What are the Most Common #STIs/STDs and Their Symptoms? Plus How to Get Tested Fast, At Home

Summary

Dr. Dominic Rowley, Medical Director of Let's Go Check Comm, discusses the prevalence of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis. He clarifies that STIs and STDs are the same, emphasizing the importance of testing due to many infections being asymptomatic. Symptoms in women may include abnormal discharge or bleeding, while men might experience penile discharge or pain during urination. The video highlights the risks of untreated STIs, such as infertility, and encourages testing for everyone, regardless of relationship status, and offers various testing options, including at-home tests.

Takeaways

• 😷 STIs, or sexually transmitted infections, are also known as STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, with the term 'disease' being replaced by 'infection' to avoid stigmatization.
• 📈 There is a current epidemic of several STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis.
• 🌐 HPV, or human papilloma virus, is a common STI that can cause genital warts.
• 🦠 Chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial STIs, while HIV is a viral STI, and syphilis is another type of STI.
• 🤔 Many STIs are asymptomatic, with up to 80% of women not showing symptoms for chlamydia, and similar rates for syphilis and HIV.
• 🚺 For women, signs of STIs can include abnormal vaginal discharge, changes in menstrual patterns, and pain during or after intercourse.
• 🚹 In men, symptoms of STIs may include penile discharge, painful urination, blood in semen, and testicular pain.
• 🌈 Rectal symptoms or sore throat can occur in individuals engaging in anal or oral sex, respectively.
• ⚠️ Untreated STIs can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women and epididymitis in men, potentially causing infertility.
• 🩺 It is recommended to get tested for STIs if experiencing unusual genital symptoms, and regular testing is advised even for those in monogamous relationships.
• 🏥 Testing and treatment options for STIs are available through family doctors, health clinics, sexual health clinics, and at-home testing kits from services like 'Let's Get Checked Comm'.

Q & A

What is the difference between STIs and STDs?

There is no difference; STIs and STDs are the same. The term 'STI' was adopted to replace 'STD' because it focuses on the infection aspect rather than the disease, making it less stigmatizing.

Why are STIs currently considered an epidemic?

STIs are considered an epidemic because they are incredibly common, with infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis being widespread.

What does HPV stand for and what is its common manifestation?

HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus, which is also known as genital warts and can cause these warts to appear.

Why are many STIs difficult to detect without testing?

Many STIs are difficult to detect because they often have no symptoms, especially in women, where up to 80% may not show any signs of infection.

What is a physiological discharge and how does it differ from a pathological discharge?

A physiological discharge is a normal vaginal discharge that women can have. A pathological discharge, on the other hand, is abnormal and may have an unpleasant smell, unusual color, or be different from what is considered normal.

What are some symptoms of STIs in women?

Symptoms in women can include an abnormal discharge, changes in their menstrual cycle such as bleeding after sex or in between periods, and pain during or after intercourse.

What symptoms might men experience if they have an STI?

Men might experience discharge from the penis, a stinging or burning sensation when urinating, blood in the sperm, pain after ejaculation, testicular pain or discomfort, and in some cases, rectal symptoms or sore throat.

Why is it important to diagnose and treat STIs even if there are no symptoms?

It is important because untreated STIs can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can cause infertility, and epididymitis or testicular infections in men, which can also affect fertility.

What advice does Dr. Dominic Rowley give regarding STI testing for patients?

Dr. Rowley advises all patients to get tested if they have any unusual genital symptoms, and even if they are in a long-term or monogamous relationship, it is recommended to get a full screen for sexual health.

What are some ways to get tested and treated for an STI?

Patients can get tested by attending their family doctor, going to a public or private health clinic, a sexual health clinic, or purchasing a personal health test from Let's Get Checked to perform at home.