&lt;h1&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the Philippines.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Protect Your Health. Get tested at PULSE Clinic Philippines!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Sex is a natural part of life and a beautiful way to express intimacy and connection. However, without proper protection, it can also increase the risk of contracting &lt;strong&gt;sexually transmitted infections (STIs)&lt;/strong&gt;. In the Philippines, STIs continue to pose a significant public health concern&amp;mdash;yet many people are really unaware of the risks or avoid talking about them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Globally, &lt;strong&gt;over 1 million new STI cases&lt;/strong&gt; are acquired every day, including &lt;strong&gt;chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;human papillomavirus (HPV)&lt;/strong&gt;. Early testing, proper diagnosis, and prompt treatment are essential steps to protect your sexual health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Let&amp;rsquo;s explore the &lt;strong&gt;most common STIs in the Philippines&lt;/strong&gt;, their symptoms, and how you can protect yourself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Take Control of Your Sexual Health Today&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/booking&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.eu-health.org/Files/Buttons/Booking-an-appointment-at-PULSE-CLINIC.png&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;33&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Protect your health, your partner, and your future.&lt;br /&gt;Book a confidential STI test today at &lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph&quot;&gt;PULSE Clinic Philippines&lt;/a&gt;&amp;mdash;expert&amp;nbsp;care without judgment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. HIV/AIDS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Human Immunodeficiency Virus (&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/hiv-symptoms&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;HIV&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/strong&gt; weakens the immune system and, without treatment, can progress to &lt;strong&gt;Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;HIV is transmitted through:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Semen or vaginal fluids&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Blood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Shared needles or unsterile equipment&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Common symptoms (if present):&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Fever, chills, fatigue, sore throat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Mouth ulcers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Weight loss&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;There is &lt;strong&gt;no cure&lt;/strong&gt; for HIV, but &lt;strong&gt;antiretroviral therapy (ART)&lt;/strong&gt; allows people to live long, healthy lives and reduce transmission risk. &lt;strong&gt;Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)&lt;/strong&gt; is also available within 72 hours after potential exposure.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Gonorrhea&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/gonorrhoea-in-the-philippines-symptoms-testing-complications-and-treatment&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gonorrhea&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; is a &lt;strong&gt;bacterial infection&lt;/strong&gt; spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It may cause:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Pain or burning during urination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Abnormal genital discharge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Swollen testicles (in men)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Pain during sex or vaginal bleeding (in women)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Gonorrhea is &lt;strong&gt;curable with antibiotics&lt;/strong&gt;, but if left untreated, it may lead to &lt;strong&gt;infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease&lt;/strong&gt;, or &lt;strong&gt;increased HIV risk&lt;/strong&gt;. Both partners should receive treatment to avoid reinfection.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. &lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/chlamydia-in-the-philippines-symptoms-testing-and-treatment&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;Chlamydia&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Chlamydia is a &lt;strong&gt;common and often silent STI&lt;/strong&gt;, meaning it frequently shows &lt;strong&gt;no symptoms&lt;/strong&gt;. When symptoms do appear, they include:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Painful urination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Genital discharge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Lower abdominal pain&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Like gonorrhea, chlamydia is &lt;strong&gt;easily treated with antibiotics&lt;/strong&gt;. Routine STI screening is vital for early detection, especially because it can go unnoticed and cause complications like infertility.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Syphilis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/syphilis-in-the-philippines-symptoms-testing-risks-and-effective-treatment&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Syphilis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; is a &lt;strong&gt;bacterial infection&lt;/strong&gt; that progresses through stages if left untreated:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Primary Stage:&lt;/strong&gt; A painless sore (chancre) near the infection site.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Secondary Stage:&lt;/strong&gt; Skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Latent Stage:&lt;/strong&gt; No symptoms, but the infection remains in the body.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tertiary Stage:&lt;/strong&gt; Severe damage to organs such as the brain, heart, or spinal cord.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Syphilis is treatable with antibiotics&lt;/strong&gt;, but late-stage damage may be irreversible. Routine testing and &lt;strong&gt;condom use&lt;/strong&gt; can prevent infection.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. Genital Warts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Genital warts are caused by certain strains of HPV. They appear as &lt;strong&gt;flesh-colored or greyish growths&lt;/strong&gt; around the genitals, anus, or mouth. Warts may appear individually or in clusters.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Men&lt;/strong&gt; may see warts on the penis, scrotum, or around the anus.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Women&lt;/strong&gt; may notice them near the vaginal opening, on the cervix, or around the rectum.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Treatment options&lt;/strong&gt; include prescription creams, laser therapy, or minor surgical procedures. Getting vaccinated against HPV and using condoms can significantly reduce your risk.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6. Genital Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/herpes-in-the-philippines-symptoms-testing-and-treatment&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Genital herpes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; is a &lt;strong&gt;viral STI&lt;/strong&gt; caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-1 typically causes cold sores but can also affect the genitals. HSV-2 is the more common cause of &lt;strong&gt;genital sores&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;The virus spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex&amp;mdash;even when no visible sores are present.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Symptoms include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Painful blisters or sores in the genital or oral area&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Itching, burning, or tingling sensations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Flu-like symptoms during initial outbreaks&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Although there is no cure, &lt;strong&gt;antiviral medications&lt;/strong&gt; can help reduce outbreaks and transmission. Regular condom use and STI testing are crucial to protect your partner and yourself.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;7. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pulse-clinic.com.ph/hpv-vaccine&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;HPV&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; is the &lt;strong&gt;most common STI worldwide&lt;/strong&gt;, including in the Philippines. It spreads through vaginal, anal, or oral sex&amp;mdash;and even skin-to-skin contact. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and many people who carry the virus &lt;strong&gt;don&amp;rsquo;t show symptoms&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;HPV can cause &lt;strong&gt;genital warts&lt;/strong&gt;, and certain high-risk strains can lead to &lt;strong&gt;cervical, anal, or throat cancer&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prevention tips:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Get the &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com/hpv-vaccine-gardasil-makati-manila-philippines&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;HPV vaccine&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; (recommended from age 11 or 12 through 26).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Use condoms consistently.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Limit sexual partners or choose mutually monogamous relationships.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

Most Common Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the Philippines

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