Gonorrheal infection of the eyes at birth is now prevented by first washing them in a saturated solution of boric acid, then treating them with a drop of weak silver solution. From that point onward, a person can carry HIV without developing serious or persistent symptoms for many years. STDs can spread through oral sex or anal sex, or when two people’s genitals touch. That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted. In men, common symptoms include:
pain or discomfort during sex or urination
sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
painful or swollen testicles
Symptoms of STDs in women
In many cases, STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. The gonococcus bacilli infect all the inner female genital organs. Examples of the most common STDs are listed on this page. A government tool for finding local testing services is available here. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a disease which spreads by having sex.
