Even if you are with one partner, you can be at risk for a sexually transmitted disease (STD or infection (STI). If you are using condoms, they do not protect you 100% against all STIs. According to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, women with STIs are misdiagnosed by emergency departments nearly 50% of the time. This leads to missed diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections since symptoms can be similar to those of say a urinary tract infection (UTI).
READ: 5 Things Every Woman Should Know About UTIs
Urinary tract infections are often overdiagnosed, and 64% of patients with an STI were diagnosed as having a UTI instead. Knowledge is power. Having an understanding of the common STIs can equip you to make safer decisions sexually and have better conversations with your doctor.
Here are some STIs/STDs you should be aware of which are commonly misdiagnosed:
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1. Herpes
Genital herpes is characterized by a cluster of itchy, small red bumps or tiny white blisters which usually appear a few weeks after the infection. As the outbreak comes to an end, the skin will form scabs as the ulcers heal.
These uncomfortable bumps associated with herpes can sometimes be mistaken for other non-sexually transmitted infections such as ingrown hair, shaving or razor bumps, jock itch (tinea cruris), or genital eczema.
Unsure whether your bumps are a sign of herpes or not? Some other common signs of genital herpes infection to look out for include:
- Pain or itching in the genital area
- Ulcers
- Scabs
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Headaches
- Muscle ache
- Fever
2. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an STI which can take two to 10 days to develop fully. Gonorrhea symptoms can be a copycat of the symptoms usually attributed to a urinary tract infection. However, these are the symptoms you should be aware of which could signal that you have gonorrhea:
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- Bleeding after having sex
- Vaginal discharge which is dirty in color (yellowish brown)
- Fever and nausea
If you have these symptoms, immediately notify your physician or OB/GYN so that you can receive the proper treatment.
3. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common infection which is transmitted sexually. If it is untreated, it can lead to infertility. Chlamydia is
... often underdiagnosed because the symptoms can be very non-specific or in some cases, non-existent. If symptoms are present, they include burning and itching of the genitals, discharge or painful urination. This STI can also occur in the throat or rectum.
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4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is not an STI. But, it is a complication which can develop following multiple STIs, specifically gonorrhea and chlamydia. When you have PID, the bacteria spreads to the uterus and female reproductive tract. It can result in infertility. Some of the signs you may have include fever, pelvic or low abdominal pain, pain when urinating, discharge, painful intercourse and light bleeding.
5. Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis (also called trich) is a common, but curable sexually transmitted infection. It is caused by parasitic protozoa called Trichomonas vaginalis. There are 1 million new cases of trich that occur in the U.S. every year. This STI is one to be cautious of because women may have symptoms, but men do not. However, this STI can leave you more susceptible to contracting HIV if you are exposed. This makes it important to be tested and treated. It is spread via sexual contact with someone who is infected. Only 30% of people develop symptoms, which can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Other symptoms are green, yellow or gray discharge, a foul order from the vagina, itching in or around the vagina, and pain during sex or when urinating.
Bottom Line
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections occur annually, but many go unreported and are often undiagnosed. If your physician is treating you and they diagnose you with a urinary tract infection (UTI), make sure they also check for other sexually transmitted infections. Since the symptoms of UTIs can mimic those of STIs it’s important to make sure you rule out any exposure to an STI. Iff you find you are diagnosed with an STI, ensure that you receive the proper treatment.
