What Are the Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Men?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as venereal diseases, are infections primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse and predominantly affect the genital region. The five classic STIs include syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, and granuloma inguinale. Specific symptoms of STIs in males are as follows:

① Ulcers on the external genitalia

— A round, firm, cartilage-like, painless, solitary ulcer is highly suggestive of a hard chancre (primary syphilis).
— A soft ulcer with a jagged, irregular margin, relatively shallow depth, associated pain, multiple lesions, and purulent exudate strongly suggests chancroid.
— An ulcer evolving from clustered vesicles, soft in consistency and painful, is highly suggestive of genital herpes.

② Genital or perianal growths (lesions)

— Multiple, infiltrative, grayish-white, flat, elevated papules or nodules in the genital or perianal region—moist, prone to erosion, and malodorous—are characteristic of condylomata lata (a manifestation of secondary syphilis).
— Pedunculated, cauliflower- or cockscomb-shaped, pink or grayish-brown warty lesions in the genital or perianal region that bleed easily are highly suggestive of anogenital warts (condyloma acuminatum).
— Dome-shaped, pearly-gray, umbilicated papules the size of millet grains in the perianal or genital region—with a waxy surface sheen and expressing a cheese-like material upon central puncture—are indicative of molluscum contagiosum.

③ Urethral discharge

— Purulent, thick, yellowish discharge from the urethral meatus—especially prominent upon waking—is highly suggestive of acute gonorrhea.
— Scant, clear, mucoid discharge from the urethral meatus is consistent with non-gonococcal urethritis.