Of course you know about the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes—those are basically the STD Big Three. But there are also tons of other STDs that, though lesser known, are equally harmful. Here, women’s health specialist Jennifer Wider, M.D., explains four you should definitely know about—and what to do if you think you may have one.
1. Chancroid
What Is Is: “Essentially, this STD is when you have sores or ulcers on your genitals,” says Wider. The sores start with small bumps, and can grow into ulcers that can be two inches wide within two days.
Symptoms: “Painful sex or bleeding during intercourse are the two main symptoms,” says Wider, “and it also sometimes hurts to urinate.” What’s more, you may get swollen lymph nodes in your groin area and below the belly button. To diagnose it, most doctors can see the sores, but sometimes they need to test.
Treatment: It’s simple: You can treat it with a week of antibiotics. “The important thing is that if you’re sexually active, you need to make a habit of examining your own genitals in the first place, so you’ll notice if something is out of the ordinary,” says Wider.
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2. Molluscum Contagiosum
What It Is: This is a viral STD spread through skin-to-skin contact—not necessarily through sexual intercourse. “And actually, it’s a common skin infection—children can get it—but when it’s seen on your genitals, it’s considered an STD.”
Symptoms: The STD is characterized by raised, fluid-filled bumps on your genitals. “They can be as small as a pinhead or large as a pencil eraser,” says Wider. Usually, the bumps don’t hurt, but they can become itchy.
Treatment: Doctors can diagnose this by looking at your rash. Some doctors will simply freeze it off; there are also prescription creams.
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3. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
What It Is: It’s a virus that’s related to the virus that causes chickenpox, herpes simplex, and mononucleosis. “It spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen, and breast milk," says Wider. "It also spreads through sexual contact, breastfeeding, organ transplantation, and through the placenta."
Symptoms: Most people don’t show symptoms. But in acute cases, CMV can cause mono-type symptoms like fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, fatigue, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Treatment: Because it’s a virus, antibiotics don’t work. “The virus is usually self-limited," says Wider, which means it works its way through your system on its own. "But in severe cases, antiviral drugs have been known to be effective,” she says. Also important to know: Once you get infected with CMV, you retain the virus for life (similar to herpes). That said, it usually r emains dormant if you’re healthy.
4. Lymphogranuloma Venereum
What It Is: It’s a chronic infection of your entire lymphatic system. It’s caused by three strains of bacteria, one of which is the strain that causes genital chlamydia.
Symptoms: “Having this STD can cause lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and painful bowel movement,” says Wider. “These are symptoms you wouldn’t attribute to an STD, so if you have them, it’s important to consider this a possible cause and see your doctor immediately.”
Treatment: Usually, a doctor will take a biopsy of your lymph node first. Then, you'll have to take antibiotics for about a week, and after that, you should be fine, says Wider.
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