Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection that’s spread through sexual contact. This includes skin-to-skin contact.
In general, STIs are preventable. Almost 20 million new STI cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Trusted Source Being mindful of sexual health and protection may help many avoid these infections.
The only guaranteed method to prevent STIs is to abstain from all sexual contact. However, when engaging in sexual activity, there are steps to limit the risk of STIs.
Protection before sex
Effective STI prevention begins before any sexual activity. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your STI risk:
Talk honestly with potential partners about both of your sexual histories.
Get tested, along with your partner, before having sex.
Avoid sexual contact when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A, and hepatitis B (HBV).
Consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that someone who is HIV negative can take to reduce their risk of contracting HIV.
Use barrier methods every time you engage in sexual activity.
Having a conversation about sexual health with your partner is key, but not everyone with an STI knows they have one. That’s why it’s so important to get tested.
If you or your partner has an STI diagnosis, talk about it. That way you can both make informed decisions.
Sexual health practices
Using barrier methods can lower your risk of contracting STIs. These methods can include:
using external or internal condoms for penetrative intercourse, including with sex toys
using condoms or dental dams for oral sex
using gloves for manual stimulation or penetration
Maintaining good hygiene before and after sexual contact can also help prevent STI transmission. This can include:
washing your hands before any sexual contact
rinsing off after sexual contact
urinating after sex to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Using condoms correctly
When using condoms and other barrier methods, it’s important to follow instructions. Using condoms correctly makes them more effective. Follow these safety precautions when using internal and external condoms:
Check the expiration date.
Make sure the package has an air bubble, which shows it hasn’t been punctured.
Put the condom on correctly.
For external condoms, always leave room at the tip and unroll the condom onto the penis or sex toy, not before it goes on.
Use condom-safe lubricant, avoiding oil-based lubes with latex condoms.
Hold onto the condom after sex, so it doesn’t slip.
Dispose of the condom properly.
Never remove a condom and try to put it on again.
Never reuse a condom.
Potential risks
Condoms and other barriers are very good at preventing the exchange of bodily fluids that contain the virus or bacteria. They can also help to minimize skin-to-skin contact, though they don’t completely remove this risk.
STIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact include:
syphilis
herpes
HPV
If you have herpes, you may want to talk to your doctor about suppressive therapy. This type of therapy helps to prevent herpes outbreaks. It also helps to prevent transmission, but it doesn’t cure the infection.
It’s important to know that herpes can be transmitted even when there isn’t an active outbreak.
Takeaway
Though STIs are common, there are ways to prevent them and reduce your risk. If you’re unsure about the right method for you, talk honestly with your partner or your doctor.
STD Testing: Who Should Be Tested and What’s Involved
Testing for sexually transmitted infections
If left untreated, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), often called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), can cause severe health problems. These include:
infertility
cancer
blindness
organ damage
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, about 20 million new STIs occur each year in the United States.
Unfortunately, many people don’t receive prompt treatment for STIs. Many STIs have no symptoms or very nonspecific symptoms, which can make them hard to notice. The stigma around STIs also discourages some people from getting tested. But testing is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI.
Talk to your doctor to learn if you should be tested for any STIs.
What STIs should you be tested for?
There are a number of different STIs. To learn which ones you should be tested for, talk to your doctor. They may encourage you to be tested for one or more of the following:
chlamydia
gonorrhea
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
hepatitis B
syphilis
trichomoniasis
Your doctor probably won’t offer to test you for herpes unless you have a known exposure or ask for the test.
Ask your doctor
Don’t assume that your doctor will automatically test you for all STIs at your annual physical or sexual health checkup. Many physicians don’t regularly test patients for STIs. It’s important to ask your doctor for STI testing. Ask which tests they plan to do and why.
Taking care of your sexual health is nothing to be shy about. If you’re concerned about a particular infection or symptom, talk to your doctor about it. The more honest you are, the better treatment you can receive.
It’s important to get screened if you’re pregnant, as STIs can have an effect on the fetus. Your doctor should screen for STIs, among other things, at your first prenatal visit.
You should also get tested if you’ve been forced to have intercourse, or any other type of sexual activity. If you’ve experienced sexual assault or were forced into any sexual activity, you should seek care from a trained healthcare provider. Organizations like the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) offer support for survivors of rape or sexual assault.
Discuss your risk factors
It’s also important to share your sexual risk factors with your doctor. In particular, you should always tell them if you engage in anal sex. Some anal STIs can’t be detected using standard STI tests. Your doctor might recommend an anal Pap smear to screen for precancerous or cancerous cells, which are linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
You should also tell your doctor about:
the types of protection you use during oral, vaginal, and anal sex
any medications you’re taking
any known or suspected exposures you’ve had to STIs
whether you or your partner have other sexual partners
Where can you be tested for STIs?
You may receive testing for STIs at your regular doctor’s office or a sexual health clinic. Where you go is a matter of personal preference.
Several STIs are notifiable diseases. That means your doctor is legally required to report positive results to the government. The government tracks information about STIs to inform public health initiatives. Notifiable STIs include:
chancroid
chlamydia
gonorrhea
hepatitis
HIV
syphilis
At-home tests and online tests are also available for some STIs, but they aren’t always reliable. Check to make sure the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source has approved any test you buy.
How are STI tests performed?
Depending on your sexual history, your doctor may order a variety of tests to check you for STIs, including blood tests, urine tests, swabs, or physical exams.Blood and urine tests
Most STIs can be tested for using urine or blood samples. Your doctor can order urine or blood tests to check for:
chlamydia
gonorrhea
hepatitis
herpes
HIV
syphilis
In some cases, urine and blood tests aren’t as accurate as other forms of testing. It may also take a month or longer after being exposed to certain STIs for blood tests to be reliable. If HIV is contracted, for example, it can take a couple of weeks to a few months for tests to detect the infection.
Swabs
Many doctors use vaginal, cervical, or urethral swabs to check for STIs. If you’re female, they can use a cotton applicator to take vaginal and cervical swabs during a pelvic exam. If you’re male or female, they can take urethral swabs by inserting a cotton applicator into your urethra. If you have anal sex, they may also take a rectal swab to check for infectious organisms in your rectum.
Pap smears and HPV testing
Strictly speaking, a Pap smear isn’t an STI test. A Pap smear is a test that looks for early signs of cervical or anal cancer. Women with persistent HPV infections, particularly infections by HPV-16 and HPV-18, are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Women and men who engage in anal sex can also develop anal cancer from HPV infections.
A normal Pap smear result says nothing about whether or not you have an STI. To check for HPV, your doctor will order a separate HPV test.
An abnormal Pap smear result doesn’t necessarily mean that you have, or will get, cervical or anal cancer. Many abnormal Pap smears resolve without treatment. If you have an abnormal Pap smear, your doctor may recommend HPV testing. If the HPV test is negative, it’s unlikely that you’ll develop cervical or anal cancer in the near future.
HPV tests alone aren’t very useful for predicting cancer. About 14 million Americans Trusted Source contract HPV each year, and most sexually active people will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. Most of those people never develop cervical or anal cancer.
Physical examination
Some STIs, such as herpes and genital warts, can be diagnosed through a combination of physical examination and other tests. Your doctor can conduct a physical exam to look for sores, bumps, and other signs of STIs. They can also take samples from any questionable areas to send to a laboratory for testing.
It’s important to let your doctor know if you’ve noticed any changes on or around your genitals. If you engage in anal sex, you should also let them know about any changes on or around your anus and rectum.
Get tested
STIs are common, and testing is widely available. The tests can vary, depending on which STIs your doctor is checking for. Talk to your doctor about your sexual history and ask which tests you should get. They can help you understand the potential benefits and risks of different STI tests. They can also recommend appropriate treatment options if you test positive for any STIs.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Symptoms You Should Know About
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, and many of those with a condition don’t know they have it. One of the reasons someone might not know is that many conditions don’t have any symptoms.
You can be living with an STI for years without knowing it. Even when STIs don’t have obvious symptoms, they can still be damaging. Untreated, asymptomatic STIs can:
increase the risk of infertility
cause certain types of cancer
be transmitted to sexual partners
damage an unborn baby
make a person more susceptible to contracting HIV
STI Symptoms
STIs catch many people off guard. However, it’s important to protect your sexual health. Be aware of any physical changes, no matter how minor they may seem. Seek medical help to understand them.
Talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms of an STI.
They can treat your condition or provide you with medications to decrease the symptoms or problems you may have. They can also counsel you on how to reduce your risk for acquiring an STI in the future.
STI symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common symptoms of STDs include the following:
Changes in urination
Burning or pain during urination can be a symptom of several conditions.
However, it can also occur due to a urinary tract infection or kidney stones. Therefore, it’s important to get tested if you have pain or other symptoms during urination.
STIs that can cause burning or pain during urination include:
chlamydia
gonorrhea
trichomoniasis
genital herpes
Talk with your doctor if you notice any changes in urination. You should also note the color of your urine to check for the presence of blood.
Unusual discharge from the penis
Discharge from the penis is usually a symptom of an STI or another type of infection or condition. It’s important to report this symptom to your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis.
STIs that can cause discharge include:
chlamydia
gonorrhea
trichomoniasis
These diagnoses are treatable with antibiotics. However, it’s important to take your medication exactly as prescribed.
You should see your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve or if they come back.
You may have acquired the STI again by contact with your partner, particularly if they weren’t treated at the same time as you were. You may also need a different antibiotic or treatment.
Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding
Abnormal vaginal discharge can be a symptom of a number of conditions. Not all of these are sexually transmitted. Sexually associated infections such as bacterial vaginosis, can also cause discharge.
If you have changes in your vaginal discharge, talk with your doctor. Some vaginal discharge is normal throughout the menstrual cycle. However, it shouldn’t be strangely colored or smell bad.
These can be symptoms of an STI. For example, discharge that occurs due to trichomoniasis is often green, frothy, and foul smelling. Gonorrhea discharge may be yellow and tinged with blood.
If you have bleeding between periods combined with discharge, make an appointment with your doctor. These symptoms can also be a sign of cancer.
Burning or itching in the vaginal area
STIs aren’t always the cause of burning or itching in the vaginal area. A non-STI bacterial or yeast infection can also cause vaginal burning or itching.
However, you should talk with your doctor about any sensation changes in your vaginal area. Bacterial vaginosis and pubic lice can cause itching, and they require treatment.
Pain during sex
Occasional pain during sex is fairly common among women. Because of this, it can be one of the most overlooked symptoms of an STI. If you experience pain during sex, you should discuss it with your doctor.
This is particularly true if the pain:
is new
has changed
started with a new sexual partner
began after a change in sexual habits
Pain during ejaculation can also be an STI symptom in men.
Bumps or sores
Bumps and sores may be the first noticeable signs of STIs including:
genital herpes
human papillomavirus (HPV)
syphilis
molloscum contagiosum
If you have strange bumps or sores on or near your mouth or genitals, talk with your doctor. You should mention these sores to your doctor even if they go away before your visit.
Herpes sores, for example, typically go away within a week or so. However, they can still be contagious even when no sores are present.
Just because a sore has healed doesn’t mean the condition has gone away. A condition like herpes is lifelong. Once you acquire it, the virus is present in your body at all times.
Pain in the pelvic or abdominal region
Pelvic pain can be a sign of a number of conditions. If the pain is unusual or intense, discuss it with your doctor.
Many causes of pelvic pain aren’t related to STIs. However, one cause of severe pelvic pain in women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which occurs when asymptomatic STIs have gone untreated.
Bacteria ascend into the uterus and abdomen. There, inflammation and scarring can occur. This can be extremely painful and, in rare cases, fatal. PID is one of the leading causes of preventable infertility in women.
Nonspecific symptoms
Just like other conditions, STIs can cause many nonspecific symptoms, which are symptoms that can be caused by a number of illnesses.
Nonspecific symptoms that can occur due to STIs and related conditions include:
chills
fever
tiredness
rashes
weight loss
On their own, these symptoms may not cause your doctor to suspect you have an STI. If you think you’re at risk for an STI, tell your doctor.
People at greatest risk of contracting STIs
Although anyone can contract an STI, data shows that young people and men who have sex with other men (MSM) are at greatest risk.
Rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea are highest among young people ages 15 to 24 years, while 64 percentTrusted Source of men who contract syphilis are MSM.
Treating STI symptoms
Some STIs are curable, while others aren’t. Talk with your doctor about treatments as well as preventive measures to help lower your risk for transmission.
Doctors can treat certain STIs. Examples include the following:
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics.
Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. However, some drug-resistant strains of the bacteria have emerged that don’t respond to traditional treatments and may be more difficult to cure.
Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. The medication your doctors choose depends on the stage of syphilis.
Doctors can prescribe the antibiotic medications metronidazole or tinidazole to treat trichomoniasis.
Some conditions aren’t curable, but treatments can help reduce their symptoms. Herpes and HPV are two STIs in this category.
For herpes, doctors will prescribe medications to shorten an outbreak. These are known as antivirals. Some people take these medications on a daily basis to help reduce the likelihood of an outbreak.
Doctors don’t have specific treatments for genital warts caused by HPV. However, they may prescribe topical medications or perform procedures to help shrink or remove the lesions.
The FDA approved an HPV vaccine to help prevent transmission of some high-risk HPV strains in children and young adults. The FDA expanded its approval Trusted Source to adults up to age 45 years in 2018.
When to see your doctor
Doctors need to perform tests to help figure out if you have an STI, another contagious disease, or a different condition altogether.
It’s important to visit your doctor as soon as you have symptoms. Early diagnosis means you can get treatment earlier and decrease your risk for complications.
Another reason to visit your doctor as soon as you have symptoms is that it’s easier to diagnose many STIs when symptoms are present. Symptoms can sometimes go away, but that doesn’t mean the STI has been cured.
Doctors can also determine if a person would benefit from preventive treatments for HIV such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) which, when taken consistently, can help lower the risk of contracting HIV.
Screening isn’t a part of a standard health exam. It’s important that you ask for testing and get your results. That way, you can know for sure whether you have an STI.
And if necessary, your doctor can create a treatment plan that you can start right away.
Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Facts about STDs
The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is used to refer to a condition passed from one person to another through sexual contact. You can contract an STD by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the STD.
An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD).
That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted. Depending on the specific STD, infections may also be transmitted through sharing needles and breastfeeding.
Symptoms of STDs in men
It’s possible to contract an STD without developing symptoms. But some STDs cause obvious symptoms. In men, common symptoms include:
pain or discomfort during sex or urination
sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
painful or swollen testicles
Specific symptoms can vary, depending on the STD. Learn more about the symptoms of STDs in men.
Symptoms of STDs in women
In many cases, STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. When they do, common STD symptoms in women include:
pain or discomfort during sex or urination
sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
itchiness in or around the vagina
The specific symptoms can vary from one STD to another. Here’s more about the symptoms of STDs in women.
Pictures of STDs
Types of STDs
Many different types of infections can be transmitted sexually. The most common STDs are described below.
Chlamydia
A certain type of bacteria causes chlamydia. It’s the most commonly reported STD among Americans, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source.
Many people with chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they often include:
pain or discomfort during sex or urination
green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina
pain in the lower abdomen
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to:
infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
pelvic inflammatory disease
infertility
If a pregnant woman has untreated chlamydia, she can pass it to her baby during birth. The baby may develop:
pneumonia
eye infections
blindness
Antibiotics can easily treat chlamydia. Read more about chlamydia, including how to prevent, recognize, and treat it.
HPV (human papillomavirus)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can be passed from one person to another through intimate skin-to-skin or sexual contact. There are many different strains of the virus. Some are more dangerous than others.
The most common symptom of HPV is warts on the genitals, mouth, or throat.
Some strains of HPV infection can lead to cancer, including:
oral cancer
cervical cancer
vulvar cancer
penile cancer
rectal cancer
While most cases of HPV don’t become cancerous, some strains of the virus are more likely to cause cancer than others. According to the National Cancer InstituteTrusted Source, most cases of HPV-related cancer in the United States are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18. These two strains of HPV account for 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.
There’s no treatment for HPV. However, HPV infections often clear up on their own. There’s also a vaccine available to protect against some of the most dangerous strains, including HPV 16 and HPV 18.
If you contract HPV, proper testing and screenings can help your doctor assess and manage your risk of complications. Discover the steps you can take to protect yourself against HPV and its potential complications.
Syphilis
Syphilis is another bacterial infection. It often goes unnoticed in its early stages.
The first symptom to appear is a small round sore, known as a chancre. It can develop on your genitals, anus, or mouth. It’s painless but very infectious.
Later symptoms of syphilis can include:
rash
fatigue
fever
headaches
joint pain
weight loss
hair loss
If left untreated, late-stage syphilis can lead to:
loss of vision
loss of hearing
loss of memory
mental illness
infections of the brain or spinal cord
heart disease
death
Fortunately, if caught early enough, syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics. However, syphilis infection in a newborn can be fatal. That’s why it’s important for all pregnant women to be screened for syphilis.
The earlier syphilis is diagnosed and treated, the less damage it does. Find the information you need to recognize syphilis and stop it in its tracks.
HIV
HIV can damage the immune system and raise the risk of contracting other viruses or bacteria and certain cancers. If left untreated, it can lead to stage 3 HIV, known as AIDS. But with today’s treatment, many people living with HIV don’t ever develop AIDS.
In the early or acute stages, it’s easy to mistake the symptoms of HIV with those of the flu. For example, the early symptoms can include:
fever
chills
aches and pains
swollen lymph nodes
sore throat
headache
nausea
rashes
These initial symptoms typically clear within a month or so. From that point onward, a person can carry HIV without developing serious or persistent symptoms for many years. Other people may develop nonspecific symptoms, such as:
recurrent fatigue
fevers
headaches
stomach issues
There’s no cure for HIV yet, but treatment options are available to manage it. Early and effective treatment can help people with HIV live as long as those without HIV.
Proper treatment can also lower your chances of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner. In fact, treatment can potentially lower the amount of HIV in your body to undetectable levels. At undetectable levels, HIV can’t be transmitted to other people, reports the CDCTrusted Source.
Without routine testing, many people with HIV don’t realize they have it. To promote early diagnosis and treatment, the CDCTrusted Source recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once. People at high risk of HIV should be tested at least once a year, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Free and confidential testing can be found in all major cities and many public health clinics. A government tool for finding local testing services is available here.
With recent advancements in testing and treatment, it’s possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV. Get the facts you need to protect yourself or your partner from HIV.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is another common bacterial STD. It’s also known as “the clap.”
Many people with gonorrhea develop no symptoms. But when present, symptoms may include:
a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina
pain or discomfort during sex or urination
more frequent urination than usual
itching around the genitals
sore throat
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:
infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
pelvic inflammatory disease
infertility
It’s possible for a mother to pass gonorrhea onto a newborn during childbirth. When that happens, gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in the baby. That’s why many doctors encourage pregnant women to get tested and treated for potential STDs.
Gonorrhea can usually be treated with antibiotics. Learn more about the symptoms, treatment options, and long-term outlook for people with gonorrhea.
Pubic lice (‘crabs’)
“Crabs” is another name for pubic lice. They’re tiny insects that can take up residence on your pubic hair. Like head lice and body lice, they feed on human blood.
Common symptoms of pubic lice include:
itching around the genitals or anus
small pink or red bumps around the genitals or anus
low-grade fever
lack of energy
irritability
You might also be able to see the lice or their tiny white eggs around the roots of pubic hair. A magnifying glass can help you spot them.
If left untreated, pubic lice can spread to other people through skin-to-skin contact or shared clothing, bedding, or towels. Scratched bites can also become infected. It’s best to treat pubic lice infestations immediately.
If you have pubic lice, you can use over-the-counter topical treatments and tweezers to remove them from your body. It’s also important to clean your clothes, bedding, towels, and home. Here’s more on how to get rid of pubic lice and prevent reinfection.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is also known as “trich.” It’s caused by a tiny protozoan organism that can be passed from one person to another through genital contact.
According to the CDCTrusted Source, less than one-third of people with trich develop symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they may include:
discharge from the vagina or penis
burning or itching around the vagina or penis
pain or discomfort during urination or sex
frequent urination
In women, trich-related discharge often has an unpleasant or “fishy” smell.
If left untreated, trich can lead to:
infections of the urethra
pelvic inflammatory disease
infertility
Trich can be treated with antibiotics. Learn how to recognize trich early to get treatment sooner.
Herpes
Herpes is the shortened name for the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main strains of the virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both can be transmitted sexually. It’s a very common STD. The CDC estimates more than 1 out of 6Trusted Source people ages 14 to 49 have herpes in the United States.
HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes, which is responsible for cold sores. However, HSV-1 can also be passed from one person’s mouth to another person’s genitals during oral sex. When this happens, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes.
HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes.
The most common symptom of herpes is blistery sores. In the case of genital herpes, these sores develop on or around the genitals. In oral herpes, they develop on or around the mouth.
Herpes sores generally crust over and heal within a few weeks. The first outbreak is usually the most painful. Outbreaks typically become less painful and frequent over time.
If a pregnant woman has herpes, she can potentially pass it to her fetus in the womb or to her newborn infant during childbirth. This so-called congenital herpes can be very dangerous to newborns. That’s why it’s beneficial for pregnant women to become aware of their HSV status.
There’s no cure for herpes yet. But medications are available to help control outbreaks and alleviate the pain of herpes sores. The same medications can also lower your chances of passing herpes to your sexual partner.
Effective treatment and safe sexual practices can help you lead a comfortable life with herpes and protect others from the virus. Get the information you need to prevent, recognize, and manage herpes.
Other STDs
Other, less common STDs include:
chancroid
lymphogranuloma venereum
granuloma inguinale
molluscum contagiosum
scabies
STDs from oral sex
Vaginal and anal sex aren’t the only way STDs are transmitted. It’s also possible to contract or transmit an STD through oral sex. In other words, STDs can be passed from one person’s genitals to another person’s mouth or throat and vice versa.
Oral STDs aren’t always noticeable. When they do cause symptoms, they often include a sore throat or sores around the mouth or throat. Learn more about the potential symptoms and treatment options for oral STDs.
Curable STDs
Many STDs are curable. For example, the following STDs can be cured with antibiotics or other treatments:
chlamydia
syphilis
gonorrhea
crabs
trichomoniasis
Others can’t be cured. For example, the following STDs are currently incurable:
HPV
HIV
herpes
Even if an STD can’t be cured, however, it can still be managed. It’s still important to get an early diagnosis. Treatment options are often available to help alleviate symptoms and lower your chances of transmitting the STD to someone else. Take a moment to learn more about curable and incurable STDs.
STDs and pregnancy
It’s possible for pregnant women to transmit STDs to the fetus during pregnancy or newborn during childbirth. In newborns, STDs can cause complications. In some cases, they can be life-threatening.
To help prevent STDs in newborns, doctors often encourage pregnant women to be tested and treated for potential STDs. Your doctor might recommend STD testing even if you don’t have symptoms.
If you test positive for one or more STDs while pregnant, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics, antiviral medications, or other treatments. In some cases, they might encourage you to give birth via a cesarean delivery to lower the risk of transmission during childbirth.
Diagnosis of STDs
In most cases, doctors can’t diagnose STDs based on symptoms alone. If your doctor or other healthcare provider suspects you might have an STD, they’ll likely recommend tests to check.
Depending on your sexual history, your healthcare provider might recommend STD testing even if you don’t have symptoms. This is because STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms in many cases. But even symptom-free STDs can cause damage or be passed to other people.
Healthcare providers can diagnose most STDs using a urine or blood test. They may also take a swab of your genitals. If you’ve developed any sores, they may take swabs of those, too.
You can get tested for STDs at your doctor’s office or a sexual health clinic.
Home testing kits are also available for some STDs, but they may not always be reliable. Use them with caution. Check to see if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the testing kit before buying it.
It’s important to know that a Pap smear isn’t an STD test. A Pap smear checks for the presence of precancerous cells on the cervix. While it may also be combined with an HPV test, a negative Pap smear doesn’t mean you don’t have any STDs.
If you’ve had any type of sex, it’s a good idea to ask your healthcare provider about STD testing. Some people may benefit from more frequent testing than others. Find out if you should be tested for STDs and what the tests involve.
Treatment of STDs
The recommended treatment for STDs varies, depending on what STD you have. It’s very important that you and your sexual partner be successfully treated for STDs before resuming sexual activity. Otherwise, you can pass an infection back and forth between you.
Bacterial STDs
Usually, antibiotics can easily treat bacterial infections.
It’s important to take all your antibiotics as prescribed. Continue taking them even if you feel better before you finish taking all of them. Let your doctor know if your symptoms don’t go away or return after you’ve taken all of your prescribed medication.
Viral STDs
Antibiotics can’t treat viral STDs. While most viral infections have no cure, some can clear on their own. And in many cases, treatment options are available to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission.
For example, medications are available to reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. Likewise, treatment can help stop the progression of HIV. Furthermore, antiviral drugs can lower your risk of transmitting HIV to someone else.
Other STDs
Some STDs are caused by neither viruses nor bacteria. Instead, they’re caused by other small organisms. Examples include:
pubic lice
trichomoniasis
scabies
These STDs are usually treatable with oral or topical medications. Ask your doctor or other healthcare provider for more information about your condition and treatment options.
STD prevention
Avoiding sexual contact is the only foolproof way to avoid STDs. But if you do have vaginal, anal, or oral sex, there are ways to make it safer.
When used properly, condoms provide effective protection against many STDs. For optimal protection, it’s important to use condoms during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Dental dams can also provide protection during oral sex.
Condoms are generally effective at preventing STDs that spread through fluids, such as semen or blood. But they can’t fully protect against STDs that spread from skin to skin. If your condom doesn’t cover the infected area of skin, you can still contract an STD or pass it to your partner.
Condoms can help protect against not only STDs, but also unwanted pregnancy.
In contrast, many other types of birth control lower the risk of unwanted pregnancy but not STDs. For example, the following forms of birth control don’t protect against STDs:
birth control pills
birth control shot
birth control implants
intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Regular STD screening is a good idea for anyone who’s sexually active. It’s particularly important for those with a new partner or multiple partners. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop the spread of infections.
Before having sex with a new partner, it’s important to discuss your sexual history. Both of you should also be screened for STDs by a healthcare professional. Since STDs often have no symptoms, testing is the only way to know for sure if you have one.
When discussing STD test results, it’s important to ask your partner what they’ve been tested for. Many people assume their doctors have screened them for STDs as part of their regular care, but that’s not always true. You need to ask your doctor for specific STD tests to ensure you take them.
If your partner tests positive for an STD, it’s important for them to follow their healthcare provider’s recommended treatment plan. You can also ask your doctor about strategies to protect yourself from contracting the STD from your partner. For example, if your partner has HIV, your doctor will likely encourage you to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
If you’re eligible, you and your partner should also consider getting vaccinated for HPV and hepatitis B.
By following these strategies and others, you can lower your chances of getting STDs and passing them to others. Learn more about the importance of safe sex and STD prevention.
Don’t see what you need? Read our LGBTQIA safe sex guide.
Living with STDs
If you test positive for an STD, it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.
If you have one STD, it can often increase your chances of contracting another. Some STDs can also lead to severe consequences if left untreated. In rare cases, untreated STDs may even be fatal.
Fortunately, most STDs are highly treatable. In some cases, they can be cured entirely. In other cases, early and effective treatment can help relieve symptoms, lower your risk of complications, and protect sexual partners.
In addition to taking prescribed medications for STDs, your doctor may advise you to adjust your sexual habits to help protect yourself and others. For example, they’ll likely advise you to avoid sex altogether until your infection has been effectively treated. When you resume sex, they’ll probably encourage you to use condoms, dental dams, or other forms of protection.
Following your doctor’s recommended treatment and prevention plan can help improve your long-term outlook with STDs
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