Can STIs be cured?
How do you get a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
If I don't have symptoms, can I still have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Can I be tested for herpes even if I don't have any sores?
Can I be tested for HPV even if no warts are present?
What is the connection between HPV, genital warts, and cervical cancer?
If my partner and I use condoms most of the time, do we need to worry about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
If I contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) does my partner need to be treated, too?
If my partner doesn't sleep around, why should I worry about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be divided into two main groups:

• Bacterial-Bacterial STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, can be treated and cured.
• Viral-Viral STIs like genital warts (also called human papilloma virus, or HPV) can be removed and in some cases the body eliminates the strain of the HPV virus that originally caused the warts. HIV and herpes can be treated with medication to lessen the symptoms, but they cannot be cured.

Some STIs, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women. PID can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes, leaving a woman unable to become pregnant.

It is important for sexually active people to have sexually transmitted infection tests at least once a year. If you do have an STI, you can get early treatment and you prevent or avoid serious long-term health problems. Planned Parenthood Golden Gate offers STI testing and treatment.

HIV is a sexually transmitted disease; for a full discussion, see FAQ: HIV/AIDS.

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STIs can be spread through unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sexual intercourse. STIs can also be passed from a woman to her newborn during childbirth. You can reduce the risk of getting an STI by not having sexual intercourse or by using a new condom during every act of sexual intercourse.

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People with STIs don't always have symptoms. However, their reproductive systems can still be damaged and they can still pass the STI to another person.

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Clinicians diagnose herpes by testing fluid taken from the sores. Sores are often seen during pelvic exams. If you suspect you have herpes sores, see a clinician as soon as possible - before the sores dry up.

Learn more about the Herpes Virus.

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Women can be tested for the HPV virus even if there are no warts present by having a Pap test or other new viral tests. If the Pap test is abnormal the woman will be asked to come back into the clinic in a few months. Repeated abnormal Pap tests may indicate the presence of the HPV virus. The only way for men to be tested for the HPV virus is to wait until they have an outbreak of warts.

A clinician will perform a visual examination of the warts or may use a coloposcope (microscope) to look at them.

Read more about HPV, Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer.

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Some types of HPV cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and penis. But the kinds of HPV that cause genital warts do not seem to be directly associated with these cancers. However, genital warts may accompany other genital HPV infections, and an infected person may have-and pass along-more than one type of HPV. That's why many clinicians consider all infections to be warnings of potentially cancerous conditions.

Learn more about the connection between HPV, Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer.

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Yes. You or your partner must wear a new condom with every single act of intercourse in order to reduce your risk of contracting STIs. Using a condom sometimes, or even most of the time, will not adequately protect against STIs.

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If you have an STI, your partner needs to be tested and may need to be treated also. If your partner is not treated, he or she may have the STI and pass it back to you. In order to break the cycle, all partners need to be treated.

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Even if you're in a long-term, exclusive relationship, you should still worry about STIs. Maybe your relationship isn't as exclusive as you think. Or you or your partner may have an STI that you do not know about.

Not all STIs have obvious symptoms. Further, only some STIs are tested for in a routine pelvic exam. For example, PPGG tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia during all routine pelvic exams. PPGG can also perform tests for genital warts (HPV), syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Hepatitis B can be very difficult to diagnose. Herpes also may be difficult to diagnose, unless a person has an outbreak at the time of their clinic visit. Also, it can take up to six months for HIV to show up on a test. For these reasons, it always best to use a condom (female or male) with every act of sexual intercourse.

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