Common signs and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include:

• Lower abdominal pain
• Painful urination or bowel movements
• Unusual discharge from the vagina or penis
• Pain in the pelvic area or during intercourse
• Burning or itching in the genital area
• Sores, blisters or warts in the genital, anal or oral areas
• Lumps in the genital or anal areas
• Foul smell from the genital area

Other possible signs and symptoms of STDs include:

• Pain in the anus (in people who participate in anal intercourse)
  
  
• Sore throat (in people who participate in oral sex [mouth-to-genital contact])
  
  
• Scaly rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (e.g., syphilis)
  
  
• Dark colored urine or loose, light-colored stools
  
  
• Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
  
  
• Swollen glands
  
  
• Fever or night sweats
  
  
• Body aches
  
  
• Unusual infections
  
  
• Unexplained fatigue (extreme tiredness) or weight loss
  

It is recommended that women learn to recognize the common signs and symptoms of STDs. If the symptoms develop, a physician should be contacted immediately. Patients should not wait for the symptoms to disappear on their own. Many common STD symptoms, such as sores, rashes and discharge, disappear. However, this does not indicate that the condition has been cured. Many STDs continue to progress without symptoms, only to emerge at another point. 

Some of the common signs and symptoms of STDs mimic those caused by urinary tract infections (UTI) and vaginal infections. As a result, sexually active women with a new sex partner, and those who are not in monogamous relationships, may want to be tested for STDs when symptoms of these other conditions develop.

Although the recognition of symptoms allows a disease to be diagnosed earlier, many STDs have no symptoms or have symptoms that are not easily recognizable. The lack of symptoms is especially common in women.  

All sexually active people are encouraged to have regular medical check-ups and STD screening tests. The earlier an STD is diagnosed, the earlier treatment for the disease can begin. Early treatment is important because STDs may cause serious complications if left untreated.