You get crabs (pubic lice, Pthirus pubis ) mainly through skin-to-skin sexual contact, when these tiny blood-feeding insects crawl from one person's coarse pubic hair to another's. Less often they pas
Both rapid and lab HIV tests are accurate, but they detect infection at different points. A 4th-generation lab antigen/antibody test finds HIV earlier — roughly 18 to 45 days after exposure — because
Most STD antibiotics cause only mild, short-lived side effects. Doxycycline can upset your stomach and make your skin burn faster in the sun; metronidazole and tinidazole react badly with alcohol; and
Burning when you pee, urgency, and that nagging pressure can come from a urinary tract infection — but the same feelings are classic early signs of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. A true UTI
STD test accuracy is high when you test at the right time. Modern nucleic acid tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea reach specificity around 99% USPSTF, and HIV and syphilis use a two-step process that c
The main STI that causes true fluid-filled blisters on the genitals is genital herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2), which appears as clusters of small blisters that break open into painful sores. Other causes are
Testicular pain in men can come from a sexually transmitted infection, but it often doesn't. The STIs most likely to cause it are chlamydia and gonorrhea, which inflame the epididymis (the coiled tube
A fishy vaginal odor — especially one that gets stronger after sex — most often points to bacterial vaginosis (BV) or the STI trichomoniasis . BV isn't sexually transmitted, but trich is. A yeast infe
Several STIs can change the color of genital discharge, but no color reliably points to one infection. Gonorrhea tends toward yellow, white, or green discharge; chlamydia toward thin or cloudy fluid;
Blood in the urine (hematuria) is rarely a classic STI symptom, but two bacterial infections — chlamydia and gonorrhea — can inflame the urethra enough to tint urine pink or red. More often, blood poi
Three sexually transmitted infections most often cause frequent or burning urination: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Each can inflame the urethra and trigger urgency, painful urination, or
The short answer: no STI directly shrinks the testicle on its own, but two common bacterial STIs — chlamydia and gonorrhea — can inflame the epididymis and testicle, and severe or untreated inflammati
To talk to a partner about protection, pick a calm, private moment before things get physical and lead with your own plan instead of an accusation — say something like "I get tested between partners a
Yes — if you've had oral sex, a throat swab can matter, because chlamydia and gonorrhea can live in the throat without causing any symptoms. A standard urine-only panel will miss those infections enti
Trichomoniasis in pregnancy is a treatable infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that's linked to preterm birth and low birth weight if left untreated. Oral metronidazole is the stand
Trichomoniasis is diagnosed by testing a sample of vaginal fluid or urine, and the most accurate option is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which finds the parasite's DNA. The older wet-mount
Trichomoniasis treatment is a course of oral antiparasitic pills. The CDC recommends metronidazole twice daily for seven days for women, and a single larger dose for men; tinidazole as a single dose i
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is emergency HIV medicine you take after a possible exposure to stop the virus from establishing itself. You must start it within 72 hours of the exposure — and the soo
Retest for STDs in three situations: after a positive result, to make sure treatment worked (a test-of-cure); about three months after treatment to catch reinfection, which is common; and after a too-
You can get PrEP from a primary care doctor, an STI or sexual-health clinic, a community health center, or an online telehealth service — many of which can prescribe within days. Every route starts wi
A women's STI screening guide tells you which tests to expect by age and risk. If you're a sexually active woman under 25, plan on yearly chlamydia and gonorrhea screening. Everyone aged 15 to 65 shou
Yeast infection symptoms include vaginal itching or soreness, thick white discharge that looks like cottage cheese and has no fishy odor, pain during sex, and burning when you urinate. They come from
Dating with an STD comes down to four steps: bring it up early in a calm, private moment; agree on condoms together; get tested and share the results; and pick the right prevention tools as a team, fr
The four tips to get past your STD diagnosis all come down to one skill: talking honestly with a partner about protection. Bring it up at a calm, private moment, agree to use condoms every time, get t