Revealed: The three shocking sex diseases men are most likely to catch
Often, people don't even notice any symptoms
THERE were around 435,000 diagnoses of STIs in England last year, a report from Public Health England revealed.
For men, the most common sexually transmitted diseases have been identified as chlamydia, genital warts and herpes.
Worryingly, thousands of people in the UK are unaware that they’ve contracted some STIs, so how do you contract the diseases and what are the symptoms?
1. HPV
The most common STI in males is HPV because around 30 different types of the virus can affect the genital area.
Men with HPV are vulnerable to contracting genital warts and can increase the likelihood of them developing genital cancers.
The NHS advises: “Using a condom during sex can help to prevent an HPV infection.
“However, condoms don’t offer complete protection. HPV can be present all over the area around your genitals and anus, and is spread through skin-to-skin contact of the genital area – not just penetrative sex.”
There is currently no treatment for HPV, but treatments are available to help relieve symptoms.
Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases, most HPV infections don’t cause serious harm and are cleared by the immune system within two years.
2. Herpes
One of the most common sexual illnesses is herpes, as it is highly contagious.
It can be passed from person to person through vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person.
To avoid contracting the STI, always ensure to use a condom when having relations with a new sexual partner.
The NHS warns: “Even if someone with genital herpes doesn't have any symptoms, it's possible for them to pass the condition on to a sexual partner.”
Related Stories
Alarmingly, due to low-lying symptoms, at least 80 per cent of people who have the virus are completely oblivious to the fact they have it.
Although there isn’t yet a cure for HSV, antiviral medications can be prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms.
3. Chlamydia
Reports reveal that over a quarter of male chlamydia cases go undiagnosed because the condition sometimes doesn’t cause noticeable side-effects.
Just like herpes and HPV, chlamydia is transmitted when an infected person has sex without using a condom.
For men, the disease is often diagnosed after they experience symptoms of testicle pain or swelling.
Although it’s fairly straightforward to get rid of the common STI, the infection can have serious side-effects.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause male infertility or reactive arthritis.
The NHS explains: “Testing for chlamydia is done with a urine test or a swab test. You don't always need a physical examination by a nurse or doctor…
“Chlamydia can usually be treated easily with antibiotics. You may be given some tablets to take all on one day, or a longer course of capsules to take for a week.”