5 Weird STDs you need to know about
What would life be without sex? There would be far less pleasure, enjoyment, challenge, and fun! We’re all familiar with diseases like herpes and HIV, but here are a few more weird STDs that may make you hesitate to have unprotected sex EVER again:
- Trichomoniasis — This is a protozoa infection that is one of the more common causes of vaginitis. It’s estimated that 7.4 million cases present ever year, among both men and women. Men aren’t as commonly affected by the disease, but symptoms of the infection among men include irritation inside the penis, a burning sensation during ejaculation or urination, and a mild discharge (not the good kind!). For women, symptoms include painful urination, pain in the lower abdomen (usually only present in serious cases), irritation and itching of the vagina, a frothy, greenish-yellow discharge, and discomfort during intercourse.
- Chancroid — This infection is more common to Southwest Asia and Africa, but it’s still one you need to know about. Immediate symptoms of a chancroid infection include bumps and ulcers on the genitals. The ulcers are soft, painful, and may bleed easily. Men tend to have just one ulcer, but women often have more than four. Men tend to get the ulcers under the foreskin, in the groove behind the head, or even in the opening of the penis. For women, the ulcers tend to appear on the labia majora, but occasionally they spread to the labia minora, the perineal area, and even the inner thighs. It may also cause swelling of the lymph nodes.
- Molluscum contagiosum — This infection is actually a lot more common than the others on this list, though it’s not one to take lightly. Also known as “mollusk mumps”, this infection is characterized by firm, round, and painless little bumps that develop on the skin around the genitals. It’s spread via person to person contact, making it an STI when it’s present on the genitalia. The bumps tend to be small–ranging from 2 to 5 mm in diameter–may look like little pimples, and can easily become inflamed and red. Scratching the bumps may help to remove the primary bump, but could spread the infection to the rest of the skin.
- Scabies — This is a mite that burrows into the skin and makes its home in the deeper layers of dermis. You end up with the “seven year itch” because the mite is laying its eggs in your skin. You may catch the mites from contact with contaminated water, but the mites tend to spread via skin to skin contact. Even if you use a condom, you may spread scabies to your partner, as the mites just need contact with ANY part of the body to spread.
- Cytomegalovirus — This virus is in the same family as the ones that cause mono and chickenpox, meaning it’s VERY common–up to 80% of adults have a CMV infection before they hit 40. The virus is passed between people via bodily fluids–usually your saliva and urine–and it’s only a problem for people with very weak immune systems. There is no known cure for CMV, but the symptoms can be treated.
If you’re going to engage in sex, do so with the utmost caution!
