What is the difference between STD and STI?

STI stands for sexually transmitted infection and STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. Infection is when bacteria, viruses or other microbes enter and develop in the body, through sexual transmission. Disease occurs when the cells in the body become damaged because of the bacteria, viruses, or other microbes. The person may begin to develop signs and symptoms when they have the disease.

There are some cases where a person who has an STI does not necessarily experience signs or symptoms. They may, however, infect other people with the STI and they will eventually experience STD. This usually happens because people who have STIs are either careless or completely disregard to get tested regularly for STIs and thus do not know if they carry one or more of them.

It should be noted that, while they are sexually transmitted, some STDs and STIs can also be transmitted through other means such as sharing needles among injection drug users, skin contact, or breastfeeding.

What are the symptoms of STDs and STIs?

If you have an STD or more than one, you may experience signs and symptoms but this is not the case for STIs because many of them do not develop any noticeable signs and symptoms.

Generally, the symptoms of STDs may include:

• Pain or discomfort during sex
• Painful testicles (for men)
• Pain when urinating.
• Itchiness, sores, bumps, or rashes around the genitals
• Unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina, penis, or anus

When should I get tested for STDs and STIs?

If you experience one or several general symptoms of STDs, you might want to seek medical attention immediately so the appropriate diagnostic tests can be conducted.

However, since STIs often do not develop themselves into diseases with noticeable signs or symptoms, it is recommended for you to get tested regularly. It is better to know your status for any STDs and STIs so you can be treated immediately.

Please note that while not all STDs and STIs can be cured, all of them can be treated and managed. Early testing and diagnosis are essential in order for the treatment to be effective.

Where can I get STDs and STIs tests in Chiang Mai?

There are several local and international clinics in Chiang Mai that provide STDs and STIs tests. Here at HUGSA Medical, we offer various tests for all kinds of STDs and STIs with several packages that are reasonably priced. We are connected with several laboratories so rest assured that you can get tested for any kinds of STDs and STIs.

We also respect your privacy and fully understand the importance of anonymity. Rest assured that you will not receive any judgment from our physicians and staff members. We observe our strict confidentiality policy. Your safety and welfare is our priority.

Where can I get treatment for STDs and STIs?

Most of the time STDs and STIs are curable and even for those who are not curable (Herpes, for example) treatments are still available to manage the symptoms and prevent outbreaks or transmission to other people in the future.

What are the most common STDs and STIs?

1. Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is typically spread by sexual contacts especially when they are not safe (i.e. without condoms). There are four stages of syphilis, which are

Stages	symptom
Primary syphilis	Visible sores (or sometimes just one) at a place where the infection first took place such as the genitals, anus, rectum, or in or around the mouth.
Secondary syphilis	Symptoms may include skin rash, lymph nodes, and fever to those who get the bacteria.
Latent syphilis	No visible signs or symptoms. It is still important for you to know and get treated for this stage of syphilis because without treatment you may infect others.
Tertiary syphilis	In this stage, the bacteria have caused complications in various organs such as the heart and the brain.

Syphilis can be easily treated with antibiotics in early stages. It is important to find out whether you have it or not immediately because syphilis can harm your body if left untreated.

2. Herpes

Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection that is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of this virus namely HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 generally causes cold sores, while HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes. Herpes can spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Most of the time, people who carry Herpes do not experience any noticeable symptoms. Oral herpes, which is usually caused by HSV-1, may cause cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth.

Other symptoms that may be related to herpes include:

• Blisters or open sores around mouth, genitals, anus, thighs or bottoms
• Burning or itching sensation around the genitals
• Pain when urinating
• Vaginal discharge that occurs abnormally with blisters and sores

When someone is infected with herpes, they may experience an outbreak. The outbreak is usually marked by blisters around the mouth, genitals, or rectums that break and leave painful sores and take several days or even weeks before they disappear. People may experience more than one outbreak throughout their lives.

While there is no cure for herpes, antiviral medications for herpes can prevent or shorten these outbreaks and reduce the possibility for the virus to be transmitted to other people.

3. Chancroid and molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is caused by the virus Molluscum contagiosum, while chancroid is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi.

The symptoms of Molluscum contagiosum include small, painless bumps around the genitals. Meanwhile, the infection of chancroid is characterized by the appearance of blisters or sores on the genitalia that are painful.

Both chancroid and molluscum contagiosum can also be spread to skin-to-skin contact and not necessarily sexually transmitted.
Molluscum contagiosum will usually disappear on its own, while chancroid, even though very contagious, is curable.

4. Gonorrhea and chlamydia

Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are common sexually transmitted infections that can be easily treated with antibiotics. Gonorrhea is caused by bacterium Neissaria Bitgonorrhea, while chlamydia is caused by chlamydia trachomatis.

Some people can serve as asymptomatic carriers of gonorrhea and chlamydia as they do not experience any visible symptoms. They can, however, spread these STIs to their sexual partners if the infection is not treated.

For gonorrhea, symptoms may include:

• A burning sensation during urination
• Frequent urge to urinate
• A white, yellow, beige, or greenish pus-like discharge or a drip from the penis (for men)
• Swelling at the opening of the penis and/or in the testicles (for men)
• Increase vaginal discharge (for women)
• Bleeding between periods such as after an intercourse (for women)
• Itching and pus-like discharge from the rectum and also bleeding
• Pain, increase sensitivity to light and pus-like discharge from either one eye or both of them
• Abdominal pain
• A persistent sore throat
• Swollen joints

For chlamydia, symptoms may include:

• Painful urination
• Unusual discharge from the vagina (for women)
• Fever

5. Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that is infectious. According to research, Hepatitis B is between 50 and 100 times more contagious than HIV.

For some people, Hepatitis B can be “acute”, which means that they will experience a mild to severe illness within the first six months of exposure to the virus. Some people may recover from the acute infection, which means that they will become immune and they will not be able to get Hepatitis B again nor will they spread the virus to others.

For other people, Hepatitis B can develop into a chronic infection. In this case, Hepatitis B will stay in their body and the virus can spread to other people. Hepatitis B may cause further complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis B infection can be contracted in the following ways:

• Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia
• Sharing items that may be contaminated with blood such as toothbrushes, razors, or medical equipment
• Immediate contact with the blood or open wounds or sore of a person who is already infected with Hepatitis B
• Blood transfusions
• Mothers who are already infected with Hepatitis B to their baby during childbirth. Breastfeeding, however, does not spread the virus from the mother to her child.

Holding hands, sharing eating utensils, hugging, sneezing, coughing, and kissing with people who are infected with Hepatitis B does not pose any harm for people who are not infected with the virus.

Most of the time, people will not know when they are already infected with Hepatitis B. In some cases, people may experience the following:

• Fatigue
• Body ache
• Fever
• Feeling unwell and sick
• Appetite loss
• Diarrhea
• Stomachache
• Jaundice
• Dark urine and dark urine and pale poo or grey-colored

There is no cure for Hepatitis B. There are, however, vaccines to prevent Hepatitis B transmission.

6. Genital warts

Another common STI, genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This STI is quite common and it is safe to say that almost everybody who is sexually active has become infected with at least one type of HPV at some point.

Genital warts are small and flesh-colored and these bumps are visible around the moist areas of the genital area. Sometimes the bumps can look like a cauliflower. However, most of the time, genital warts are too small and it can be easily overlooked.

Symptoms may include:

• Painless swellings that are small, flesh-colored or brown or pink in the genital area.
• Sometimes several bumps may appear in the same area and are typically shaped like a cauliflower
• Itchiness or discomfort around the genitals
• Bleeding during sexual intercourse

The HPV cannot be cured once a person is infected with the virus. However, the genital warts can be treated. Once you get HPV, you have to take care of your health by quitting smoking (if you are an active smoker) and maintaining your immune system to prevent yourself from getting an outbreak.

Treatments available for genital warts may include cryotherapy or freezing the wars using liquid nitrogen and cream. Please contact your doctors to see the right treatment for you.

Conclusion

Here at HUGSA Medical, we fully understand the importance of sexual health and we provide various STDs and STIs tests. As a holistic healthcare provider, we are ready to guide you into getting the best treatment possible.

Our physicians and staff members are experts in sexual health and you do not have to fear about being judged when visiting our clinic. Please contact us through our website, Facebook page, or email.

Read other interesting articles.

• PrEP in Chiang Mai
• PEP in Chiang Mai

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