Most Sexually Transmitted Diseases are curable through antibiotics or antiviral medications. It means that they can go away with no damage to your health. However, there are still four incurable Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Incurable means that they stay with the person forever and causing serious serious health problems and even death.
- hepatitis B
- herpes
- HIV
- HPV
Even though these infections can’t be cured, they can be managed with treatment and medication. Managed means that the bad effects can be made less damaging.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B causes liver cancer. The good news is that most young people received vaccine shots against Hep B when they were babies.
Hepatitis B often doesn’t cause symptoms; most adults can fight the infection independently. If you have hepatitis B, your best option is to see your doctor to check your liver and your medication options to lessen symptoms. Immune system modulators and antiviral medications can help slow the virus’s damage to your liver.
Herpes
Herpes does not kill. But, Herpes gives a person a higher chance of getting cancer. Herpes is very common — over 500 million people have herpes worldwide.
Herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Many people with herpes may not know they have it because they have no symptoms. However, when there are symptoms, they come in the form of painful sores around the genitals or anus.
Luckily, herpes is very easy to treat with antiviral medications that reduce outbreaks and the risk for transmission. If you have herpes and are showing symptoms, talk with your doctor about the right antiviral medications.
HIV
HIV is the other chronic viral Sexually Transmitted Disease. Thanks to modern medicine, many people with HIV can live long, healthy lives with the minimised risk of infecting others through sex.
The main treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy.
HPV
Human papillomavirus is extremely common. About 9 out of 10 sexually active people will contract HPV. About 90 per cent of these infections go away within two years of detection. However, HPV is still incurable and, in some cases, it can lead to:
- genital warts
- cervical cancer
- oral cancer
Outlook
Contracting an STD, even an incurable one, can be manageable. Many are treatable, even curable, through antibiotics or antiviral medications, and some STDs clear up on their own.
With most STDs, you may not show any signs or symptoms. For this reason, it’s very important to get tested for STDs on a regular basis for your own safety, the safety of your partner(s), and general public health.
The best treatment for STDs will always be prevention. If you have an STD or think you might have one, speak with your doctor to discuss your options.