It’s never good when you suspect that you have caught something, mainly because we live in a day and age where the best way to find out is to consult the god of the internet that is Google… and we all know that putting your symptoms into Google will return the result of “deadliest cancer ever” around 90% of the time. It’s even worse with STIs, because we might look up the symptoms and then refuse to believe it, because believing it means going to see your doctor and being told that you’ve taken too many risks in bed.
Of course, the only way to make it all better if you do have an STI is to go and see a doctor and stop seeing escorts in that time… but how do you know if you have an STI? We take a look at the most common STIs that are caught in the UK and tell you the essential signs that you need to look out for. While this will never beat a test, it might make you feel a little better or convince you to go and get checked out.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is actually the most common STI that you can catch, with a huge number of people having it at least once in their lifetimes. Because it is so easy to pass around, you’d think there would be some pretty easy to spot symptoms, but no.
Most people with chlamydia don’t actually experience any symptoms, meaning they never realise they have it. This means that they will continue to take risks in the bedroom and potentially spread it around more. Not exactly what you want to remember your hot night of passion for!
So what should you be keeping an eye out for? The key thing is that you might experience a burning sensation or pain when you go for a piss. Sometimes this can simply be a sign of a UTI (urinary tract infection) but it can also be a sign of chlamydia.
You should also keep an eye out for pain in your penis and balls, and if you spot a strange discharge coming out of your cock, you should get it checked out. If it looks wrong and makes you worry, go and see your doctor, as untreated chlamydia can actually cause some serious problems in the future and even make you infertile.
If you want to hear all this from a doctor, the video clip below does an excellent job of explaining the STI to you.
Genital warts and herpes
Genital warts and genital herpes are often confused for each other, but honestly, you don’t want either. With genital warts, you’ll find some small fleshy growths and bumps around your genitals. Most of the time they don’t itch, but you may notice some redness. Genital herpes, on the other hand, come from the same virus that gives you cold sores… so just imagine those around your dick. Not a pleasant thought, is it?
These are much easier to spot than something like chlamydia, as you will have some physical symptoms there. It is also one of the STIs that is diagnosed quickly, often because the symptoms appear and we will immediately rush to the doctor to get it sorted, instead of waiting around.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for genital herpes, just like there isn’t really a cure for cold sores. However, you can help to keep it under control by using antiviral medicines. On the plus side, there are many different treatments you can try to deal with genital warts, with creams being the most popular and cryotherapy used as a last resort.
Gonorrhoea
Like chlamydia, gonorrhoea is another sneaky STI. With this one, around 10% of men and 50% of women don’t have any symptoms, and so, yet again, they have no idea they have been infected. This means they’ll continue taking risks and spreading the disease.
Perhaps the nastiest thing about gonorrhoea is that it isn’t limited just to your cock. You can also get it in your ass and, most disturbingly, your throat and eyes… definitely not what you were hoping for, right?
So what should you be on the look out for? Gonorrhoea, like chlamydia, can cause a pain or burning sensation while you take a piss, and you might find a strange discharge coming from the tip of your penis. The discharge could be either white, yellow, or green in colour, but if you find anything out of the ordinary coming out of your cock, it is time to get checked out.
Again, gonorrhoea, once diagnosed, is quite easy to treat… but if left too long it can cause some serious health problems for you in the future. Some antibiotics will help to sort you out, so don’t panic. It isn’t the end of the world.
Syphilis
Life would be so much easier if STIs were as easy to spot as genital warts, but unfortunately they aren’t. Syphilis is another tricky one to discover, as the symptoms are often difficult to recognise. This means it isn’t diagnosed until later on and can cause huge problems.
To start with, a usually painless, but incredibly infectious sore, will appear on your genitals or around your mouth. The sore can stick around for about six weeks, and it can then be followed with things like rashes, flu-like symptoms, and even patches of hair loss. These symptoms can then disappear and leave you with a symptom free area, which might make you think it has just passed.
Untreated, syphilis can cause huge problems, such as blindness, paralysis, and heart problems. Sounds terrifying, right? Well, if you don’t want that happening to you, you need to get it check out. Okay, it might be embarrassing to go to the doctor with it, but surely that is better than the alternative? Man up and get yourself checked out, and in the future, keep your cock wrapped.
You can’t always see the symptoms of an STI, so if you suspect there is something going on down there, see your doctor and don’t have sex until you know you are clear. We know it will be tough for you, but imagine how great it’ll be having sex without worrying that you might be passing something on to one of the lovely escorts?
Condoms can be a huge help, although they are not 100% foolproof. For example, herpes is passed through skin-on-skin contact, so you should still be cautious and knowing your status can make a difference. It helps if you have the right condoms for you, so shop around to find your perfect fit.
Since then she has gained a fine reputation with her blogs on sex advice, sexual health and amusing news stories from around the globe. She is also a campaigner for the rights of sex workers from all over the world.
In her spare time, Lara keeps herself active by going running, and is something of a film buff. She also loves to go travelling.
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