Which sexually transmitted diseases can present asymptomatically in males?

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Multiple Choice

Which sexually transmitted diseases can present asymptomatically in males?

Key idea: many sexually transmitted infections can be present without symptoms in men, so screening is important even when nothing hurts or seems abnormal. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the infections most noted for silent carriage in men. A substantial number of infected men do not have noticeable symptoms—especially with chlamydia, which often causes no urethral discharge or pain. When symptoms do occur with gonorrhea, they tend to be dysuria or purulent discharge, but not everyone experiences these signs. Because of this tendency toward asymptomatic infection, recognizing that these two infections can be present without symptoms is crucial for effective screening and prevention of transmission. The other conditions can also be asymptomatic at times (for example, syphilis during latent periods, genital herpes with asymptomatic shedding, or HPV with no visible warts). However, in terms of a default expectation for asymptomatic presentation in males and the need for screening without symptoms, gonorrhea and chlamydia are the best-supported pairing.

Key idea: many sexually transmitted infections can be present without symptoms in men, so screening is important even when nothing hurts or seems abnormal.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the infections most noted for silent carriage in men. A substantial number of infected men do not have noticeable symptoms—especially with chlamydia, which often causes no urethral discharge or pain. When symptoms do occur with gonorrhea, they tend to be dysuria or purulent discharge, but not everyone experiences these signs. Because of this tendency toward asymptomatic infection, recognizing that these two infections can be present without symptoms is crucial for effective screening and prevention of transmission.

The other conditions can also be asymptomatic at times (for example, syphilis during latent periods, genital herpes with asymptomatic shedding, or HPV with no visible warts). However, in terms of a default expectation for asymptomatic presentation in males and the need for screening without symptoms, gonorrhea and chlamydia are the best-supported pairing.

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