Which STDs Are Curable and How the Others Are Treated
If you have just tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI), or think you might have one, the first question is usually whether it will go away. The CDC says every STI can be treated with medicine, and some can be cured completely.[1] Which STDs are curable comes down to what causes them.
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium can all be cured with the right medicine.[2][3][4][5][6] Herpes, HIV, HPV and hepatitis B cannot be cured, but treatment can control them.[7][8][9][10] Starfish.com offers online treatment for several of the curable infections, and for herpes.
Curable and Manageable STDs at a Glance
| Infection | Can it be cured? | What treatment does |
|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | Yes[2] | A prescription antibiotic clears the infection[2] |
| Gonorrhea | Yes[3] | A prescription antibiotic clears it, though some strains are getting harder to treat[3] |
| Syphilis | Yes[4] | Antibiotics cure it, but may not undo damage it has already caused[4] |
| Trichomoniasis | Yes[5] | Prescription tablets clear the infection[5] |
| Mycoplasma genitalium | Yes[6] | Two antibiotics, one after the other. It is often resistant to azithromycin[6] |
| Genital herpes | No[7] | Antiviral tablets shorten outbreaks, and daily use means fewer of them[7][11] |
| Oral herpes (cold sores) | No, sores can come back[13] | Antiviral medicine helps sores heal sooner, especially when started at the first sign. The virus can spread to the genitals through oral sex[13] |
| HIV | No[8] | Treatment can lower the virus until a test cannot find it. At that point it is not passed on through sex[8] |
| HPV | No treatment for the virus itself[9] | Most infections clear on their own. Warts and cell changes it causes can be treated[9][12] |
| Hepatitis B | No[10] | Medicines help some people with long-term infection. A vaccine prevents it[10] |
The STDs Antibiotics Can Cure
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and M. genitalium are bacterial infections, and antibiotics cure them. Trichomoniasis is caused by a tiny parasite.[5] It is the most common curable STI, and prescription tablets cure it too.[5]
Cured is not the same as protected. Treatment clears the infection you have now. It does not stop you getting it again. The CDC notes that repeat chlamydia is common,[2] and about 1 in 5 people get trich again within 3 months of treatment.[5] That is why the CDC advises:
- not having sex until you and your partner have both finished treatment[2][5]
- testing again about 3 months after treatment, even if your partner was treated[2][3][5]
- never sharing your medicine with anyone[2][3]
Some infections need more care to cure. It is becoming harder to treat some gonorrhea.[3] M. genitalium is often resistant to the antibiotic azithromycin, so the CDC recommends a course of two antibiotics, one after the other.[6] If your symptoms carry on for more than a few days after treatment, see a healthcare provider.[3]
Start Treatment for a Curable STI
Request treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis or M. genitalium. A licensed clinician reviews your answers and, if treatment is right for you, sends the prescription to your pharmacy.
The STDs That Stay, and How They Are Managed
A virus that cannot be cured can still be controlled well. Treatment for these infections works by keeping the virus in check.
Genital herpes. There is no cure, but medicine can prevent or shorten outbreaks.[7] The CDC recommends three antiviral tablets: acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.[11] Taken daily, they cut outbreaks by 70% to 80% in people who get them often.[11] Daily valacyclovir also lowers the chance of passing herpes to a partner.[11] Antiviral creams offer little benefit for genital herpes, so the CDC recommends tablets.[11]
HIV. There is no cure, but treatment works very well. It can bring the amount of virus in the blood so low that a test cannot detect it. A person with an undetectable viral load does not pass HIV on through sex.[8]
HPV. There is no treatment for the virus itself, but most people clear it on their own.[12] About 9 in 10 infections go away within 2 years.[9] Treatment focuses on the problems HPV can cause, such as genital warts and changes to cells that could lead to cancer.[12]
Hepatitis B. Medicines for long-term hepatitis B are not a cure, and they help only some people. Vaccination is the best way to prevent it.[10]
Getting Treatment Online
With Starfish.com, you can request treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium, and for genital herpes and cold sores. If you already have a test result, mention it in your questionnaire.
A licensed clinician reviews your answers, and if treatment is right for you, the prescription goes to the pharmacy you chose, usually within 1 to 2 hours. You pay for the medication at the pharmacy, the same way you would with a prescription from your own doctor.
When to go in person instead. HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B need blood tests and ongoing care, so see a healthcare provider or a local clinic. If you are pregnant, contact your obstetrician. We do not treat anyone who is pregnant.
FAQ
Which STDs are curable with antibiotics?
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and Mycoplasma genitalium are cured with antibiotics.[2][3][4][6] Trichomoniasis is also curable with prescription tablets.[5]
Does Starfish.com offer online treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea?
Yes. You can request chlamydia treatment or gonorrhea treatment online by answering a questionnaire. If a licensed clinician approves it, we send the prescription to your pharmacy, usually within 1 to 2 hours.
What are the best antiviral medications for herpes?
The CDC recommends acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir tablets, and does not rank one above the others.[11] We offer acyclovir and valacyclovir for genital herpes.
Can you get the same STD again after it is cured?
Yes. A cure does not give you immunity. Repeat chlamydia is common,[2] which is why the CDC advises testing again about 3 months after treatment.[2][3]
If an STD cannot be cured, can I still protect my partner?
Yes, treatment helps. Daily valacyclovir lowers the chance of passing herpes to a partner,[11] and HIV treatment that keeps the virus undetectable prevents passing it on through sex.[8]
Get the Right Treatment Today
Curable or manageable, start with an online questionnaire. A licensed clinician reviews it and, if treatment is right for you, sends the prescription to your pharmacy within 1 to 2 hours.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).” https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Chlamydia.” https://www.cdc.gov/chlamydia/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Gonorrhea.” https://www.cdc.gov/gonorrhea/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Syphilis.” https://www.cdc.gov/syphilis/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Trichomoniasis.” https://www.cdc.gov/trichomoniasis/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Mycoplasma genitalium.” Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/mycoplasmagenitalium.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About Genital Herpes.” https://www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About HIV.” https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About HPV.” https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Hepatitis B Basics.” https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/about/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection.” Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/herpes.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection.” Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/hpv.htm
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. “Oral herpes.” Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000606.htm
