STDs are sensitive topics people shy away from for obvious reasons, yet it is important to know more about you to guarantee your health and safety. As long as you have sex, be it oral, anal, or vaginally, there is a high chance of you contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Although STIs show numerous symptoms, some infections are asymptomatic, making them more complicated to treat or manage. This article highlights asymptomatic STDs and what to do about them.
For same-day STD testing and treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Aberdeen. Our urgent care facility provides confidential and convenient STD testing for all patients in the Aberdeen, NJ area and surrounding communities. No appointment is required– simply walk-in any day of the week.
What Are Asymptomatic STDs?
Asymptomatic STDs are sexually transmitted infections that have no signs and symptoms. Many STIs are asymptomatic and even with no symptoms a partner can transfer the disease to another during sex. Some of these STIs are easy to cure while others require more-complicated treatment to manage them. Thus, it is important to visit your doctor regularly for STI screening to identify and treat the infection. If left untreated, these STIs can increase your risk of having another STI or even HIV. Others can even lead to infertility, organ damage, and even death.
4 Asymptomatic STIs
To fully understand asymptomatic STDs, this section highlights common asymptomatic STIs that affect a large percentage of the population:
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a popular bacterial infection of your genital tract that can be difficult to detect due to its asymptomatic nature. Naturally, symptoms start from one to three weeks and healing may follow suit. Slight symptoms that may be overlooked include painful urination, mild testicular pain, lower abdominal pain, and more.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is another bacterial infection of your genital tract that can grow in the mouth, throat, and even eyes. The first exposure to gonorrhea occurs after 10 days of exposure and symptoms include anal itching, painful and swollen testicles, as well as burning sensation when urinating.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a microscopic parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis that spreads during sexual intercourse with an infected person. This parasite infects the urinary tract of men and comes with no symptoms at first. But symptoms may begin to show after a week or a month and they may include the following itching genitals, strong vaginal odor, and discharge from the genitals.
HIV
HIV is an infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus that interferes with the body's stability to fight against diseases. It is a life-threatening disease that can be metamorphosed into AIDS and the initial stages of infection show no symptoms. In some people, symptoms may begin to show two or six weeks after and the only way to affirm infection is via testing.
How Long Does it Take for STD Symptoms to Show?
STD symptoms may take as little as a few days to appear or several years. In certain cases, they may not appear at all. According to statistics, about 50% of men and over 65% of women affected with Chlamydia were asymptomatic until tests were conducted. Over the years, the belief of diagnosing STDs simply by looking at a person is far gone as diseases have taken a huge turn from what they once were. It’s crucial to seek routine STD screening if you’re a sexually active individual.
Our sexual health is a major aspect of our overall wellness. While not all STDs show symptoms, this makes regular testing even more important. If you've had unprotected sexual intercourse with a person whose STI status is unknown, seek testing at an urgent care facility. Your result can determine whether you are infected or not and the doctor can plan for your healing if you are.
Get STD Testing and Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Aberdeen
If you want to learn your STD status and receive necessary treatment, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Aberdeen today. Our urgent care center accepts walk-in patients seven days a week, offering convenient evening hours to best fit your schedule. We accept most major health insurance plans and offer low copays and bundle pricing for individual tests or a full STD workup. If you have any additional questions about STD testing, or other services we provide, please call us directly at (732) 583-5100.
