10 STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing panel in urine

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection agents. Chlamydia infection can often be asymptomatic, especially in its early stages. It affects both men and women and can damage various parts of the body, including the genitals, rectum, and throat. Without symptoms, untreated chlamydia infection can lead to serious complications such as infertility, chronic infections, and Reiter's syndrome. Initial symptoms appear 1-3 weeks after infection. Women may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during urination, bleeding between periods, and pain during intercourse. Men may experience abnormal discharge from the penis, pain during urination, testicular pain, and swelling.  Regular screening and prompt treatment are crucial to prevent complications and reduce the risk of infecting others.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae - gonorrhea is a widespread infection contracted through oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse. Symptoms typically appear 1–14 days after sexual contact with an infected person. Most women do not experience symptoms, but there may be bleeding between periods or during intercourse, and pain or burning during urination. Undetected, untreated, or improperly treated, the infection can spread to the upper genital tract and develop into complicated gonococcal infection, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility in women, and penile edema, epididymitis in men.

Mycoplasma genitalium - this bacterium most commonly infects the urethra and cervix, and the infection it causes can be asymptomatic. In some cases, untreated infection can lead to more serious complications such as inflammation of the urethra or cervix and infertility.

Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum - these bacteria may naturally be found in the genital organs (uterus, ovaries, prostate gland),  usually causing no symptoms or diseases. In certain cases, they may cause infections and symptoms that vary depending on which genital area is pathogenically affected.

Trichomonas vaginalis - the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide. T. vaginalis can cause abnormal vaginal discharge (trichomoniasis) in women, while in men, it accounts for 10~12% of all non-gonococcal urethritis cases. The infection can be asymptomatic in at least 50% of women and 70~80% of men.

Herpes simplex 1/2 infections are transmitted through contact with HSV herpes sores, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. HSV-1 and HSV-2 can shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. Typically, a person can only get HSV-2 genital infection during contact with someone who has an HSV-2 genital infection. Oral sexual contact with a person infected with oral HSV-1 can cause a genital HSV-1 infection. Transmission often occurs when an infected partner does not have visible lesions and may not know they are infected. Most individuals infected with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that go unnoticed or are mistaken for another skin condition. When symptoms do occur, herpes lesions usually appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals, rectum, or mouth. The average incubation period for an initial herpes infection is 2 to 12 days after exposure. The blisters break and leave painful ulcers that may take two to four weeks to heal. The appearance of these symptoms is referred to as the first herpes “outbreak” or episode. Clinical manifestations of genital herpes differ between the first and recurrent (i.e., subsequent) outbreaks. The first outbreak is often associated with a longer duration of symptoms, increased viral shedding (making HSV transmission more likely), and systemic symptoms, including fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, or headache.

Treponema pallidum is a bacterium that causes syphilis, a chronic systemic infection that can progress through four stages. Primary symptoms occur 10 - 90 days after infection, usually within 3 weeks (21 days). The main symptom is a painless sore at the site of infection. The sore may be hard to notice and often disappears within 3–6 weeks without treatment but may periodically recur. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent the progression of the infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis LGV - one of the diseases caused by the chlamydia bacterium is lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). LGV is a sexually transmitted infection caused by specific Chlamydia trachomatis serovars (L1, L2, L3). The primary mode of transmission is through sexual contact: vaginal, anal, and oral. The primary symptom is small, painless blisters or sores on the genitals or rectal area, which are often unnoticed. They occur 3-30 days after infection. If untreated, it may lead to chronic inflammation, lymph node, rectal damage, and reproductive system problems.