STI treatments: Myths vs. facts

Key takeaways

• Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are treatable with medications, and many bacterial STIs can be cured completely with antibiotics. Viral STIs like HIV and herpes can’t be cured but can be managed with antivirals to reduce symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission.
• Many STIs cause no symptoms or only mild ones, so you may not know you’re infected without testing. Regular STI screening is important, especially since infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV often go unnoticed.
• If you receive an STI diagnosis, inform your sexual partners before any sexual contact so they can get tested and treated if needed, even if they have no symptoms. Online care services offer discreet treatment options if you feel uncomfortable seeking care in person.

Overview

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common. They might be caused by bacteria or viruses, and they’re only transmitted through sexual contact.

Because of the nature of these infections, there’s a lot of stigma surrounding them. This may lead people to seek information online rather than from a healthcare professional, which might expose them to misinformation. Let’s take a look at some common myths about STI treatment — and the facts behind them.

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Myth 1: STIs are untreatable

Fact: Most STIs are treatable with the right medications, and many can be cured completely.

There are several different kinds of STIs, including:

• Bacterial STIs
  • chlamydia
  • gonorrhea
  • syphillis
• Viral STIs
  • human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • genital herpes
  • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Parasitic STIs
  • trichomoniasis
  • pubic lice

The most effective treatment for an STI depends on the type and cause. Bacterial and parasitic STIs are generally treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline (Targadox) or azithromycin (Zithromax). Viral infections typically require antivirals, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex).

Can STIs be cured?

Many bacterial STIs can be cured completely with antibiotics.

Viral STIs typically can’t be completely cured with treatment. However, antivirals can help to reduce symptoms and prevent transmission to others. HIV, for example, can be successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy such that the virus becomes undetectable in your body and can’t be transmitted to others.

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Myth 2: You’ll know if you have an STI

Fact: Many STIs don’t present symptoms right away, so regular testing is important.

A large percentage of people with STIs don’t experience any symptoms at all, or symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed. This is especially true for:

• Chlamydia: Roughly 70% of people with vulvas and 50% of people with penises have no symptoms.
• Gonorrhea: Most people with vulvas are asymptomatic, and if there are symptoms, they tend to be mild and easily mistaken for other infections.
• HPV: As many as 90% of infections clear on their own, but high risk strains can cause cancer without visible symptoms.
• Herpes: Many people with HSV-2 don’t know they have it.
• HIV: Early stages often have no symptoms, and some people don’t develop symptoms for years.

Myth 3: Sexual partners don’t need treatment

Fact: Even if your partner doesn’t have symptoms, they should still be informed and may need treatment.

Many people find it difficult to disclose if they’ve been diagnosed with an STI. If your partner isn’t showing any symptoms, you may think you don’t need to tell them. But they might be asymptomatic and still need treatment, so it’s very important to let any partners know if you have an STI. Always have the conversation before sexual contact.

Here are some steps to follow that may make the process easier:

1. Get tested together: Encourage your partner or partners to get tested, even if they feel fine.
2. Share your status honestly: Use this as an opportunity to discuss sexual health openly.
3. Get vaccinated: If your partner isn’t immune to HPV or hepatitis B, vaccination is the best protection.
4. Use protection: Condoms or other barrier methods can reduce risk.
5. Seek medical advice: A healthcare professional can guide you on disclosure and prevention.

It is also possible to access services that can anonymously let your partners know that they need to get tested.

Myth 4: It’s embarrassing to seek treatment for STIs

STIs are very common. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million STIs are diagnosed worldwide every day. They aren’t reflective of anything negative about you, but many people still report feelings of shame and stigma associated with STIs.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Next steps

Whether you or a partner has been diagnosed with an STI, or you just want to learn how to be safer during sex, here are some next steps to consider:

1. Know that not everything you see on social media about STIs and other health information is true.
2. Have open, honest conversations with your sexual partners about STIs — before sexual contact.
3. Use barrier methods, such as condoms, to practice safe sex.
4. Speak with a healthcare professional for more information.

Learn more about STIs

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