It is advised for men to do check-ups on a yearly basis for STDs. Check-ups are necessary since STDs are not easily detected in men as compared to women. This way, the disease can be cured by medication and/ or surgery to ensure there is no recurrence. Some of the most common STIs in men include;
Chlamydia, a common STI in men, is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Statistics (CDC) show that it is the most common STD in the United States, with its rate increasing to forty-five (45) percent between 2004 and 2008. The microbe can take up to three weeks before it is detected after symptoms occur. The chlamydial infection causes pain when passing urine in men, penile discharge and a tingling feeling at the penile opening and around the testicles. Chlamydia trachomatis can also be contracted through anal and oral sex.
Herpes is the most common version that is caused by HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex infection 1) and developed by HSV-2 virus in the case of genital herpes. It first occurs as genital or rectal wounds and later develops into genital or rectal ulcers. More seriously, it could take a man up to five weeks before he gets rid of the infection.
It takes a long time to detect Syphilis. Weeks, months, in some cases years, this makes this microbe caused infection one of the deadliest of STDs in men. Genital sores (known as chancre) are normally the debut std symptoms. They are hard parts of the skin and disappear in a matter of weeks, untreated. The next phase presents red rashes and layers of mucus in the body. At this stage, the lymph nodes swell, bouts of fever, sore throat, weight loss, random baldness, cerebral pain, and fatigue characterize the infection. The rash too disappears untreated, but this is an indication that the disease has advanced. There are no side effects that can be seen in the late stage of syphilis. It is at this stage that the infection devours body organs including the heart, liver, brain, bone, and joints. The infected person at this point becomes numb, loses motion and vision, dementia and then death.
Neisseria gonorrhea infects the system to cause gonorrhea followed by pain during passing urine, colored penile discharge and swelling of testicles. It affects both the rectal and the genital areas causing serious rectal discharge, wounds, tingling sensations and solid bowel movements. Sore throats can also result if a man contracted gonorrhea by oral means. It is also a risk factor in the development of epididymitis, the swelling of the epididymis. Untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility. Symptoms can take as little as two days or as long as a month to be seen.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the deadliest viruses the human body can ever have. It attacks the defense system of a man leaving it vulnerable to other diseases (opportunistic infections). The symptoms of this infection are rarely seen in an infected person until another disease comes in and they can take up to 10 years undetected. Symptoms of infection are common to other infections like flu. They include; fever, sore throat, diarrhea, swelling of the lymph nodes, general body weakness, wounds in the mouth and a rash. Additionally, other STIs increase the risk of contracting the virus.
It is exciting news that STDs are easily tested, and this can be done in the comfort of your home to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. Any positive result from the home testing kit should be reported to the doctor immediately for further test and treatment.
Florin A. is definitely a Digital Advertising professional and blog writer who loves to explore the most recent trends in business, technological know-how and advertising and creates about a variety of articles.
