STDs That Cannot Be Cured - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeSexual HealthSexually Transmitted Diseases: Curable and Incurable

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Alex Snyder — Updated on July 26, 2018

Types
Incurable STDs
Outlook

Most STDs can be cured with medication. Incurable STDs, like hepatitis B and herpes, can still be effectively managed with treatment.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are contracted from person to person through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. STDs are extremely common. In fact, 20 million new cases are reported in the United States each year, with 50 percent of these cases generally affecting people between the ages of 15 and 24.

The good news is that most STDs are curable and even those without a cure can be effectively managed or minimized with treatment.

List of STDs

There are many different STDs, such as:

HIV
hepatitis
chancroid
trichomoniasis
genital warts
herpes
gonorrhea
chlamydia
syphilis
scabies
pubic lice
molluscum contagiosum
lymphogranuloma venereum

If you haven’t heard of some of the above, it’s because many of these STDs are uncommon. The eight most common STDs are:

syphilis
hepatitis B
gonorrhea
herpes simplex virus
chlamydia
HIV
trichomoniasis
human papillomavirus (HPV)

Out of these eight infections, only four are incurable.

Incurable STDs

Most STDs are curable through the use of antibiotics or antiviral medications. However, there are still four incurable STDs:

hepatitis B
herpes
HIV
HPV

Even though these infections can’t be cured, they can be managed with treatment and medication.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of liver cancer. Babies usually receive a vaccine against this infection at birth, but many adults born before 1991 may not have received the vaccine.

Most cases of hepatitis B don’t cause symptoms and most adults can fight the infection on their own. If you have hepatitis B, your best option is to speak to your doctor about checking 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 is one of two chronic viral STDs. Herpes is very common — over 500 million people are estimated to have herpes worldwide.

Herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Many people with herpes may not know they have it because they show no symptoms. However, when there are symptoms, they come in the form of painful sores around the genitals or anus.

Luckily, herpes is very treatable 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 for you.

HIV

HIV is the other chronic viral STD. Thanks to modern medicine, many people with HIV can live long, healthy lives with practically no risk of infecting others through sex.

The main treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy. These drugs reduce the amount of HIV in the blood to undetectable levels.

HPV

Human papillomavirus is extremely common. About 9 out of 10 sexually active people will contract HPV. About 90 percent 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

Many children are vaccinated to protect against different forms of HPV. Pap smears for women check for HPV once every few years. Genital warts can be removed with creams, liquid nitrogen, acid, or minor surgery.

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.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Basic information about HPV andcancer. (2013).https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/index.htm
Human papillomavirus (HPV):Questions and answers. (2018).https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/questions-answers.html
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinesafety. (2018).https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv-vaccine.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017).Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351246
Sexually transmitted infections(STIs). (2016). http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
STDs/STIs. (n.d.). http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/
STDs and HIV [Fact sheet]. (2017). https://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/stdfact-std-hiv.htm
What are some types of andtreatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmittedinfections (STIs)? (2017). https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/stds/conditioninfo/types
What is HPV? (2016).https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/whatishpv.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Alex Snyder — Updated on July 26, 2018

STDs That Cannot Be Cured - Healthline

List of STDs

Incurable STDs

Hepatitis B

Herpes

HIV

HPV

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

related stories

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Four Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections - All You Need To Know

Treatments For Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) - WebMD

Is There A Cure For Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) And Sexually ...

Are Any STDs Not Curable? - Blog | Everlywell: Home Health Testing ...

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) - Diagnosis And Treatment

Which STDs Are Not Curable? - KMD Law

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Cannot Be Cured - Vinmec

How Sexually Transmitted Diseases Can Be Cured

Are Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Curable? - Verywell Health

Getting Treatment For STIs - Fraser Health Authority

STD Awareness: Will STDs Go Away On Their Own?

The Best Treatments For HPV, Gonorrhea, And Other STIs/STDs

Sexual Healing: Which STDs Can & Cannot Be Cured

Contact