mycoplasma Genitalium (MGen)

of the tract and is passed on through sexual contact 

Mycoplasma genitalium

Yes/

Antibiotics

Can be asymptomatic
-Pain with urination
-Abnormal vaginal discharge
-Discomfort with sex
-Burning, painful urination
-Discharge from penis

  • Urine Sample

  • Cervical Swab

-Can cause urethritis in with penises
-Cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix)
-Pelvic inflammatory Disease
-Infertility

Passed through sexual contact 

Parasitical

Trichnomoniasis (Trich)

A parasite, trichomona, spreads through sexual

Trichomonas vaginalis

Yes/ 

Course of antibiotics, usually metronidazole or Tinidazole 

-Mostly asymptomatic
-Causes vaginitis (vulva or vagina is irritated)
-Irritation and itching
-Smelly discharge
-Painful or frequent peeing
-Green, yellow, or grey vaginal discharge
-Pain during urinating

Cotton swab from penis or vagina and look under microscope

Increases chances of getting or spreading other STDs including HIV

1. When genitals come in with bodily fluids that have the parasite
2. Can spread through toys, genital contact, or if you have infect fluids on hand and touch another person's genitals

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Small parasites attach to the skin and pubic hair (& other coarse hair) and feed on human blood

Lice

Yes/

Easy to use, over-the-counter treatments availble
-Must out (nits) with or fingernails
-Clean and wash linens
-Abstain from sex until treatment is complete

-Itching near genitals
-Crabs or in pubic hair
-Irritation caused by bites
-Dark or bluish spots on where pubic lice live

Can visually see them or your will examine them under a microscope

No serious complications

1. Spread through sexual because they live in pubic
2. Can get crabs from with other types of hair such armpits, eyebrows, beards, chest hair

Scabies

Infestation of the top layer of caused by tiny parasites called scabies or mites

Sarcoptes scabiei

Yes/

Pills or medicated creams that kill mites or eggs
- Wash or dry clean all bedding, towels, or

Appear in pubic or groin areas, shoulder blades, breasts, webbing between fingers...

-Rashes
-Irritation
-Itching
-Lesions
-Pimple-like irritations
-Presence of mite          -  Burrows or small, curling lines on

- Microscopic exams of scrapings from suspicious lesion
- Burrow Ink Test (BIT)
- Topical Tetracycline solution
- Shave biopsies
- Needle of mites

No serious complications

1. Transmitted through intimate contact
2. Can get from sharing an infected person's clothing, bedding, or towels

Viral

HIV

(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Viral Infection that breaks down your immune system and can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

No/

Treatments include
-Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) : of medications that slow at which it multiplies
- Change in lifestyle

First 2-4 weeks exposure:

-Fever
-Join Paints
-Rash
-Flu-like symptoms
Signs of AIDS:

-Swollen lymph nodes
-Bad yeast infection
-Chronic Pelvic               -Inflammatory Disease
-Headaches
-Rapid loss
-Skin rashes
-Bleeding from mouth, nose, anus, or vagina

1. Blood work
2. Urine tests
3. Salvia

-If treated early, HIV can become AIDS.
-AIDS = caused by the damage that HIV does to your immune system
-HIV kills off T Cells that are used to fit infections. Once enough T Cells are killed off or someone with HIV develops a rare that is when they have AIDS

1. Can be transmitted though blood, sexual fluids (semen, precum, vaginal secretions, anal mucus), or through breast

2. Has to have to or mucous membranes 

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

A name for a group of viruses that infect the skin that is usually harmless while some can causes genital warts or cancer

200 types of human papillomavirus

No/ 

- Colposcopy
- Cryotherapy
- Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)

- Asymtopmatic
- Genital warts on the vulva, vagina, anus, cervix, penis, or scrotum
- Abnormal growth

1. Pap Smear test
2. HPV test

-Certain high-risk strains of HPV cause lesions which can develop into cancer
-Can get warts but those are

- Spread through sexual skin-to-skin contact
- No exchange of bodily fluids is needed
- The vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, or anus needs to touch someone else's genitals, mouth, or throat during sex

HSV-1 or HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus)

Viral Infection that cause blisters on the mouth or genitals

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Herpes Simplex Virus

No/

-Medication to heal outbreaks sooner
-Keeping genital dry
-Wearing soft, loose clothes
-Ice pack on sores
-Pain relievers

-Small, painful blisters on the genitals, mouth, or inside of thighs
-Cold Sore
-Fever Blister
-Itching
-Pain around the genitals
-Headache
-Fever
-Feeling achy or tired

1. Sample of fluid from or sore   

2. Blood test

Doesn't lead to serious health

Direct -to-skin contact; in the skin allows for the virus to in

Molluscum Contagiosum

Viral skin infection that causes small bumps or lesions

Molluscum contagiosum virus

Yes/

Most symptoms on their own but lesions can be removed to reduce spreading
-Prescription for cream
-Once the bumps are gone the virus is gone from

-Small, painless lesions
-Lesions on thighs, buttocks, groin, and of adults
hard, growths
-Flesh-colored or discolored bumps
-Abnormal irritation
-Rash
-Bumps
-Blisters

- Visually by of the lesion
- Microscopic evaluation of the lesions 

Secondary caused by bacteria

Easily spread through sexual or sharing and or

Hepatitis B

Virus that cause liver disease, spread through sex or sharing personal hygiene

Hepatitis B Virus

No/ 

Usually goes away by itself

-Rest, eat well, get of fluids
-If you become a carrier, may need to take medication

-Exhaustion
-Pain in belly
-Nausea
-Headache
-Fever
-Hives
-Dark-colored pee
-Pale, clay-colored movements
-Jaundice

Blood test

1. Liver damage
2. Cirrhosis
3. Liver Cancer

-Contact with semen, vaginal fluid, or blood
-Having vaginal, anal, or oral sex
-Get through toothbrushes, or razors, sharing needle, and from mother to child

Get Tested

While STDs should not be as taboo and stigmatize as they are, we must start having open conversations about them.

There is so much misinformation circulating about STDs that people use it to shame sexually active individuals and fear-monger the rest of the population.

This is why it is so important to get tested regularly (even if you are in a monogamous relationship).

The last thing you want is to put someone else health at risk because you are afraid. 

Trust me, I understand that you may be hesitant to know your status, or you may be frightened of what people will think of you, but I promise you it is better to know.

Getting tested regularly (once every year or every six months) can give you and your partners peace of mind.

To find a clinic near you, click this link provided by Healthline! 

Click here to access it(scroll to where it says ‘Testing locations in each state’).

Protect Yourself

CTM- Hookups

Your sexual health, whether you have multiple sex partners, one partner, or no partners, should be your priority (right next to your pleasure).

Make sure to always use condoms, especially during one-night stands and hookups.

And create a plan on how you are going to stay safe during hookups.

This can include bringing your condoms each time (with the correct lube), going on PrEP(speak to your doctor), using birth control, or getting tested after every hookup.

Also, if possible, make sure that you have an open line of communication with whoever you are having sex with.

This way, you both can discuss what safe sexual practices y’all will use.

And have fun! Just because you care about your sexual health doesn’t mean you can’t be wild and freaky!

Related Article: A Beginner’s Guide To Birth Control 

Sources

  1. Healthline | How to Access Free or Low-Cost STI Testing in Each State
  2. Medical News Today| Why Do Signs and Symptoms Matter?
  3. World Health Organization| Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
  4. Healthline| Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  5. Mayo Clinic| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Symptoms
  6. Mayo Clinic| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  7. American Sexual Health Association| STDs A to Z
  8. WebMD | Understanding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  9. Planned Parenthood| STDs
  10. JAMA| Signs and Symptoms

Mía

Hi, I am Mia! I am Sex Education Enthusiast and I love bringing people the knowledge they need to make their sex lives better! I always preach that having a healthy sex life is a part of a healthy life overall.

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