Questions About Common STDs

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Crabs, Scabies, BV, etc.

Have a question about common STDs? You can find answers to your STD symptom, STD testing, STD prevention, and STD treatment questions right here! Want to know more about one of the most common non-viral STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, or bacterial vaginosis? Submit a question yourself and for inclusion in the non-viral STD FAQ.

Other STD FAQs:

• General STD FAQ
• Viral STD (HPV, HIV, Herpes, & Hepatitis)FAQ
• Uncommon STD (Chancroid, MRSA, Molluscum, etc.)FAQ

Questions About Specific STDs

• Chlamydia
  • What are the Symptoms of Chlamydia?
    Chlamydia is often asymptomatic, and it can hide undetected for years. Symptoms, when they do occur, may be easily mistaken for something else.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Chlamydia?
    Chlamydia testing is extremely straightforward, and options have improved over the years. Did you know that in many areas it's now possible to be tested by peeing in a cup?
  • What do I Need to Know About Chlamydia During Pregnancy?
    Being diagnosed with chlamydia during a pregnancy can be scary, but it's not the end of the world. Treatment can essentially eliminate the risk to your baby.
  • What is the Treatment for Chlamydia?
    Chlamydia is a very treatable illness. All most people need is a quick course of antibiotics for a full cure.
  • Is Chlamydia a Bacteria or a Virus?
    Chlamydia is a weird little organism. It fits in an evolutionary niche somewhere between bacteria and virus.
• Gonorrhea
  • What are the Symptoms of Gonorrhea?
    Gonorrhea, like chlamydia, is often asymptomatic. The symptoms of the two diseases are pretty similar as well.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Gonorrhea?
    Gonorrhea testing has improved greatly in recent years. Soon, maybe no one will have to look forward to an uncomfortable swab.
  • What do I Need to Know About Gonorrhea During Pregnancy?
    A gonorrhea diagnosis isn't the most exciting part of a pregnancy, but it's far from the end of the world.
  • What is the Treatment for Gonorrhea?
    Gonorrhea has been in the news recently, because antibiotic-resistant strains have been becoming more and more common around the world. Still, right now, most cases are still relatively easy to cure.
• Nongonoccocal Urethritis (NGU)
  • What are the Symptoms of NGU?
    If it feels like gonorrhea, but isn't gonorrhea, there's a good chance that it may be NGU.
  • How Do I Get Tested for NGU?
    A diagnosis of nongonococcal urethritis is your doctor's way of saying "it looks like gonorrhea, but it isn't." Therefore, testing is a matter of figuring out what it is.
  • What is the Treatment for NGU?
    Treatment for NGU depends on a determination of what exactly is causing the condition. Still, it usually ends up being a simple course of antibiotics.
• Syphilis
  • What are the Symptoms of Syphilis?
    Syphilis has a diverse range of symptoms, depending on what stage the disease is in.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Syphilis?
    Syphilis testing is most often done as a blood test, but depending on the stage of the disease there may be other options.
  • What do I Need to Know About Syphilis During Pregnancy?
    A syphilis infection during pregnancy can be extraordinarily dangerous. It is therefore extremely important for all pregnant women to be screened.
  • What is the Treatment for Syphilis?
    Like many bacterial STDs, the treatment for syphilis, at least in its early stages, is antibiotics, but with syphilis you don't get to take them by mouth.
• Trichomoniasis
  • What are the Symptoms of Trichomoniasis?
    When you have trichomoniasis, it kind of stinks. Literally.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Trichomoniasis?
    Trichomoniasis testing is usually done via a vaginal swab. It's painless and very straightforward.
  • What do I Need to Know About Trichomoniasis During Pregnancy?
    Trichomoniasis has been associated with some problems during pregnancy, but it is very treatable.
  • What is the Treatment for Trichomoniasis?
    Trichomoniasis is treated with a specific group of drugs known as the nitroimidazoles. If you are being treated, it's essential that your partner be treated as well.
• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
  • What are the Symptoms of BV?
    As with trichomoniasis, one of the main symptoms of BV is a change in odor.
  • Is BV Caused By Sperm?
    Many people think that BV is caused by sperm, since the odor associated with the condition is more prominent after sex. It's not.
  • How Do I Get Tested for BV?
    There are several methods of testing for bacterial vaginosis, but just about all of them require a basic exam.
  • What do I Need to Know About BV During Pregnancy?
    BV is associated with preterm birth, and it's not yet well understood how effective treatment is at reducing this side effect.
  • What is the Treatment for BV?
    BV is highly treatable, unfortunately infections often come back. Many women get BV infections time and time again.
• Crabs/Pubic Lice
  • What are the Symptoms of Crabs?
    If just thinking about crabs makes you itch, than you've got a good idea of the most noticeable symptom of public lice.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Crabs?
    Testing for public lice is mostly a matter of keeping out an eagle eye for the creepy crawlies and the eggs they leave behind.
  • What is the Treatment for Crabs?
    Does the phrase "topical pesticide" mean anything to you? It will if you're diagnosed with crabs.
• Scabies
  • What are the Symptoms of Scabies?
    When the lights go out and the itch comes on, it's a good sign that you may have been infected with scabies.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Scabies?
    Most doctors can diagnose scabies simply by looking at the rash it causes, but there are other testing options as well.
  • What is the Treatment for Scabies?
    As with pubic lice, scabies are treated with topical pesticides, but the real work comes when you have to decontaminate your home.
• Mycoplasma Genitalium
  • What are the Symptoms of Mycoplasma?
    Mycoplasma is a major cause of cervicitis in women and urethritis in men. As such its symptoms are similar to those of gonorrhea and chlamydia.
  • How Do I Get Tested for Mycoplasma?
    Most doctors aren't going to test you for mycoplasma infection, since it simply isn't on their radar.
  • What is the Treatment for Mycoplasma?
    Mycoplasma infection is treated with antibiotics.