If you’re sexually active, you might be concerned about getting a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Maybe you’re a guy and you’re wondering if you already have one and just don’t know it. Or maybe you’re thinking about having sex and you want to be on the lookout for STD symptoms so you know whether your partner is safe to have sex with. So what are a guy’s symptoms of an STD anyway?

Well, first it’s important to know that, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are about 20 million new cases of STDs every year in the United States. And about half of those infections are in people between the ages of 15 and 24. So it’s really wise to have STDs on your radar.

What are STD symptoms in men?

Some symptoms can be –

• A discharge from the penis
• A burning sensation when peeing
• Pain and swelling in the testicles
• Rectal pain
• Rectal discharge or bleeding
• A sore or blister on or near the penis, rectum, or mouth
• Painful bowel movements
• Anal itching
• Bumps (or warts) in the genital area, around the penis or anus (The bumps can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower.)
• Skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever

But often, there are no symptoms of an STD at all. Many people who have an STD have no idea they have it. Of course, this means people can pass an STD on to a partner without realizing it.

So if you don’t have symptoms, how do you know whether you have an STD? The only way to know for sure is to be tested.

If you don’t already have an STD, how can you protect yourself from getting one? The only way to 100% protect yourself is to not have any kind of sex. That means not having any vaginal, anal, or oral sex at all. They can also be passed through genital-to-genital contact. Even infected body fluid that comes into contact with mucous membranes on you or your partner’s body can transmit an STD, (i.e. infected fluid on your hand to eyes or mouth).

If you do want to have sex, the surest way to protect yourself from an STD is for both you and your partner to be tested and found to be STD-free, then for you to be in a mutually monogamous relationship — that means both you and your partner only have sexual contact with each other.

If you want to talk about whether you’re at risk for an STD or if you want more information about STD testing, please call us. We’ll schedule a time to meet with you and confidentially answer your questions and provide information about STD testing.