Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon STIsAre They CurableWhich STIs Are Incurable?ManagingPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common STIs
Are They Curable
Which STIs Are Incurable?
Managing
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Sexually transmitted infections(STIs) are spread through sexual contact. Vaginal, oral, and anal sexual activities are the most common transmission route. However, other types of intimate contact, such as kissing, have spread STIs on rare occasions.
Various pathogens cause STIs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. While some STIs are curable, some will remain in your body for life once you contract the infection.
This article discusses curable and non-curable STIs.
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The Most Common STIs
Themost commonly reported STIs in the United States are:
Bacterial vs. Viral STIsBacterial STIs are curable. However, viral STIs are not. Viruses remain in the body for life, whereas bacteria are killed using antibiotics. The only viral exception is HPV, which the body’s immune system can, in some cases, fight off.
Bacterial vs. Viral STIs
Bacterial STIs are curable. However, viral STIs are not. Viruses remain in the body for life, whereas bacteria are killed using antibiotics. The only viral exception is HPV, which the body’s immune system can, in some cases, fight off.
Which Ones Are Curable?
Syphilis
Treatment for syphilis involves the use of an antibiotic calledpenicillin. The medicine kills the syphilis bacteria to cure the body of the infection. Antibiotics work during any stage of the disease. That said, later stages may require stronger or more lengthy treatments.
Choosing the Right AntibioticTreating syphilis requires the right antibiotic. Penicillin is the first-line therapy for syphilis because the bacteria that causes the infection is resistant to other types of antibiotics, such as macrolides.
Choosing the Right Antibiotic
Treating syphilis requires the right antibiotic. Penicillin is the first-line therapy for syphilis because the bacteria that causes the infection is resistant to other types of antibiotics, such as macrolides.
Are Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Curable?
Gonorrhea
The bacteria known asNeisseria gonorrhoeaecauses gonorrhea. Many people with gonorrhea areasymptomatic(experience no symptoms) when infected, making it much easier to spread to others unknowingly.The antibiotic used to treat gonorrhea isCeftriaxone.
Gonorrhea and Antibiotic ResistanceAntibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria become strong enough to combat the antibiotics. Gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to the first-line therapy designed to treat it. Eventually, the medication used to eliminate the infection will no longer work.
Gonorrhea and Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria become strong enough to combat the antibiotics. Gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to the first-line therapy designed to treat it. Eventually, the medication used to eliminate the infection will no longer work.
Chlamydia
The most commonly used antibiotics areazithromycinand doxycycline.
Directly Observed Therapy and ChlamydiaSometimes, a healthcare provider may request you take the chlamydia medication in front of them. However, research has shown no difference in the rates of successful treatment in people who take the medication unsupervised versus supervised.
Directly Observed Therapy and Chlamydia
Sometimes, a healthcare provider may request you take the chlamydia medication in front of them. However, research has shown no difference in the rates of successful treatment in people who take the medication unsupervised versus supervised.
How to Differentiate Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
Trichomoniasis
Most people with trichomoniasis don’t have any symptoms, making it much easier to unknowingly pass the infection to others.
Medication is used tocure trichomoniasis. The first-choice medicine is a type of antiprotozoal and antibiotic known as metronidazole.
The Most Common Curable STITrichomoniasis is the most common curable STI, with 2 million people diagnosed in 2018 alone.
The Most Common Curable STI
Trichomoniasis is the most common curable STI, with 2 million people diagnosed in 2018 alone.
Which Ones Are Incurable?
Viral STIs have no cure. When the virus enters the body, it stays there for life. That doesn’t mean you will always experience symptoms if you have a viral STI. The virus itself can becomedormant, when they are in the body, but not active.
Hepatitis B
Symptoms do not develop in everyone, but when they do, they can feel like theflu.Hepatitis B can be a short- or long-term (chronic) illness. The majority of the time, the body clears it on its own. Long-term, it can lead toliver cancerorcirrhosis. While there is no cure for hepatitis B, there is avaccinethat can help prevent it.
Is There Treatment for Hepatitis B?Treatments for short-term symptoms revolve around easing symptoms until the virus becomes dormant. Long-term treatments involve antiviral medications and regular monitoring to watch for liver damage.
Is There Treatment for Hepatitis B?
Treatments for short-term symptoms revolve around easing symptoms until the virus becomes dormant. Long-term treatments involve antiviral medications and regular monitoring to watch for liver damage.
What to Know About Hepatitis B Vaccines
Herpes
The herpes simplex virus causes herpes. There are two types of herpes:
Both types of herpes are incurable and remain in the body for life. It can be hard to determine if you have a herpes infection immediately because the symptoms are often mild if they appear at all.
Both types go through patterns of dormancy and active infection. Dormancy presents with no symptoms, and active infection presents with sores in the genital or mouth areas. When the infection cycles into active symptoms, it is called an outbreak.
Outbreak PreventionWhile herpes is incurable, there are ways to prevent outbreaks or shorten how long they last.Antiviral medications, such as valacyclovir, acyclovir, and famciclovir, are typically the first choice to manage this infection.
Outbreak Prevention
While herpes is incurable, there are ways to prevent outbreaks or shorten how long they last.Antiviral medications, such as valacyclovir, acyclovir, and famciclovir, are typically the first choice to manage this infection.
When Do Herpes Symptoms Show Up?
HIV
If someone contracts HIV and doesn’t get treated, they can developacquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Signs of HIVSome earlysigns of HIVinclude:Mouth ulcersWeight lossVomitingSwollen lymph nodesSome people may be asymptomatic (show no symptoms), so the only way to be sure is toget tested. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must see your healthcare provider because getting early treatment for HIV can help prevent worse health complications such as AIDS.
Signs of HIV
Some earlysigns of HIVinclude:Mouth ulcersWeight lossVomitingSwollen lymph nodesSome people may be asymptomatic (show no symptoms), so the only way to be sure is toget tested. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must see your healthcare provider because getting early treatment for HIV can help prevent worse health complications such as AIDS.
Some earlysigns of HIVinclude:
Some people may be asymptomatic (show no symptoms), so the only way to be sure is toget tested. If you notice any of these symptoms, you must see your healthcare provider because getting early treatment for HIV can help prevent worse health complications such as AIDS.
HPV
Not all types of HPV cause symptoms or health problems. In roughly 90% of cases, the infection goes away on its own within two years.Unlike other viral STIs, HPV doesn’t automatically linger in the body for life.
That said, an HPV infection that persists and manages to evade the immune system can develop into genital warts orvarious cancers, including:
Pap smears and HPV testing are used for cervical cancer screening and play an important role in detecting early changes and preventing cervical cancer. If you have a cervix, ensure you are up to date on this important test for your health.
There is also a safe and effectivevaccineyou can get to protect yourself.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Can You Get HPV From Fingering or Fisting?
Managing Incurable STIs
Having an incurable STI may not be easy to cope with, but advancements have made them easier to manage. There are several medications that you can take to control the infection and symptoms.
The most crucial aspect of management is ensuring that the infections do not become more serious, as is the case with HPV and HIV. With the proper treatment, you don’t have to suffer from the symptoms and can maintain a fulfilling life.
STI SupportIf you have an incurable STI, you must get the proper support. You could reach out to friends, family, or support groups for others in the same health position. Having a solid circle around you will make it easier to cope with the changes after being diagnosed with an incurable STI.
STI Support
If you have an incurable STI, you must get the proper support. You could reach out to friends, family, or support groups for others in the same health position. Having a solid circle around you will make it easier to cope with the changes after being diagnosed with an incurable STI.
Coping With HIV/AIDS
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) who have had a bacterial STI (specifically syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea) diagnosed in the past 12 months or who have had condomless oral, anal, or vaginal sex should receive counseling from a healthcare provider that doxy PEP can be used as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent these infections. Oral doxycycline is taken once within 72 hours of condomless oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
Summary
The most common STIs fall into two categories: curable and incurable. Bacteria or parasites cause curable STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. They are treated using specific antibiotics or antiparasitic medication.
The most common incurable STIs include HIV, HPV, hepatitis B, and herpes. Viruses cause incurable STIs. While they typically remain in the body for life, except for some HPV cases, they do not always cause issues. When they do, treatments are made available so you can better manage symptoms or outbreaks.
A Word From Verywell
Getting diagnosed with an STI can be a scary experience. It’s unlikely that you expected a positive result when you got the phone call from your healthcare provider. The good news is that many of the most common STIs are curable with a straightforward course of antibiotic treatments.
Even if you have an incurable STI, advancements in medicine have made it so that even viral infections that used to cause severe damage are controllable and void of serious harm. That said, the best thing you can do to avoid having to cure or manage an STI is to engage in safer sex practices and get screened regularly.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSTIs are mainly spread through sexual contact. The types of sexual contact can include vaginal, oral, or anal. In some rare cases, STIs can be transmitted through kissing.To reduce your risk of getting an STI, you can engage in safer sex practices. That means wearing acondomduring all types of sexual activity. Regardless of your sexual lifestyle, wearing condoms will significantly reduce your risk of contracting an STI.STIs are widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 20% of Americans have an STI at any given time. That accounts for all types of STIs and amounts to roughly 68 million people.
STIs are mainly spread through sexual contact. The types of sexual contact can include vaginal, oral, or anal. In some rare cases, STIs can be transmitted through kissing.
To reduce your risk of getting an STI, you can engage in safer sex practices. That means wearing acondomduring all types of sexual activity. Regardless of your sexual lifestyle, wearing condoms will significantly reduce your risk of contracting an STI.
STIs are widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 20% of Americans have an STI at any given time. That accounts for all types of STIs and amounts to roughly 68 million people.
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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.
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Chow EP, Fairley CK.The role of saliva in gonorrhoea and chlamydia transmission to extragenital sites among men who have sex with men: new insights into transmission.J Int AIDS Soc.2019;22 Suppl 6(Suppl Suppl 6):e25354. doi:10.1002/jia2.25354
Kreisel KM, Spicknall IH, Gargano JW, et al.Sexually transmitted infections among US women and men: Prevalence and incidence estimates, 2018.Sex Transm Dis.2021;48(4):208-214. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001355
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Syphilis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis treatment and care.
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Willie B, Sweeney EL, Badman SG, et al.The prevalence of antimicrobial resistant neisseria gonorrhoeaein Papua New Guinea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health.2022;19(3):1520. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031520
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia treatment and care.
World Health Organization.WHO guidelines for the treatment of chlamydia.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes - CDC basic fact sheet.
Shiraki K.Antiviral drugs against alphaherpesvirus.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018;1045:103-122. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-7230-7_6
Rojas-Celis V, Valiente-Echeverría F, Soto-Rifo R, Toro-Ascuy D.New challenges of hiv-1 infection: how hiv-1 attacks and resides in the central nervous system.Cells.2019;8(10):1245. doi:10.3390/cells8101245
Wood E, Kerr T, Rowell G, et al.Does this adult patient have early HIV infection? The rational clinical examination systematic review.JAMA.2014;312(3):278-285. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.5954
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - basic fact sheet.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.CDC clinical guidelines on the use of doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis for bacterial sexually transmitted infection prevention, United States, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC Estimates 1 in 5 people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection.
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