Your guide to treatments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also commonly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), although there are nuances between the two terms. Some examples of STIs include chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, and HIV.

STDs are diseases that result from STIs. For example, genital warts may be an STD that results from an HPV — an STI — infection. However, many people use the terms “STI” and “STD” interchangeably.

The best treatment for your condition will depend on the infection you have. Some may require antibiotics, while others may need antiviral drugs. You can visit a sexual health clinic or make a doctor’s appointment to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.

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STI treatment guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its most recent treatment guidelines for STIs in 2021. The recommendations vary depending on the specific STI affecting you.

Chlamydia treatment

Chlamydia is the most common STI worldwide, and it’s the most common bacterial infection reported in the United States. It often causes no symptoms, but when it does, you may experience:

• irregular vaginal or penile discharge
• a burning sensation when peeing
• pain and swelling in your testicles, if you have them

Healthcare professionals can diagnose chlamydia if you provide a urine sample, or you may use a cotton swab to provide a vaginal sample.

The proper treatment can completely cure chlamydia. Because it’s a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the treatment of choice for chlamydia.

According to the CDC guidelines, the recommended treatment is 100 milligrams (mg) of doxycycline (Acticlate) twice daily for 7 days. Other options include a single 1 gram (g) dose of azithromycin (Zithromax) or 500 mg of levofloxacin (Levaquin) once daily for 7 days.

It’s important to tell your sexual partners if you’ve received a chlamydia diagnosis so they can get tested and treated if necessary. This can help prevent reinfection and future complications.

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Genital herpes treatment

Genital herpes is a viral infection. Two forms of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), HSV-1 or HSV-2, may cause it. Genital herpes may not cause any symptoms, but if it does, you may notice:

• sores around your genitals
• tingling or itching in your genital area
• headaches
• fever
• fatigue

If you have sores, healthcare professionals can often diagnose genital herpes just by looking at them. They may take a swab from the sore to confirm it.

There is no cure for genital herpes. However, when you have outbreaks, antiviral drugs can treat it. For the first outbreak, the CDC recommends any of the following treatment regimens:

• 400 mg of acyclovir (Zovirax) three times per day for 7 to 10 days
• 250 mg of famciclovir (Famvir) three times per day for 7 to 10 days
• 1 g of valacyclovir (Valtrex) two times per day for 7 to 10 days

Treatment is most effective if started within 1 day of an outbreak. If you experience chronic, recurrent outbreaks, doctors might recommend long-term antiviral treatment to reduce the risk of future outbreaks.

HPV treatment

HPV is another very common STI caused by a virus. There are many different types of HPV, and many don’t cause any health problems whatsoever. Some forms, however, can cause genital warts, and some may lead to forms of cancer.

It may not cause any symptoms, but you should reach out to a healthcare professional if you notice any of the following in your genital area:

• warts
• unusual growths or lumps
• sores

Genital warts appear as a small bump or a clusters of bumps around your genitals. They may go away on their own, but they tend to come back, even with treatment.

There is no treatment for the HPV virus itself. However, you may be able to manage genital warts with topical creams that you apply yourself:

• imiquimod (Zyclara) 3.75% or 5% cream
• podofilox (Condylox) 0.5% solution or gel
• sinecatechins 15% ointment

HIV treatment

HIV is a virus that affects your immune system that transmits through bodily fluids. The only way to know if you have HIV is through testing. Around 2 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus, you may notice flu-like symptoms, including:

• fever
• sore throat
• muscle aches
• chills
• fatigue

HIV treatment is known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). The goal of ART is to reduce the levels of the virus in your blood, known as the viral load. It’s possible for the viral load to become so low that it’s undetectable by tests, which also means it can’t be transmitted sexually.

The medications used in ART may belong to different classes, with some of the most common including:

• Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors: Examples include abacavir (Ziagen), emtricitabine (Emtriva), and zidovudine (Retrovir).
• Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors: Examples include doravirine (Pifeltro), nevirapine (Viramune), and etravirine (Intelence).
• Protease inhibitors: Examples include atazanavir (Reyataz) and darunavir (Prezista).
• Combination medications: These include a mixture of medications from different classes. Examples include efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Atripla) and efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Symfi).

It’s important to start ART as soon as possible after receiving a diagnosis.

STI prevention guidelines

The only way to completely avoid STIs is to abstain from sexual contact. However, if you are sexually active, there are strategies that can help reduce your risk:

• Practicing safe sex: Using barrier methods like condoms can reduce your risk of getting STIs.
• Getting tested regularly: Regular testing can identify if you have an infection without showing any symptoms, which can help reduce transmission.
• Considering vaccination: Some STIs, including HPV, are preventable with a vaccine.
• Getting educated: Knowing more about STIs, including their symptoms and how they transmit, can help prevent them.

Online care for sexual health

If you think you may have an STI, you might experience feelings of shame or embarrassment. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s important to reach out to a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment to help stop further transmission and prevent complications.

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.

Summary

The best treatment for STIs depends on the specific infection you have. Some STIs, like chlamydia, are caused by bacteria, so antibiotics are the treatment of choice. Many others are viral infections, so antiviral drugs should be used.

Prevention is often the best treatment method. Practicing safe sex using barrier methods like condoms can help prevent transmission.

If you think you have an STI, speak with a healthcare professional or visit a sexual health clinic for diagnosis and treatment.

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