Positive STD Test Result? STD Treatment and Next Steps

• Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can either be cured or treated with medication. There’s no cure for HIV/AIDs or herpes, but medications can treat these conditions. 

• Gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. 

• In most people, human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B will go away on their own.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called sexually transmitted infections or STIs, have been around for thousands of years, and they’re becoming more common. 

In fact, over 50% of people in the U.S. will experience an STD in their lifetime. But even though they’re common, it can be upsetting to find out you have an STD. You may have questions about your infection, whether medication can help, and what to expect in the future. 

What are STIs?

STIs are infections passed between people during sexual contact — especially with direct contact of the genitals, anus, mouth, or skin. STIs can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or even parasites.

There are more than 35 different types of STIs. The most common STIs in the U.S. are:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Herpes

• Trichomoniasis

• Chlamydia

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Gonorrhea

• Syphilis

• Hepatitis B

STI treatment: Can STIs be treated or cured?

Yes. Many STIs are totally curable, and all of them can be treated. Some even go away on their own. 

So, if you test positive for an STI, make sure to follow up with a healthcare provider for treatment. The exact treatment you’ll need depends on which STI you have. Let’s break down the different treatments for each STI and if you need to take additional steps to keep yourself healthy. 

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. It’s the most common bacterial STI in the U.S. It can affect your genitals, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a very common STI that’s caused by a bacteria. Just like chlamydia, it can affect your genitals, anus, urethra, eyes, and throat.

Herpes

Herpes is caused by two types of viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. These viruses can cause blistering sores in your mouth (oral herpes) and genitals (genital herpes). 

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can spread through sexual contact. It’s also spread by sharing toothbrushes, razors, and needles. There are other types of hepatitis, but hepatitis B is the most likely to be spread through sex.

HIV and AIDS

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If not treated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) — the most serious stage of HIV. You can get HIV from having sex or from using a contaminated needle. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of over 200 different viruses. These viruses are usually harmless and go away on their own. But in some people, they can cause cancers and genital warts. HPV infections are the most common STIs in the U.S.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can affect different parts of the body. The number of cases of syphilis is going up throughout the U.S.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis (also called “trich”) is an infection caused by a parasite.

Talking to your healthcare provider

No matter how you get tested, you’ll need to see a healthcare provider for treatment and follow up if you have an STI. If you have a primary care provider or an OB/GYN, that’s a great place to start. You can also see an online provider through a telehealth service. 

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It’s OK if you feel a little uncomfortable talking to your healthcare provider about STIs. You’re not the only one who feels that way. Just remember that your provider is there to help you — and they’ve seen and heard it all before.

How often should you get screened for STIs?

Because STIs are so common, it’s a good idea to get tested from time to time — especially since STIs don’t always cause obvious symptoms.

How often you need to be screened varies from person to person. You may need to be screened more often if you:

• Are pregnant

• Have multiple sexual partners

• Are a man who has sex with men

• Have unprotected sex 

• Are under the age of 25

• Have a sexual partner with an STI

How can you prevent STIs in the future?

The best way to prevent an STI is to not have sex — oral, vaginal, or anal. But if you’re sexually active, practicing safer sex can definitely lower your risk of getting an STI. Some tips include:

• Get vaccinated. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent hepatitis B and the type of HPV that causes cancer.

• Use a latex or polyurethane condom. Using a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex lowers your risk of getting many STIs. Condoms aren’t always as great at protecting you against STIs that can be spread from skin-to-skin contact, like herpes or HPV, but they can still help. Internal condoms may also effectively prevent the risk of STIs, but more studies are needed to see how well they work. 

• Have fewer partners. Decreasing the number of sexual partners you have can lower your risk of getting an STI.

• Consider mutual monogamy. This means you only have one sexual partner, who also agrees to be sexually active only with you. 

• Talk with your partner. Have an honest conversation with your partner about your sexual histories. Get tested before having sex.

• Be safe. Avoiding excessive substance use with alcohol and drugs before and during sex will mean you’re less likely to take risks.

• Get screened. If you’re sexually active, getting regular screening is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy.

• Use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). If you’re at risk of getting HIV from sex, Truvada (emtricitabine / tenofovir) and Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) are medications that can be taken every day to help prevent you from getting HIV. This may be right for you if you have a partner with HIV, or if you don’t consistently use a condom during sex.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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