Jump to content. Treatment is available for all sexually transmitted infections STIs , no matter what the cause, to relieve symptoms, even if a cure is not possible. Some, but not all, STIs are treated with antibiotics. If you think that you have been exposed to an STI, it is important to be evaluated promptly by a health professional. This will help prevent serious health problems for yourself and reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to others.
Many STI symptoms will go away or change quickly. This does not mean that the STI has gone away. It will be harder for your health professional to diagnose your STI after the symptoms have changed. A delay in being evaluated may lead to a more serious illness. Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff.
After three negative tests, women with HIV can get a Pap test every three years. People who have a new partner. Before having vaginal or anal intercourse with new partners, be sure you've both been tested for STIs. However, routine testing for genital herpes isn't recommended unless you have symptoms. It's also possible to be infected with an STI yet still test negative, particularly if you've recently been infected. Viral infections can be managed but not always cured.
If you are pregnant and have an STI , getting treatment right away can prevent or reduce the risk of your baby becoming infected. Treatment for STIs usually consists of one of the following, depending on the infection:.
Antibiotics, often in a single dose, can cure many sexually transmitted bacterial and parasitic infections, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Typically, you'll be treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time because the two infections often appear together.
Once you start antibiotic treatment, it's necessary to finish the prescription. If you don't think you'll be able to take medication as prescribed, tell your doctor. A shorter, simpler course of treatment may be available. In addition, it's important to abstain from sex until seven days after you've completed antibiotic treatment and any sores have healed. Experts also suggest women be retested in about three months because there's a high chance of reinfection.
Antiviral drugs. If you have herpes or HIV , you'll be prescribed an antiviral drug. You'll have fewer herpes recurrences if you take daily suppressive therapy with a prescription antiviral drug. However, it's still possible to give your partner herpes. Antiviral drugs can keep HIV infection in check for many years. But you will still carry the virus and can still transmit it, though the risk is lower. The sooner you start HIV treatment, the more effective it is. If you take your medications exactly as directed, it's possible to reduce the viral load in the blood so that it can hardly be detected.
If you've had an STI , ask your doctor how long after treatment you need to be retested. Getting retested will ensure that the treatment worked and that you haven't been reinfected. If tests show that you have an STI , your sex partners — including your current partners and any other partners you've had over the last three months to one year — need to be informed so that they can get tested. If they're infected, they can then be treated. Each state has different requirements, but most states require that certain STIs be reported to the local or state health department.
Public health departments often employ trained disease intervention specialists who can help notify partners and refer people for treatment. The practice also steers those at risk toward counseling and the right treatment.
And since you can contract some STIs more than once, partner notification reduces your risk of getting reinfected. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
You might be angry if you feel you've been betrayed or ashamed if you might have infected others. At worst, an STI can cause chronic illness and death, even with the best care that's available.
Most people don't feel comfortable sharing the details of their sexual experiences, but the doctor's office is one place where you have to provide this information so that you can get the right care. Giving your doctor a complete report of your symptoms and sexual history will help your doctor determine how to best care for you. Here are some of the things your doctor may ask:. If you think you might have an STI , it's best to abstain from sexual activity until you've talked with your doctor.
If you do engage in sexual activity before seeing your doctor, be sure to follow safe sex practices, such as using a condom. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. If you do have an STD then your partner or previous partners should get tested too. Many common STIs are caused by bacteria, which means that they can be cured by antibiotics.
You might need an injection or a course of antibiotic tablets. However, bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics. If you are infected with a strain that is resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics, you might need to be prescribed a different type of antibiotic. In some cases, the bacteria may be resistant to more than one antibiotic, which can make it more difficult to find a treatment that works.
Although most STDs can be treated relatively easily, there are still some conditions that we cannot cure. Some of these conditions can be very serious so it is important to protect yourself by using condoms. The only way to prevent STDs from spreading during sex is to use a condom or dental dam.
Both male and female condoms can protect against diseases. These barriers work by preventing fluids such as semen moving from one person to another. However, there are some STDs that can spread by skin-to-skin contact, so you are still at risk of these even if you prevent any fluids from being exchanged.
The best way to protect yourself against these conditions is to watch out for any sores, growths or discharge that might be caused by an STD. If you notice these symptoms on yourself or your partner then you should avoid any sexual contact and see a doctor. It is important to be aware about STDs so that you can protect yourself and get help if you need it.
0コメント