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Venereologist
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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A venereologist is a qualified specialist, a doctor who diagnoses and treats sexually transmitted diseases, which include classic venereal diseases (for example, syphilis, gonorrhea), relatively recently identified pathologies (genital herpes, trichomoniasis), skin diseases that are transmitted sexually, as well as HIV infections, hepatitis C and B. Answering the question of who a venereologist is and what he does, we should also mention the conduct of preventive examinations. If you had unprotected sexual intercourse and you do not have a regular sexual partner, you must contact a venereologist to undergo an examination.
When should you see a venereologist?
The main symptoms when you should contact a venereologist immediately are the following:
- discharge from the penis in men, from the vagina in women;
- skin rash in the genital area;
- pain, burning and painful sensations when urinating;
- pain during sexual intercourse.
However, it should be remembered that some infections can proceed latently and cause the development of complications such as inflammation of the uterus and its appendages, prostatitis, epididymitis, infertility, and that is why, in the absence of a permanent sexual partner, it is necessary to undergo periodic preventive examinations.
What tests should you take when visiting a venereologist?
Patients suspected of having a sexually transmitted infection should immediately seek help at a clinic and consult what tests need to be taken when visiting a venereologist. As a rule, this is a blood test, urine, feces, a smear from the genital tract, an enzyme immunoassay, as well as a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, DNA testing, and bacterial culture.
What diagnostic methods does a venereologist use?
If a patient is suspected of having a sexually transmitted infection, they must undergo a diagnostic examination. You can find out what diagnostic methods a venereologist uses directly during a visit to the doctor. In particular, to make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is examined in person, the symptoms of the disease are identified (for example, pain when emptying the bladder, discharge from the genital tract), a blood test and a smear from the genitals are taken.
Diagnosis of venereal diseases includes microscopic examination of a smear (direct or fluorescent), sowing of material for bacterial examination on a nutrient medium, enzyme immunoassay, the method of polymerase chain reaction, and detection of antibodies.
What does a venereologist do?
If you experience itching and discharge from the genitals, pain when urinating, rashes in the genital area or any other symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, you should immediately undergo a diagnostic examination, which is done by a venereologist. After passing all the tests and establishing an accurate diagnosis, the patient must undergo a full course of treatment prescribed by a qualified specialist.
What diseases does a venereologist treat?
The answer to the question of what diseases a venereologist treats is obvious: these are venereal diseases, or more precisely, infectious diseases of the genitourinary sphere, transmitted sexually. The causative agents of sexually transmitted infections, which a venereologist treats, are pathogenic microorganisms, of which there are currently about twenty known species. The following are diseases of the genitourinary sphere:
- Genital herpes
- Gonorrhea
- Pubic lice
- Mycoplasmosis
- Ureaplasmosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Chlamydia
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Syphilis
- Granuloma inguinale, etc.
Advice from a venereologist
To maintain the health of the genital area, every adult should strictly follow the advice of a venereologist, namely:
- Be sure to use a condom or other means of contraception every time you have sex;
- Use local antibacterial agents;
- If you do not have a regular sexual partner, undergo periodic examinations to detect sexually transmitted infections in a timely manner;
- If you are concerned about vaginal discharge, itching, burning or other symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases, seek medical help immediately;
- If you discover a sexually transmitted disease, be sure to inform your sexual partner;
- Avoid promiscuous sex and lead a healthy lifestyle.
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