Unfortunately, many STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t have immediate symptoms. Without symptoms, people assume they don’t have a disease and put off getting tested. However, untreated STDs can cause serious health complications.
Knowing the symptoms is essential to recognize if you have an STD, but whether you have symptoms or not, get tested regularly. Life Choices Family Resource Center offers free testing for particular STDs. Schedule your appointment today.
What Is An Incubation Period?
The time from exposure to an STD to when you develop symptoms is known as the incubation period. You do not develop symptoms immediately after acquiring most viruses. It takes time to affect your body and for your body to react with symptoms.
The Mayo Clinic estimates how long it might take for symptoms to appear after exposure.
- Gonorrhea – 10 days (women)
- Trichomoniasis – 5 – 28 days (women only)
- Syphilis – 10 – 90 days
- Chlamydia – 5 – 14 days
- Genital Herpes – 12 days
What Are the Symptoms?
Many STDs have similar symptoms. The following are some of the symptoms of the STDs listed above:
Gonorrhea
Symptoms of an infection can include a vaginal discharge, pain or burning sensation when urinating, anal itching, and pain in the pelvis or stomach area.
Trichomoniasis
The symptoms range from mild irritation to serious swelling. You could experience a vaginal discharge, strong vaginal odor, itching, burning, and painful urination.
Syphilis
The symptoms of syphilis appear in three stages. They begin with small, painless sores. As the infection worsens, symptoms could include a rash, fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches, and hair loss.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia infections often cause few or no symptoms. If you do experience anything, it could be painful urination, pain in your abdomen, lower back pain, fever, and vaginal discharge.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes spreads easily. It often has no symptoms or very mild ones. Symptoms can include small red bumps or blisters, pain or itching around the genital area, buttocks and inner thighs, and a vaginal discharge.
Where Should I Get Tested?
A routine healthcare check-up rarely includes testing for STDs, so you usually need to request separate testing. At Life Choices Family Resource Center, we offer testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
No one wants to consider having an STD, but they are more common than you think. Protect your health and safety by getting free STD testing at Life Choices.
Schedule your free appointment today. We’re here for you.