The high rates of STIs in the United States make it a national health concern.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the two most common STIs in the United States.
STIs can cause anal itching.
Jelena Stanojkovic / Getty Images
It is a common symptom of several STIs like herpes, gonorrhea, warts, and crabs.
However, there are many other causes of anal itching that are not related to STIs.
This article will cover the STIs that can cause anal itching, their treatment, and prevention.
It will also discuss the other conditions that cause anal itching.
It is spread through sexual contact with an infected person.
Anal herpes infection causes outbreaks of skin inflammation and small blisters in the genital and anal areas.
The blisters develop in groups and can break open.
Thesymptomsof anal herpes are:
Gonorrhea
Gonorrheais the second most common STI in the United States.
It is sparked by theNeisseria gonorrhoeaebacterium.
Someone can have gonorrhea and be asymptomatic (not having any symptoms).
Warts can grow on the outside or inside of the anus.
The warts are usually painless in the beginning but can grow larger and become painful and itchy.
In some cases, people may not have any noticeable symptoms.
It can occasionally be found in other coarse hair like armpit hair and eyebrows.
The symptoms of crabs are:
Crabs may be hard to find if there are only a few.
They do not crawl as fast as head lice and usually attach themselves to more than one pubic hair.
Other Common Causes
There are several other causes of an itchy anus.
The pressure can come from childbirth, pregnancy, straining on the toilet, or from being constipated.
These veins can create large bumps causing anal itching, bleeding in the stool, and pain.
Skin Irritation
Skin irritation is a common cause of anal itching.
The skin around the anus is thin and sensitive.
When it is irritated it causes itching and pain.
Skin irritation can becausedby several different things.
It is caused when the skin is stretched past its normal ability causing injury.
Passing a hard bowel movement can create an anal fissure.
If you are concerned about one of these issues, speak to your healthcare provider.
Treatment
Each key in of STI istreateddifferently and needs to be directed by a healthcare provider.
They are:
Summary
Certain STIs can cause anal itching.
However, anal itching does not mean someone does have an STI.
It is also the symptom of other conditions like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and more.
A Word From Verywell
Anal itching can be an embarrassing symptom that is difficult to talk about.
As uncomfortable as it is, you should not ignore it.
If an STI causes itching, prompt diagnosis and treatment can get rid of the symptoms.
If you let an STI go untreated, it can cause serious damage to your health.
If you do have anal itching, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have an STI.
Each STI’s incubation period is different.
Yes, anal itching is a common symptom of STIs.
It is a symptom of gonorrhea, anal herpes, anal warts, and crabs.
However, anal itching is also a symptom of several other conditions not related to STIs.
Always talk to a healthcare provider to get the correct diagnosis.
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