Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections present to urology as urethritis, genital ulcers, and genital growths, and the practical skill is to map the presentation to the organism.
The big picture
Sexually transmitted infections present to urology as urethritis, genital ulcers, and genital growths, and the practical skill is to map the presentation to the organism — because the syndromes are few and the bugs are predictable. Two patterns cover most of it: urethral discharge (gonococcal vs non-gonococcal) and genital ulcers (painful vs painless). Get those two patterns and you can reason to the organism and the test.
The framework: organise STIs by syndrome — urethritis (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, NGU), genital ulcers (syphilis, herpes, chancroid, LGV, donovanosis), and growths (HPV/genital warts) — and remember the rising incidence and the young age group most affected.
Mechanism pathway
Tap any step to see why it happens.
Diagnostic algorithm
Each step answers one question. Tap to expand.
Board traps
Urethritis = gonococcal vs non-gonococcal (chlamydia); treat for both because they coexist.
Painless genital ulcer → syphilis; painful → herpes or chancroid.
LGV is caused by C. trachomatis serovars L1–L3 — distinct from the urethritis-causing serovars.
Chancroid = Haemophilus ducreyi (painful ulcer); donovanosis = Klebsiella granulomatis.
HPV causes warts and carries oncogenic potential (penile/cervical cancer).
Highest rates are in the 15–24 age group; herpes/HPV/trichomonas are under-reported.