Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWrong MedicationTreatment MistakesUntreated PartnersExposure to Other STIsSTI-Specific ConcernsGonorrheaSymptoms of RecurrenceWhen to See a ProviderHow to Keep STIs From Coming Back
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Wrong Medication
Treatment Mistakes
Untreated Partners
Exposure to Other STIs
STI-Specific Concerns
Gonorrhea
Symptoms of Recurrence
When to See a Provider
How to Keep STIs From Coming Back
Chlamydia,gonorrhea,syphilis, andtrichomoniasisare common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can all be treated, and often cured, with antibiotics.
An STI can come back after treatment if you’re exposed to it again—for example, having unprotected (condomless) sex with a partner or using a sex toy that’s contaminated.
This article explains why an STI can return, what happens if you take the wrong medication for an STI, and the risk of reinfection with an STI if you are not careful about safer sex practices.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
What Are Your Options for STI Treatment?
Taking the Incorrect Medication
STI treatment can fail if you’re taking the wrong medication. One reason this may happen is calledsyndromictreatment. This approach tends to be used at STI clinics when there’s concern about the cost of tests or the possibility that a person might not return for the results.
Treating your STI with a medication that you’ve used in the past or one prescribed for your partner or a friend can also cause problems. It could not only be ineffective but also unsafe.
It’s important for your healthcare provider to correctly identify what’s causing your infection. This way, you’ll be sure to get the appropriate treatment instead of just taking an antibiotic and hoping it works.
Taking Medication Incorrectly
Failing to finish a course of antibiotics might keep your STI from being cured. It could also make it harder to treat a future STI because of antibiotic resistance. This occurs when an antibiotic drug is no longer able to fight germs that have built up an immunity against it.
The Role of Antibiotics in Treating Infections
Your Partner Didn’t Get Treated
If you have a consistent sexual partner, it’s important to tell them if you have an STI. They likely will need to get treated, too.
Once you’ve both been treated, you have to wait until the treatment has had time to work before you start having sex again—especially condomless sex. Getting treated will help you avoid passing the STI back and forth to each other.
Remember: It’s possible to spread an STI to someone else even if you don’t have any symptoms. If you think you’ve been exposed, it’s important to get tested even if you feel fine.
Being Exposed to Another STI
Treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or any other STI might work for that infection, but it won’t prevent you from getting another one.People can be repeatedly infected with STIs if they continue to have condomless sex with a partner or partners who have untreated STIs.
How Chlamydia Is Treated
Certain STIs come with specific problems that can make them more likely to return.
Chlamydia
It’s possible to get chlamydia again after you’ve been treated if you are exposed to it. For example, you could get reinfected if you have condomless sex with a partner who has chlamydia or use a sex toy that has been contaminated with chlamydia.
As for how long chlamydia stays in your body, you might keep testing positive for a few weeks after you’ve been treated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you’ll need to be retested about three months after treatment to make sure a chlamydia infection has cleared up.
A study in animals suggested that chlamydia might be able to hide out in the gut and reemerge later on. Researchers are still trying to determine if chlamydia can hang around in the human GI tract and possibly reinfect a person who has been treated for it.
Many people do not know they have the infection, which is why screening is important so those that do have it are treated as early as possible to avoid complications.
Gonorrhea is treatable with antibiotics. In some cases, it is difficult to cure because antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea has emerged as a growing public health crisis.Certain tests can help determine the best way to treat a gonorrhea infection. You also may need to come back after treatment to see if it worked.
Over time, it has become harder to find affordable antibiotics that are consistent and effective when treating gonorrhea. As a result, people seeking treatment may need to use more expensive antibiotics.
Syphilis
Highly contagious, syphilis is spread through sexual contact and in some circumstances, the bacteriumTreponema pallidumcan even be passed on via kissing. As with other bacterial STIs,syphilis can be treated. However, there are some factors that can determine how well the treatment works including:
In general, treatment for syphilis is most effective if the infection is caught early. Success also is more likely if you have a healthy immune system.
Trichomoniasis
People with a penis are generally not tested—and therefore less likely to be treated—for trichomoniasis. While it’s true that infections are generally less serious in people with a penis, they still need to be treated so that they don’t reinfect their partners.
Can I Get the Same STI Twice?
If you’ve been treated for an STI but start having symptoms again, it’s possible that you may need more treatment to clear up the infection. It’s also possible that you may have gotten infected again and need to start another course of treatment.
If you think you’ve been exposed to an STI or you have symptoms, see a provider. You won’t know for sure until you get tested. The sooner you can find out for sure and get treated, the better.
You can also go to a clinic like Planned Parenthood to get tested for STIs. You may want to make regular testing part of your healthcare routine if you think you might be more likely to be exposed to an STI.
The best way to keep STIs from coming back is to take the same steps that can help protect you from getting them in the first place.
For example, condoms,dental dams, and other barriers are effective ways to prevent bacterial STIs. You need to be consistent and use them for all vaginal, anal, andoral intercourse.
STIs are not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex but you should always practice prevention. It’s also key to have open, honest conversations with sexual partners about STIs. Talk about getting tested and what you each can do to reduce your risk.
Top 10 Condom Facts Everyone Should Know
Summary
Many STIs, including gonorrhea and syphilis, can be treated with antibiotics. However, STIs can return if you did not take the right antibiotic for the specific STI you have, you didn’t finish your prescribed treatment, or you were reinfected.
The best way to keep STIs from coming back is to take the same steps you would to avoid them in the first place, which includes practicing safer sex and communicating with partners about testing.
The Best At-Home STI Tests
19 SourcesVerywell 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.World Health Organization.Four curable sexually transmitted infections.World Health Organization.Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antibiotic dos and don’ts.World Health Organization.Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Expedited partner therapy.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Does chlamydia stay in the body after it’s been cured?.Rank RG, Yeruva L.Hidden in plain sight: chlamydial gastrointestinal infection and its relevance to persistence in human genital infection.Infect Immun.2014;82(4):1362-71. doi:10.1128/IAI.01244-13Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug-resistant gonorrhea.Whittles LK, White PJ, Paul J, Didelot X.Epidemiological trends of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom.Antibiotics (Basel).2018;7(3). doi:10.3390/antibiotics7030060Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis.Peeling RW, Mabey D, Kamb ML, Chen XS, Radolf JD, Benzaken AS.Syphilis.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2017;3:17073. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.73Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis.2017;44(1):29-34. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000537Van der pol B.Clinical and laboratory testing for Trichomonas vaginalis infection.J Clin Microbiol.2016;54(1):7-12. doi:10.1128/JCM.02025-15Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent STIs.Gable J, Eder J, Mollen C.Preventing chlamydia and gonorrhea reinfection through increased use of expedited partner therapy.Additional ReadingHowe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis. 2017 Jan;44(1):29-34.Seña AC, Zhang XH, Li T, et al.A systematic review of syphilis serological treatment outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons: rethinking the significance of serological non-responsiveness and the serofast state after therapy.BMC Infect Dis. 2015 Oct 28;15:479. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-1209-0.van der Helm JJ, Koekenbier RH, van Rooijen MS, Schim van der Loeff MF, de Vries HJC.What is the optimal time to retest patients with a urogenital chlamydia infection? A randomized controlled trial.Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Feb;45(2):132-137. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000706.Weston EJ, Wi T, Papp J.Strengthening global surveillance for antimicrobial drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program.Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Oct;23(13). doi: 10.3201/eid2313.170443.
19 Sources
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.World Health Organization.Four curable sexually transmitted infections.World Health Organization.Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antibiotic dos and don’ts.World Health Organization.Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Expedited partner therapy.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Does chlamydia stay in the body after it’s been cured?.Rank RG, Yeruva L.Hidden in plain sight: chlamydial gastrointestinal infection and its relevance to persistence in human genital infection.Infect Immun.2014;82(4):1362-71. doi:10.1128/IAI.01244-13Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug-resistant gonorrhea.Whittles LK, White PJ, Paul J, Didelot X.Epidemiological trends of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom.Antibiotics (Basel).2018;7(3). doi:10.3390/antibiotics7030060Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis.Peeling RW, Mabey D, Kamb ML, Chen XS, Radolf JD, Benzaken AS.Syphilis.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2017;3:17073. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.73Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis.2017;44(1):29-34. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000537Van der pol B.Clinical and laboratory testing for Trichomonas vaginalis infection.J Clin Microbiol.2016;54(1):7-12. doi:10.1128/JCM.02025-15Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent STIs.Gable J, Eder J, Mollen C.Preventing chlamydia and gonorrhea reinfection through increased use of expedited partner therapy.Additional ReadingHowe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis. 2017 Jan;44(1):29-34.Seña AC, Zhang XH, Li T, et al.A systematic review of syphilis serological treatment outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons: rethinking the significance of serological non-responsiveness and the serofast state after therapy.BMC Infect Dis. 2015 Oct 28;15:479. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-1209-0.van der Helm JJ, Koekenbier RH, van Rooijen MS, Schim van der Loeff MF, de Vries HJC.What is the optimal time to retest patients with a urogenital chlamydia infection? A randomized controlled trial.Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Feb;45(2):132-137. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000706.Weston EJ, Wi T, Papp J.Strengthening global surveillance for antimicrobial drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program.Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Oct;23(13). doi: 10.3201/eid2313.170443.
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.
World Health Organization.Four curable sexually transmitted infections.World Health Organization.Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections.Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antibiotic dos and don’ts.World Health Organization.Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Expedited partner therapy.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.Planned Parenthood.Does chlamydia stay in the body after it’s been cured?.Rank RG, Yeruva L.Hidden in plain sight: chlamydial gastrointestinal infection and its relevance to persistence in human genital infection.Infect Immun.2014;82(4):1362-71. doi:10.1128/IAI.01244-13Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug-resistant gonorrhea.Whittles LK, White PJ, Paul J, Didelot X.Epidemiological trends of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom.Antibiotics (Basel).2018;7(3). doi:10.3390/antibiotics7030060Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis.Peeling RW, Mabey D, Kamb ML, Chen XS, Radolf JD, Benzaken AS.Syphilis.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2017;3:17073. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.73Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis.2017;44(1):29-34. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000537Van der pol B.Clinical and laboratory testing for Trichomonas vaginalis infection.J Clin Microbiol.2016;54(1):7-12. doi:10.1128/JCM.02025-15Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent STIs.Gable J, Eder J, Mollen C.Preventing chlamydia and gonorrhea reinfection through increased use of expedited partner therapy.
World Health Organization.Four curable sexually transmitted infections.
World Health Organization.Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections.
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antibiotic dos and don’ts.
World Health Organization.Growing antibiotic resistance forces updates to recommended treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Expedited partner therapy.
World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chlamydia.
Planned Parenthood.Does chlamydia stay in the body after it’s been cured?.
Rank RG, Yeruva L.Hidden in plain sight: chlamydial gastrointestinal infection and its relevance to persistence in human genital infection.Infect Immun.2014;82(4):1362-71. doi:10.1128/IAI.01244-13
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug-resistant gonorrhea.
Whittles LK, White PJ, Paul J, Didelot X.Epidemiological trends of antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea in the United Kingdom.Antibiotics (Basel).2018;7(3). doi:10.3390/antibiotics7030060
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Syphilis.
Peeling RW, Mabey D, Kamb ML, Chen XS, Radolf JD, Benzaken AS.Syphilis.Nat Rev Dis Primers.2017;3:17073. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.73
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trichomoniasis.
Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis.2017;44(1):29-34. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000537
Van der pol B.Clinical and laboratory testing for Trichomonas vaginalis infection.J Clin Microbiol.2016;54(1):7-12. doi:10.1128/JCM.02025-15
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent STIs.
Gable J, Eder J, Mollen C.Preventing chlamydia and gonorrhea reinfection through increased use of expedited partner therapy.
Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis. 2017 Jan;44(1):29-34.Seña AC, Zhang XH, Li T, et al.A systematic review of syphilis serological treatment outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons: rethinking the significance of serological non-responsiveness and the serofast state after therapy.BMC Infect Dis. 2015 Oct 28;15:479. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-1209-0.van der Helm JJ, Koekenbier RH, van Rooijen MS, Schim van der Loeff MF, de Vries HJC.What is the optimal time to retest patients with a urogenital chlamydia infection? A randomized controlled trial.Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Feb;45(2):132-137. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000706.Weston EJ, Wi T, Papp J.Strengthening global surveillance for antimicrobial drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program.Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Oct;23(13). doi: 10.3201/eid2313.170443.
Howe K, Kissinger PJ.Single-dose compared with multidose metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis in women: A meta-analysis.Sex Transm Dis. 2017 Jan;44(1):29-34.
Seña AC, Zhang XH, Li T, et al.A systematic review of syphilis serological treatment outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons: rethinking the significance of serological non-responsiveness and the serofast state after therapy.BMC Infect Dis. 2015 Oct 28;15:479. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-1209-0.
van der Helm JJ, Koekenbier RH, van Rooijen MS, Schim van der Loeff MF, de Vries HJC.What is the optimal time to retest patients with a urogenital chlamydia infection? A randomized controlled trial.Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Feb;45(2):132-137. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000706.
Weston EJ, Wi T, Papp J.Strengthening global surveillance for antimicrobial drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae through the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program.Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Oct;23(13). doi: 10.3201/eid2313.170443.
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