Sexually transmitted infections are in many cases insidious as they can cause no symptoms and it may take years before man starts having noticeable problems. STIs can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Understanding the risks and knowing the signs of common STIs is crucial for sexually active men.
Chlamydia, the most common STI in the US, hardly ever displays symptoms. Sometimes men begin to notice symptoms several weeks or months after being infected. The bacteria may spread to the testicles and tubes that carry sperm from the testicles, leading epididymitis (inflammation of testicles), which, if untreated, can affect fertility. The symptoms may include:
- Penile discharge
- pain during urination
- painful and swollen testicles.
The infection can also lead to inflammation of the prostate. Severe prostatitis can cause erectile dysfunction of any sort. It is also the most common cause of sexually acquired reactive arthritis that is more common in men. The symptoms may manifest within first few weeks after having the infection and include inflammation of eyes, joints and urethra. There is currently no cure for the disease, but treatment with NSAIDs can help relieve the symptoms.
Gonorrhea can affect the urethra, anus and throat. Most men with this disease don’t display any symptoms at all. For those who do, symptoms include:
- Discharge from the penis of white, yellow or green color
- Pain during urination
- Swollen testicles.
Chronic gonorrhea can cause urethral strictures and epididymo-orchitis leading to male infertility. The infection may also spread through blood stream to joints and other body parts causing rash, skin sores, joint pain, stiffness, swelling and fever.
Ureaplasma urealyticum and other ureaplasma species are often under-recognized as it typically causes no symptoms. If it does, the symptoms include:
- Burning sensation and pain during urination
- Frequent urination
- Slow urine stream
- Difficulty emptying the bladder.
Ureaplasma urealyticum may impair spermatozoa and DNA condensation. If untreated it may result in prostatitis, urethritis and epididymitis.
While the listed-above STIs caused by bacteria are successfully treated with antibiotics, things are worse when the disease is caused by viruses, in which case it can only be managed, but not cured.
Herpes simplex virus may affect mouth and genitals, producing no symptoms or developing signs that could be mistaken for other conditions. Symptoms in men, which occur within 2 days or weeks after being infected, are:
- Itching, tingling or burning of skin
- Blisters on the testicles, penis, around the anus, thighs or buttocks
- Blisters on the lips, gums, tongue and other body parts
- Muscle ache in the lower back, thighs, buttocks and knees
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
- Fever.
Complications may include bladder problems requiring catheterization for several days and proctitis. Genital sores increase the risk of acquiring other STIs, including AIDS. In fact, any STI increases the chances of getting HIV, which is associated with infectious semen and the risk of virus transmission. Semen quality deteriorates with progression of immunodeficiency, therefore STIs should be treated early to prevent late consequences in men.
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