Asexually transmitted disease(STD) is a symptomatic infection that is spread primarily through sexual contact.
Females can experience different STD symptoms than males.
Knowing the signs that may indicate an infection can help you seek medical care and appropriate treatment.
Illustration by Mira Norian for Verywell Health
Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way.
However, some can also be spread through other skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.
However, the symptoms experienceddifferentiate the terms.
If you have no symptoms but do have an infection, you would have an STI.
However, some STD symptoms can be experienced by anyone who becomes infected, not just people with vaginas.
Chlamydia
If you do experience symptoms of chlamydia, it may take weeks to notice.
HPV
Most females experience no symptoms with an HPV infection.
However, some HPV infections do cause genital warts.
Symptoms can include:
Fluid-filled blisters at the site of the infection are also common.
After the symptoms go away and the blisters heal, the virus remains dormant in the body.
When they’re reactivated, additional outbreaks can occur.
Hepatitis
Several viral hepatitis infections can be transmitted through sexual contact but don’t always cause symptoms.
However, many people (including those with vaginas) have no STD symptoms at all.
Diagnosis
There are differenttypes of teststo determine if you have a specific STD.
Routinely testing for all STDs is not recommended.
Talk with your healthcare provider about which test might be right for you.
They may also do a physical exam to look for any characteristic signs and symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment will also depend on the specific STD.
Some infections can be cured with treatment.
Others can’t be cured, but they can be managed with help from your healthcare provider.
Infections triggered by bacteria, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, may be treated and often cured withantibiotics.
Infections because of parasites, such as trichomoniasis, are also treated with antibiotics.
Some viral infections, including hepatitis, can be cured withantiviral medicine.
The symptoms associated with viral, bacterial, and parasitic STDs will vary.
However, many people (including people with vaginas) who have an infection will not experience any symptoms.
STD testing will depend on the throw in of infection that’s suspected.
Treatment will also depend on the infection.
Some infections can be cured by treatment, while others last a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
STIs (or STDs) are very common.
Put another way, about 1 in 5 people have an STI.
An STD (or STI) can go undetected for a long time.
This is referred to as the incubation period.
Symptoms can arise in as little as two days, as in some cases of genital herpes.
Handsfield HH.Sexually transmitted diseases, infections, and disorders: whats in a name?.Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Gonorrhea.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Trichomoniasis.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Women and HIV.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.HIV and AIDS basics.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Human papillomavirus.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Genital herpes.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Viral hepatitis.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Syphilis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What std test should I get?.
Planned Parenthood.How does std testing work?.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to prevent sexually transmitted infections (stis).
2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355
World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (stis).
