{"id":62553,"date":"2024-01-11T16:05:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T21:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62553"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:16:13","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:16:13","slug":"std-symptoms-what-are-the-early-signs-of-an-std-in-females","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/std-symptoms-what-are-the-early-signs-of-an-std-in-females\/","title":{"rendered":"STD symptoms: What are the early signs of an STD in females?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) are caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and are quite common among women, particularly ages 15 to 24 years. Although STIs are mainly spread by sexual contact, they can also be spread through nonsexual contact, such as to infants during pregnancy or childbirth or through blood transfusions or shared needles, <\/span>according to Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>. STIs affect about <\/span>1 in 5 people<\/span><\/a> in the United States. There are over <\/span>20 different STIs<\/span><\/a> that women can contract, and the symptoms they experience depend partly on the type of STI they have, according to the <\/span>National Institutes of Health (NIH)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some symptoms of STIs in females are very mild, and some STIs don’t have symptoms at all. Other times, especially as the weeks and months go on, STIs can cause <\/span>noticeable symptoms<\/span><\/a>, such as unusual <\/span>vaginal discharge<\/span><\/a>, pain during sex or when urinating, itching, redness, and sores or warts in the genital area. Sometimes, severe pelvic pain, rashes, and fever accompany these symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the STI symptoms in women resemble other conditions, such as <\/span>urinary tract infections<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>yeast infections<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>bacterial vaginosis<\/span><\/a>. That’s why it’s important to visit a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the early signs of an STI in females?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The early signs of STIs in women are usually vaginal or urinary, says <\/span>Michael Savino, MD<\/span><\/a>, director of quality for the department of urology at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Vaginal symptoms include malodorous vaginal discharge that can be of yellow or green color, which may suggest gonorrhea,” Dr. Savino says. It may be associated with feelings of pressure in your vagina.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early signs of infections like human papillomavirus (HPV) or <\/span>herpes simplex virus (HSV)<\/span><\/a> may include a cervical or vaginal growth, such as a wart of a clear papule, according to Dr. Savino. <\/span>Early HIV symptoms<\/span><\/a> may include flu-like symptoms and mouth ulcers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The timeline of STI symptoms depends on the infection that you have. Most STIs start with few symptoms or no symptoms at all. Some take weeks or months to present themselves. Other STIs take years to show symptoms or never show symptoms at all, even though you may be a carrier of the infection and can pass it on to others.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span><\/a>, different STIs have varying incubation periods, which is the time between when you become infected and when you show symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n