Some STIs are curable while others are not. Similarly, some can cause overt symptoms (like sores and ulcers) while others remainasymptomatic(without symptoms). If left untreated, an STI can not only lead to serious illness but allow the spread of infection to others. Even withcondomsand other forms ofsafer sex, some STIs are hard to avoid.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male," “female,” “man,” and “women” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male," “female,” “man,” and “women” as the sources use them.
Chlamydia
A great many women with chlamydia remain asymptomatic. When there are symptoms, they often includepain during sexand discharge from the penis or vagina.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasisis the most common non-viral STI in the United States, affecting women four times more often than men. An estimated 1 million new trichomoniasis infections occur each year.
The biggest concern about untreated trichomoniasis is the risk of pregnancy complications, such asmiscarriageandpremature birth. Trichomoniasis will often clear on its own within months or years but can be treated with one large dose of an antibiotic likeFlagyl (metronidazole).
Gonorrhea
As with chlamydia, gonorrhea often causes no symptoms, especially in women. If you get symptoms, you may experience aburning sensation when you pee. Gonorrhea can also cause a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis or vaginal, or a cough and sore throat if you getoral gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea is commonly treated with a single shot of the antibioticceftriaxone. With that said, there is a growing problem ofantibiotic-resistant gonorrheain which the bacterium no longer responds to antibiotics commonly used to kill it. In such cases, other drugs may be needed.
Mycoplasma GenitaliumMycoplasma genitalium(MG)is a sexually transmitted bacteria that causes symptoms similar to gonorrhea in men and women. It is a common cause ofpelvic inflammatory disease (PID)in females andnongonococcal urethritis(NGU)in males.While NG is less well-known than gonorrhea, it causes more infections year on year. In 2022, between 640,000 and 1.6 million new MG infections were thought to have occurred in the U.S.MG is usually curable with a single dose of azithromycin, but high rates ofantibiotic resistanceoften require other drugs to fully clear the infection.If left untreated, MG can causeinfertilityor pregnancy complications likeectopic pregnancyin those with PID.
Mycoplasma Genitalium
Mycoplasma genitalium(MG)is a sexually transmitted bacteria that causes symptoms similar to gonorrhea in men and women. It is a common cause ofpelvic inflammatory disease (PID)in females andnongonococcal urethritis(NGU)in males.
While NG is less well-known than gonorrhea, it causes more infections year on year. In 2022, between 640,000 and 1.6 million new MG infections were thought to have occurred in the U.S.
MG is usually curable with a single dose of azithromycin, but high rates ofantibiotic resistanceoften require other drugs to fully clear the infection.If left untreated, MG can causeinfertilityor pregnancy complications likeectopic pregnancyin those with PID.
Human PapillomavirusThis photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-NDHuman papillomavirus(HPV)is thought to be the most common STI overall. Studies suggest that around three-quarters of sexually active people acquire this incurable viral STI at some point in their lives. Most are asymptomatic.There are many different types of HPV, most of which are low-risk strains that may causegenital wartsor no symptoms at all. At least 16 are high-risk strains that have the potential to causecervical cancerand other types of cancer. The types that cause warts rarely cause cancer.It is often hard to prevent HPV infection becausecondomsare only nominally effective. With that said, there is anHPV vaccinetypically given at ages 11 or 12 before a child is sexually active that can help prevent the most common high-risk strains.
Human Papillomavirus
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Human papillomavirus(HPV)is thought to be the most common STI overall. Studies suggest that around three-quarters of sexually active people acquire this incurable viral STI at some point in their lives. Most are asymptomatic.
There are many different types of HPV, most of which are low-risk strains that may causegenital wartsor no symptoms at all. At least 16 are high-risk strains that have the potential to causecervical cancerand other types of cancer. The types that cause warts rarely cause cancer.
It is often hard to prevent HPV infection becausecondomsare only nominally effective. With that said, there is anHPV vaccinetypically given at ages 11 or 12 before a child is sexually active that can help prevent the most common high-risk strains.
Genital Herpes
Over 570,000 new genital herpes infections are reported annually in the U.S. among people ages 14 to 49.
Most people with HSV-1 or HSV-2 have no symptoms but can still pass the virus to others whenever the virus reactivates. In those with symptoms, reactivation can cause an episodic outbreak of painful blisters and sores that can last for one to three weeks.Antiviral drugscan help shorten or prevent such attacks.
Syphilis
Syphilis develops in stages. It often starts with a painless sore called achancreon thepenisorlabia(although those in the rectum or vagina may be unseen). Left untreated, syphilis can cause a whole-body rash during the secondary stage and severe heart and brain complications if it progresses to thetertiary stage.
Syphilis istransmittedwhen you come into direct contact with a sore, usually found in and around sex organs. A single large injection ofpenicillincan usually clear the infection.
HIV
If left untreated, HIV can lead to the most advanced stage of infection, calledacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are currently 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States, with over 30,000 new infections reported each year.
HIV cannot be cured, but treatment withantiretroviral drugscan keep the virus fully suppressed so that the immune system remains intact andnormal to near-normal life expectancycan be achieved.Antiretrovirals can also protect you from getting infected in a strategy known aspre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Hepatitis B
Most people infected with HBV will spontaneously clear the virus, but those who don’t will develop chronic hepatitis B which is not curable. If left untreated, chronic HBV can progress, causingcirrhosisandliver failurein some people.
To date, between 880,000 and 1.89 million people are chronically infected with HBV in the United States. Due to widespreadHBV vaccination, the rate of new chronic infections has dropped to around 14,000 per year.
Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
Unlike chlamydia, LGV causes an initial outbreak of painless ulcers on the genitals, not unlike those seen with syphilis. After 10 to 30 days, the infection will spread through thelymphatic system, causing enlarged painful lymph nodes known asbuboesmainly in the groin.
LGV is readily treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, LGV can progress and lead to permanent, irreversiblelymphedema(the overload of lymph fluid in tissues).
Chancroid
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet dermnetnz.org
DermNet dermnetnz.org
Chancroid is mainly seen in parts of the Caribbean and Africa, with less than 10 cases reported annually in the U.S.Even so, the formation of an open ulcer can increase therisk of HIV transmissionin the same way as herpes or syphilis.
Chancroid is readily treated with non-penicillin antibiotics likecephalosporin, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and erythromycin.
SummaryThe most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, mycoplasma genitalum (MG), syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. Rare ones include lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and chancroid.Those that are curable are bacterial or parasitic STIs like chlamydia, trichomoniasis, MG, syphilis, LGV, and chancroid. Those that are incurable but treatable include viral STIs like HPV, genital herpes, HIV, and hepatitis B.
Summary
The most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, mycoplasma genitalum (MG), syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B. Rare ones include lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and chancroid.
Those that are curable are bacterial or parasitic STIs like chlamydia, trichomoniasis, MG, syphilis, LGV, and chancroid. Those that are incurable but treatable include viral STIs like HPV, genital herpes, HIV, and hepatitis B.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National overview of STIs in 2023.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia: CDC fact sheet (detailed).Callan T, Debattista J, Berry B, Brown J, Woodcock S, Hocking JS, Huston WM.A retrospective cohort study examining STI testing and perinatal records demonstrates reproductive health burden of chlamydia and gonorrhea.Pathog Dis. 2020;78(6):ftaa052. doi:10.1093/femspd/ftaa052Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea - CDC fact sheet (detailed version).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mycoplasma genitalium.Sukhija-Cohen AC, Patani H, Robinson AC, Santos MR, Granados Y.Mycoplasma genitaliumincidence, coinfection, and antibiotic resistance: a prospective study at a walk-in clinic in Los Angeles County, CA.Open Forum Infect Dis.2024;11(8):ofae419. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae419Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccinating boys and girls.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: Diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis - CDC fact sheet (detailed).Department of Health and Human Services.What are HIV and AIDS?.HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.Trickey A, Sabin CA, Burkholder G, et al.Life expectancy after 2015 of adults with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy in Europe and North America: a collaborative analysis of cohort studies.Lancet HIV.2023 May;10(5):e295–e307. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00028-0HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.Department of Health and Human Services.Hepatitis B basic information.Ceovic R, Gulin SJ.Lymphogranuloma venereum: diagnostic and treatment challenges.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:39–47. doi:10.2147/IDR.S57540Gupta AK, Lyon B, Hunter I, et al.The resurgence of lymphogranuloma venereum: changing presentation of lymphogranuloma venereum in the era of HIV preexposure prophylaxis, 2004 to 2022.Sex Transm Dis. 2024 Apr 1;51(4):233-238. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001944Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chancroid.Ogale YP, Ridpath AD, Torrone E, Quilter LAS, Grey JA. A sore subject? An examination of national case-based chancroid surveillance.Sex Transm Dis.2023 August 01;50(8):467–471. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001814
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National overview of STIs in 2023.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia: CDC fact sheet (detailed).
Callan T, Debattista J, Berry B, Brown J, Woodcock S, Hocking JS, Huston WM.A retrospective cohort study examining STI testing and perinatal records demonstrates reproductive health burden of chlamydia and gonorrhea.Pathog Dis. 2020;78(6):ftaa052. doi:10.1093/femspd/ftaa052
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gonorrhea - CDC fact sheet (detailed version).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mycoplasma genitalium.
Sukhija-Cohen AC, Patani H, Robinson AC, Santos MR, Granados Y.Mycoplasma genitaliumincidence, coinfection, and antibiotic resistance: a prospective study at a walk-in clinic in Los Angeles County, CA.Open Forum Infect Dis.2024;11(8):ofae419. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae419
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HPV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccinating boys and girls.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: Diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis - CDC fact sheet (detailed).
Department of Health and Human Services.What are HIV and AIDS?.
HIV.gov.U.S. statistics.
Trickey A, Sabin CA, Burkholder G, et al.Life expectancy after 2015 of adults with HIV on long-term antiretroviral therapy in Europe and North America: a collaborative analysis of cohort studies.Lancet HIV.2023 May;10(5):e295–e307. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00028-0
HIV.gov.Pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Department of Health and Human Services.Hepatitis B basic information.
Ceovic R, Gulin SJ.Lymphogranuloma venereum: diagnostic and treatment challenges.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:39–47. doi:10.2147/IDR.S57540
Gupta AK, Lyon B, Hunter I, et al.The resurgence of lymphogranuloma venereum: changing presentation of lymphogranuloma venereum in the era of HIV preexposure prophylaxis, 2004 to 2022.Sex Transm Dis. 2024 Apr 1;51(4):233-238. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001944
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chancroid.
Ogale YP, Ridpath AD, Torrone E, Quilter LAS, Grey JA. A sore subject? An examination of national case-based chancroid surveillance.Sex Transm Dis.2023 August 01;50(8):467–471. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001814
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) data & statistics.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) data & statistics.
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines.MMWR Recomm Rep.2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
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