Preventing and Treating STDs

You can help to prevent STDs by:

Not having sex
Having sex only with one uninfected person
Consistently using male latex condoms during sexual activity

Remember, although condoms can help reduce your exposure to STDs, they are not foolproof.

People who are diagnosed with an STD may be contacted by their local health department so that their sex partners can be evaluated and treated.

Most physicians urge patients to tell their sex partners if they have an STD so that their partners can seek medical attention.

Is an STD curable?

Bacterial STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, are relatively easy to curewith antibiotics if detected and treated early. Genital herpes, genital warts, Hepatitis B and HIV are viral infections that cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be treated and managed.

What is a sexually transmitted disease?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact. These infections often do not cause any symptoms. Medically, infections are only called diseases when they cause symptoms.

Which antibiotics are used for STDS?

If you suffer from a bacterial infection, then most antibiotics for STDs will cure the infection – often in a single dose (e.g. Azithromycin). Better yet, this single dose is likely to kill other STIs too, since many different types of bacteria (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis) are often transmitted altogether.

Can a sti be cured?

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, and BV can be treated and curedwith antibiotics during pregnancy. Viral STIs, such as genital herpes and HIV, have no cure. But antiviral medication may be appropriate for some pregnant woman with herpes to reduce symptoms.

Take charge of your sex life today. Help stop the spread of STDs by knowing your status.