STI Symptoms, Consequences, and Treatments

In the meantime, I have been with the same man for twenty-three years and I also plan to stay with him for the foreseeable future - read; the rest of my life - so the phenomenon of STIs is not really relevant to me anymore. But in the past, STIs were a regularly recurring topic of conversation between my girlfriends and me. Especially when there was “something’ going on and you had to make the walk of shame by calling all your exes to inform them about the incident. With all the consequences that entails. Because sometimes such a confession call could seamlessly turn into a beauty call. But that's beside the point.

We live in times when STIs unfortunately occur more frequently than ever before. Since 2019, there has been a huge increase in the number of STIs. Especially Gonorrhea has increased by 33 % since 2019 and Chlamydia (the most common sexually transmitted disease) has also increased significantly in the last five years. It is easier than you think to end up in such a situation, especially if you think less often about those condoms. And let's be honest, it seems like men always act like their day is ruined when a condom is around. But well, it may not always be that sexy, but there is nothing less sexy than an STI, so let's just talk about it.

Chlamydia

Symptoms:
Chlamydia is a bit of the silent ninja among STIs. Often you don't notice much, and that makes it extra dangerous. Sometimes you have some vaginal discharge, pain during urination, or bleeding between your periods. But not everyone has these symptoms, and for many women, it only comes to light much later.

Consequences:
If you don't treat chlamydia, it can lead to serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility or ectopic pregnancies. And no, you absolutely do not want to experience that.

Treatment:
Fortunately, chlamydia is well treatable with antibiotics. You usually get a course that you take all at once, and that's it. Have you ever had it? Make sure to have your partner tested and treated as well, so you don't keep infecting each other.

Gonorrhea

Symptoms:
Gonorrhea is often not the most subtle STI. You usually notice it. Think of pain during urination, pus-like discharge from your vagina (or penis), or even abdominal pain. But again, as with many STIs, you can also have no symptoms at all.

Consequences:
If gonorrhea is not treated quickly, it can damage your reproductive organs and lead to infertility. This is a serious condition, as it can even damage the fallopian tubes, which can cause ectopic pregnancies.

Treatment:
Fortunately, gonorrhea is well treatable with antibiotics. But be careful: some types of gonorrhea have become resistant to certain antibiotics, so your doctor may prescribe a different treatment.

Syphilis

Symptoms:
Syphilis has three stages, and often it's easy not to notice that you have it in the first stage. It often starts with a painless sore (a ‘chancre’) at the site of contact. Then there may be rashes and swollen glands. And the third stage? That can come years later with serious damage to organs. Fun, right?

Consequences:
In the last stage, syphilis can cause quite a bit of damage, such as heart or brain damage, and even death. Yes, seriously. That's why it's extra important to treat it as soon as possible.

Treatment:
Syphilis is well treatable with antibiotics, usually in the form of an injection. So being early is really an advantage.

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HIV

Symptoms:
In the early stages of HIV, you may experience flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, joint pain, and fatigue. It can take months to years before you notice that HIV is progressing, and during that time you can unknowingly pass it on to others.

Consequences:
HIV is life-threatening if not treated. It attacks your immune system and makes you more susceptible to other infections. Eventually, HIV can develop into AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), which causes serious health problems.

Treatment:
HIV is not curable, but with the right medication (antiretroviral therapy), you can control the virus and prevent its spread to others. It's important to know your HIV status and get tested regularly.

Genital Warts (HPV)

Symptoms:
Genital warts are small, pink or gray, and usually appear around the genitals, anus, or in the mouth. They can be itchy, but often you don't notice them much.

Consequences:
Although genital warts are not always a big problem, they can in some cases lead to cervical cancer, especially if it is a type of the virus that causes cancer (HPV 16 and 18).

Treatment:
There is no cure for the HPV virus, but the warts can often be removed with medication, freezing, or even a minor surgical procedure. There is also a vaccine available against the most common cancer-causing strains of HPV, so you can protect yourself!

More information about STIs at the RIVM

It's not fun, but it's better to be warned in advance and know what to expect if you accidentally had sex without a condom. Of course, you also want to go without rubber sometimes. What I “always” did? As soon as it got serious with a boyfriend, we would both get tested for STIs, and from the moment there was white smoke, just trust the pill or your IUD.