It’s hard to know if the guy you’ve started dating has an STD. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of people who have STDs have no symptoms. That said, it can’t hurt to scrutinize his penis before having sex. If you notice any of these things, don’t even go there until he’s seen a doctor.
- It’s covered in one or more blisters. As you probably already know, blisters are common with herpes, an STD that 50 million people in the U.S. currently have. Don’t just look on his penis for blisters or ulcers, but his thighs, buttocks, testicles, and around his anus if you can.
- You notice flat bumps. If you spot a flat and flesh-colored bump or groups of them, he could have genital warts. It’s also common to see bumps with a cauliflower-like appearance. If it looks wrong, it is.
- It has lumps that feel rough. If your BF has a wart or pimple on his penis that feels rough to the touch, this is another sign that he could have genital warts. All penises have texture but lumps and bumps are NOT a good sign.
- He’s constantly itching it. It’s not just how his penis looks that matters but what he feels. If he often complains about his penis tip being itchy, that could be chlamydia, one of the most common STDs. Urge him to get tested. Chlamydia can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system. Another infection he could have that’s causing the itching is scabies. This is caused by mites that get transferred during sex.
- It’s covered in a rash. It’s hot outside and you assume that the red rash on his penis, groin, or testicles is just from the heat or jock itch, as he says. Don’t just take his word for it. A rash can be caused by an STD such as scabies, herpes, or syphilis. It might also itch, feel sore, or become red. It’s especially a red flag if he’s had this rash for a while. It might be something more serious than a heat rash.
- It’s painful for him to pee or ejaculate. He might think this is a urinary tract infection, but it’s always better for him to get it checked out before you let him anywhere near your naked body. Painful urine or ejaculation are linked to STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- You notice discharge that’s not pre-ejaculate or come. He shouldn’t have a discharge from his penis unless he’s releasing pre-ejaculate or come. Any discharge other than these should be checked out by a doctor as it could signify an STD such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Pre-come is a clear secretion that’s got the consistency of mucus. Normal secretions, on the other hand, will be whitish in color and have a thicker consistency. If these change, such as by smelling strange or looking different, they could signal an STI. Often, penile discharge will be accompanied by other symptoms if an STD is present such as itching or pain.
- He has a hard but painless sore on it. Not every STD is going to present with lots of pain and bursting ulcers. If you spot a sore on his penis that doesn’t look sore and it’s round as well as feels firm, this surprisingly could be syphilis. Yikes! Usually, syphilis shows up in a rash that can appear on other parts of the body as it progresses, such as the soles of the feet and palms of the hand. But a painless sore, known as a chancre, could be an early sign of it.
- His balls don’t look quite right. His penis can give you signs that he’s got an STD, but his testicles can also give you insight into his health, so don’t forget about them. If his balls are tender, swollen or really painful, he should go to the doctor to rule out STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- It’s bleeding. You might not think of bleeding after sex as being a symptom of an STD, but it can signal infections such as genital warts or mycoplasma genitalium. This is bacteria that’s transmitted during sex, although most infected people don’t even have any symptoms.
- He has swollen foreskin. If he still has his foreskin and it’s looking a little swollen, it could be that he has gonorrhea, which is a bacterial infection. Look out for any other symptoms, such as if the swelling is painful or he has sore, tender testicles.
- There are bacteria you can see. This sounds so creepy, but one of the first signs of early syphilis is treponema palladium spirochetes. This mouthful refers to microscopic, spiral-shaped bacteria that are actually visible under the skin. Gross! Even though other symptoms of syphilis might heal, these spiral germs could still remain active if the guy’s not treating his condition. Now you have a very good reason to get up close and personal with his junk.
- There’s burning when he pees. If he goes to the bathroom and tells you afterward that it’s burning when he urinates, your first thought could be that he’s got a urinary tract infection. But burning or stinging during urination can also be a sign of gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, a common STD for which men typically don’t have symptoms. Get him to an STD clinic!
