Top 10 Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatments
By STD Concern
In today's modern world, there are treatments available for all sexually transmitted infections and diseases. In most cases, a course of medication and proper self-care will resolve many STIs. Even if a cure isn't possible, treatment options exist to lessen the patient's symptoms and improve their quality of life. Below, we've listed the medical care options for each STI and STD.
1) Chlamydia
Since chlamydia is a bacterial infection, it's easily treated with an antibiotic. Doctors most frequently prescribe doxycycline or azithromycin (Zithromax). Treatment should clear up the infection entirely in 1 to 2 weeks, at the very most.
2) Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea can be treated by antibiotics, like azithromycin, or with a vaccine, such as ceftriaxone or cefixime. Either of these treatments are available at your doctor's office. Symptoms should resolve after a week of receiving either the pill or the injection.
3) Hepatitis A
There is no course of treatment available for hepatitis A. In most cases, the body will either fight off the infection on its own. If this can't occur, the virus will become chronic. Patients are encouraged to rest, eat enough, and refrain from drinking alcohol or taking medications that could irritate their liver.
4) Hepatitis B
Doctors only advise treatment for hepatitis B if the virus becomes chronic. At the acute stage, it's expected to clear on its own. For patients with chronic hepatitis B, antiviral medications, interferon alfa-2b injections, or even a liver transplant are all options. Liver transplants are only used in extreme cases, where the person's organ is irreversibly damaged.
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5) Hepatitis C
The treatment of hepatitis C is very similar to hepatitis B. Doctors will first recommend antiviral medications. Their goal is remove the virus within 12 weeks. If the hepatitis C doesn't respond to this treatment, or if the liver is too damaged, then a transplant is often necessary.
6) Genital Herpes
There is no cure for genital herpes, but antiviral drugs are available to help manage the symptoms. The most popular medications are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). If flair-ups still occur, these pills can lessen the symptoms and their duration too.
7) Oral Herpes
For oral herpes, patients often manage their treatment at home and the sores disappear over time. In severe cases, doctors may offer topical creams to relieve discomfort, such as Lidocaine, Novocain, and Xylocaine. No known cure exists at this time.
8/9) HIV 1 and HIV 2
When it comes to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there are more treatment options for HIV 1 than HIV 2. HIV 1 is thought to be managed through antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART involves a daily regime of medications in pill form. This is not a cure, but the treatment tends to lessen symptoms and allows the patient to live a fuller life. It's unclear whether HIV 2 responds as positively to ART, since clinical trials have yet to be conducted.
10) Syphilis
In its early stages, syphilis is most often treated with a penicillin injection. If the patient is allergic to this medication, the infection can be cured by an oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline, azithromycin, or ceftriaxone. Patients have to abstain from sexual contact, until all of their sores are fully healed.
Conclusion
If you require treatment for a possible STI or STD, contact your doctor immediately. To safeguard your sexual health, remember to always practice safe sex and make appointments for regular gynecological exams. Your partner(s) should also be tested if you contract an sexual infection. The only way to get most of these medications is through a Doctor or Healthcare Practitioner.
