14 LPL palette (Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), Haemophilus ducreyi, Cytomegalo virus (CMV), Chlamydia trachomatis LGV, Treponema pallidum, Varicella-zoster virus (VZV))

Chlamydia trachomatis - one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. 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, painful urination, and testicular pain and swelling.  Regular check-ups and immediate treatment are crucial to prevent complications and reduce the risk of infecting others.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae - gonorrhea is a widespread infection transmitted through oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Symptoms typically appear 1–14 days after sexual contact with an infected person. Most women do not exhibit symptoms, but may experience bleeding between periods or during intercourse, and pain or burning during urination. Undetected, untreated, or improperly treated infection can spread to the upper reproductive 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 can be asymptomatic. If untreated, infection can sometimes lead to more serious complications, such as urethral or cervical inflammation and infertility.

Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum - these bacteria can naturally be found in the genital organs (uterus, ovaries, prostate gland),  usually do not cause symptoms or diseases. In certain cases, they can cause infections and symptoms, which vary depending on which part of the genital organs is affected pathogenically.

Trichomonas vaginalis - the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide. T. vaginalis can cause abnormal vaginal discharge (trichomoniasis) in women and accounts for 10~12% of all non-gonococcal urethritis cases in men. 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 be shed from normal-looking oral or genital mucosa or skin. A person can usually acquire HSV-2 only through genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, oral-genital contact with a person infected with oral HSV-1 can lead to genital HSV-1 infection. Transmission commonly occurs with an infected partner who does not have visible sores and who may not know they are infected. Most individuals with HSV are asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms that are unnoticed or mistaken for another skin condition. When symptoms do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genital, rectum, or mouth. The average incubation period for a first-time 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., later) outbreak. The first herpes outbreak often is associated with a longer duration of herpetic lesions, increased viral shedding (thus increasing the likelihood of HSV transmission), and systemic symptoms, including fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, or headache.

Treponema pallidum - this bacterium causes syphilis, a chronic systemic infection that can progress through four stages. Primary symptoms appear 10 - 90 days, usually within 3 weeks (21 days). The main symptom is a painless sore that appears at the site of infection. The sore can be hard to notice and often disappears within 3–6 weeks even without treatment, but can periodically recur. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial 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 transmission route is through sexual contact: vaginal, anal, and oral. The primary symptom is small, painless blisters or sores in the genital or rectal area, often unnoticed. Symptoms appear 3-30 days after infection. If untreated, chronic inflammations, lymph node, rectal damage, and reproductive system problems can develop.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - a member of the herpesvirus family, causing chronic infections. Although CMV is not typically considered a sexually transmitted infection, it can be transmitted through sexual contact. Most healthy individuals infected with CMV do not exhibit symptoms, but some may experience symptoms similar to mononucleosis (fever, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes). The CMV incubation period usually lasts from 3 to 12 weeks after infection. Most healthy individuals experience asymptomatic or mild infection, after which the virus remains latent in the body and can be reactivated in the future, especially when the immune system is weakened. If a pregnant woman is infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy, the virus can be transmitted to the fetus, potentially causing congenital CMV infection with serious consequences.

Haemophilus ducreyi - a bacterium causing sexually transmitted infection characterized by painful ulcers. The infection begins as a small, red bump on the genitals or anus area, quickly turning into a painful, open sore. The incubation period lasts 4 to 10 days after infection. Untreated infection leads to significant pain and discomfort, especially during urination and sexual intercourse. Testing is recommended if visible sores are observed on the genitals, but negative results for Treponema pallidum and HSV 1/2 are obtained.

Varicella zoster - this virus can cause Herpes zoster, characterized by pain, burning sensation, itching, and rash. The incubation period from virus reactivation to symptom onset can be from a few days to several weeks. The first symptoms often are pain or discomfort before the rash appears.