Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Treatment

Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Treatment When it comes to sexual health and well-being, there are an array of illnesses that can be uncomfortable or even life-threatening. It is important to arm yourself with the knowledge necessary to protect yourself from these illnesses.

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV/STI is to get tested. If you’re sexually active, you and your partners should get tested for STI (including HIV if you’re HIV-negative) regularly, even if you don’t have symptoms. If you have another STI, you’re more likely to get or transmit HIV to others. Some of the most common STI include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, and hepatitis.

If you are HIV-negative but have an STI, you are about 3 times as likely to get HIV if you have unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. There are two ways that having an STI can increase the likelihood of getting HIV. If the STI causes irritation of the skin (for example, from syphilis, herpes, or human papillomavirus), breaks or sores may make it easier for HIV to enter the body during sexual contact. Even STI that cause no breaks or open sores (for example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis) can increase your risk by causing inflammation that increases the number of cells that can serve as targets for HIV.

If you are HIV-positive and also have another STI, you are about 3 times as likely as other people with HIV to transmit HIV through sexual contact. This appears to happen because there is an increased concentration of HIV in the semen and genital fluids of HIV-positive people who also have another STI.

The First Step in Protecting Yourself

Taking the time to learn about the various illnesses, HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection. No effective cure exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Some groups of people in the United States are more likely to get HIV than others because of many factors, including their sex partners, their risk behaviors, and where they live. Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help you take steps to keep you and your partner(s) healthy.

If you test positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV . People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed can live long and healthy lives. There's also an important prevention benefit.

Everyone aged 13 through 64 should get tested one time, regardless of their risk factors. People who have occasional exposure to HIV risks should be tested at least once a year. People who are at high risk for HIV infection should get tested every 3 to 6 months.

Although STI and STD are used interchangeably, they are not one and the same. An STI is a sexually transmitted infection, while an STD is a sexually transmitted disease. It is important to get tested for sexually transmitted illnesses, as a simple screening can save your life. Read on to learn more about the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted infections and sexually transmitted Some of the most common STI include gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes,hepatitis B and hepatitis C.