Diseases that are spread from one infected person to another during sexual intercourse are called sexually transmitted diseases. Some diseases are found in vaginal fluids, semen, or blood. Others are spread through skin-to-skin contact. These infections can affect anyone who is sexually active. They usually do not show any symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, many people do not know that they have a sexually transmitted infection.

Basically, sexually transmitted infections can be classified into 4 groups.

Bacterial – syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea
Viral – herpes, genital warts, HIV
Fungal – candidiasis
Parasitic – scabies, trichomoniasis

Some common symptoms that may occur in the early stages of these diseases are listed below.

For men
• Pain or burning during urination or ejaculation
• Pus or a watery or milky discharge from the penis
• Protrusion and/or hardness of the testicles
• Swelling around the anus
• Urinating more than usual
• Itching of the genitals
• Warts around the genitals and anus
• Persistent fever

For women
• Abdominal pain
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Bleeding other than menstruation
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or burning during urination
• Warts around the genitals and anus
• Swelling in the vagina or anus
• Urinating more than usual
• Bleeding from the vagina after sex
• A foul-smelling discharge from the cervix
• Itching of the genitals
• Blisters in and around the genitals
• Swelling or tightness in the vagina
• A persistent fever for no apparent reason
You may have noticed that these infections have common symptoms. It can take some time for a Sexually transmitted diseases to develop symptoms. Often, there are no symptoms at all. Therefore, it is important to get tested after having sex without using a condom. If detected early, these can be easily treated, and anyone can live a normal life

The best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is to practice safe sex. That means using a condom every time you have sex. A condom acts as a barrier to prevent the exchange of sexual fluids. It reduces the amount of skin contact in the genital area. There are condoms in the market in different sizes, flavors, and textures.

Whether you use condoms or not, it is important to get tested if you are sexually active. This is the only way to know if you have a sexually transmitted infection. These tests are available free of charge at government hospitals. To book an appointment for the test, visit know4sure.lk. This government-provided service is committed to protecting your privacy.