The symptoms you can read about are discharge from the penis, burning or itching with urination, skin bumps, skin sores, swollen lymph nodes, itching of the skin, pain with ejaculation, and pain in the testicle.
Click on any of the items below to read a definition.
Discharge refers to fluid coming out of the penis when you are not passing urine or having sexual activity. Fluid may be clear, cloudy, or pus-like (yellow or green color).
Burning or itching with urination:
Burning or itching with urination refers to any discomfort when passing urine. This may be felt anywhere along the penis, often in the middle of the penis. Some people describe pain, and others more of an itchy sensation, often associated with a need to urinate more often than usual.
Skin bumps:
Bumps are small raised areas of skin, most commonly smaller than the eraser of a pencil. The skin over bumps is smooth, and it is never bloody, scabbed, blistered, or broken. Bumps do not hurt and almost never itch.
Skin Sores:
Sores are areas of broken skin. They generally have blisters or scabs (though these may be very small). Sores are often painful.
Lymph Node swelling:
Lymph nodes are lumps felt under the surface of the skin. They vary in size from about half an inch to several inches, and they may be quite sore or tender to the touch. They are most often enlarged in response to an infection (most commonly not a sexually- transmitted infection) and occur in the neck, under the arms, and in the groin. (The groin is the front part of the upper leg.)
Itchy Skin:
Itchy skin can occur anywhere, but if the itching seems to be inside the penis then it is considered to be painful, uncomfortable, or "itchy" urination rather than itchy skin.
Pain with ejaculation:
Ejaculation is the scientific name for the release of sperm from the penis, or "coming". This is usually not painful.
Pain in the testicle:
The testicles, sometimes called "balls" are the male sexual glands.
Click on any of the items below to read about any of the following symptoms and the sexually transmitted infections that may cause them:
Discharge:
Many men normally get some clear discharge after a bowel movement. When discharge is colored (yellow or green) or when associated with burning or itching while urinating, the discharge is very likely to be caused by a sexually transmitted infection.. Even very mild discharge that is only slightly cloudy can be a sign of STI. Sometimes men with very mild discharge won't notice the actual discharge, but will find - especially in the morning - that their urine stream veers to one side so that they miss the toilet. This occurs because discharge dries overnight within the opening of the penis and deflects the urine stream.
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Discharge may be caused by several different Sexually transmitted infections - most commonly NGU and gonorrhea. Many cases of NGU are caused by chlamydia.
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Burning or itching with urination
Burning or itching with urination is a common symptom of sexually transmitted infection. While not all burning is due to STI, most cases should be evaluated by a doctor or clinic.
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Burning or itching with urination is most commonly caused by two different Sexually transmitted infections: NGU and gonorrhea. Many cases of NGU are caused by chlamydia. Occasionally a bladder infection (which is not an STI) may cause burning.
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Skin bumps on the penis:
The commonest causes of bumps on the penis are warts, molluscum contagiosum, and "pink pearly papules". Many men have normal bumps which are called Pink pearly papules, are not infectious to others, and need no treatment, but warts and molluscum are sexually- transmitted infections caused by a virus.
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Skin bumps not on the penis:
Bumps not on the penis may sometimes be due to sexually transmitted infections, but often have other causes. When these bumps are due to STI, they are most often found near the penis: on the scrotum, on the inside of the thighs, in the hairy parts above the penis, or around the rectum. Two common STIs that produce bumps on the skin are warts and molluscum.
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Skin sores on the penis:
Some skin sores on the penis are due to sexually transmitted infections. Often only laboratory testing can determine whether or not a sore is due to an STI. When sores are due to an STI, Herpes, Syphilis and chancroid are the most likely cause. Of these three, only herpes occurs very commonly -the others are very rare.
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Skin sores not on the penis:
Sores not on the penis may sometimes be due to sexually transmitted infections, but most often have other causes. When sores are due to an STI, they are most often found near the penis, but they can sometimes be found elsewhere - especially in the mouth. Herpes is the commonest STI that causes skin sores. Syphilis and chancroid cause skin sores, but occur much more rarely.
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Lymph Node swelling:
Lymph node swelling may sometimes be due to sexually transmitted infections, but this is a relatively uncommon cause. Lymph node swelling may be more likely to be due to STI if it is in the groin: that is the front of the leg just above and to one side of the penis. STIs that can cause lymph node swelling include herpes, syphilis, chancroid, LGV, and HIV. Of these, herpes is the only one that commonly causes swelling, and usually only when herpes sores are visible nearby. Lymph node swelling should almost always be evaluated by a doctor or clinic. (CMV has been added since this written)
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Itchy Skin:
While most people who itch don't have a sexually transmitted infection, two common STIs do cause itching: crab lice (often called "crabs") and scabies.
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Pain with ejaculation:
Pain with ejaculation is usually not due to a sexually transmitted infection, and often no cause is found. Sometimes pain with ejaculation may be associated with chlamydia infection.
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Pain in the testicle:
Severe testicle pain is an emergency and should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Milder pain that has been present for a day or more may be due to a sexually transmitted infection called epidydimitis.
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