STI symptoms in Women
STD symptoms you can get if you allowing your partner to insert his penis into the vagina, allowing your partner to use his/her mouth on the vaginal, allowing your partner to insert any objects into the vagina including fingers and sex toys.
This is one of the most common STD symptoms in women. Women can get pain or a burning sensation passing urine. They can also feel like they need to go to the toilet all the time. The symptoms actually feel very much like a bladder infection or a urine tract infection. Sometimes, women get an ulcer on the labia from Herpes. So when they pass urine, the urine flows pass this ulcer causing pain. This can also feel like ‘pain when passing urine’.
Viginal Discharge (Most Common)
This is easily the most common symptom women get from STDs. Sometimes it is hard to tell apart from a normal discharge. If the discharge smells bad or has an odd color like green or yellow, it is more likely to be an STD.
A quick guide is as follows:
Ulcers - These are breaks or craters on the skin. They are usually white. If they are small, multiple and painful, they are likely to be caused by Herpes. If there is only 1 large painless ulcer, it is likely to be Syphilis. If it is 1 large painful ulcer especially if the lymph nodes in the groin crease are also enlarged and painful, it is like to be a Chancroid caused by the bacteria called Haemophilus Ducreyi. Sometimes, these ulcers can appear inside the vagina which makes it impossible for you to see. Only your doctor will be able to see it with an internal examination. If these ulcers are painless, like the ones due to Syphilis, you might never know you had it.
Blisters - These are little fluid filled bubbles on the skin. If they are multiple and painful and burst to form ulcers, they are very likely to be caused by Herpes.
Growths - Growths on the skin are usually indicate of an STD. These growth can occur anywhere including the pubic region, on the labia and even in the vagina. Sometimes they can be difficult to see. If the growths are skin colored and have an uneven surface (like a cauliflower), it is like to be a wart caused by HPV. If the growths look like little pearls stuck onto the skin, it is probably caused by Molluscum Contagiosum Virus.
Itch - Itching can be on the skin or inside the vagina. Itching on the skin can be caused by lice or scabies. The itching caused by this is usually very severe and worse at night. Itching in the vagina can be extremely uncomfortable and can be caused by Trichomonas. However, the commonest cause of vaginal itching is still by far a yeast.
Pain during sex - During sexual intercourse, the penis usually gently hits the cervix. This should not be painful. But if the Cervix is inflamed, usually due to an STD, this can be rather painful. In fact, if the Cervix is very sensitive and tender, this could mean that the woman has PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). This is very dangerous.
Bleeding during or after sex. - It is very common for the vagina to suffer mild abrasions and tears during intercourse and this can cause some bleeding. However, if there is an infection, the lining of the vagina will be very fragile and can break easily causing more bleeding. Also, if the Cervix is infected with HPV, it may be already turning into pre-cancer. When this happens, the Cervix will bleed much more easily especially when the penis is hitting it during intercourse.
Fever - This symptom is really too general to be useful. In fact, very few STDs aside from HIV actually cause a fever. So if you do have a fever, more likely than not, it has absolutely nothing to do with any STD.
Swollen Lymph Nodes - When an area is infected, the lymph nodes will swell as part of the body’s natural reaction to help fight the infection. So if there is any infection in the vagina or pelvic region, the lymph nodes along the groin crease will likely swell and may even be a little tender. This can occur with almost any STD including Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Chancroid etc. Basically, if you notice swollen and tender lumps in your groin crease, it would be best to see your doctor asap.
Lower abdominal pain - STDs that infect the vagina can also infect the cervix. The infection can go even further up to infect the womb (Uterus) and the Fallopian tubes. Once past the Fallopian tubes, the infection is in the pelvis and can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Any of these conditions can cause pain in the lower tummy, just above the pubic bone. This is usually caused by Chlamydia but can also be caused by Gonorrhea, NSU, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma etc 5