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4 STIs that cannot be cured

For many people, unintended pregnancy is still among the biggest concerns after unprotected sex.

Times have changed and the fact that HIV is super preventable through the use of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) has completely made us forget about other sexually transmitted infections/diseases (STI/Ds).

STIs have a direct impact on one’s sexual and reproductive health as some can lead to infertility, cancer, or pregnancy complications and can increase the risk of HIV.

The Incurable STIs

Many STIs are curable however some are not as they can only be managed through various medications. They include:

Hepatitis B

It can be spread through sex and results in a liver infection. It’s the primary cause of liver cirrhosis that leads to liver failure/ damage. It’s one of the highly contagious infections and can be transmitted through contact with semen, vaginal fluids, blood, and urine. A vaccine for the prevention of Hepatitis B is available and usually recommended for people working in healthcare settings because of the exposure. If someone contacts the infection the damages done to the liver cannot be reversed.

Herpes:

Ever heard the phrase ‘I am like herpes, you can’t get rid of me?’ This is because herpes cannot be cured, only managed. This infection manifests in two main forms: It exists/lives in the mouth in form of cold sores and also one is around the genitals. These sores are most likely to break causing painful sores in about two weeks. Often, they go unnoticed. Herpes can be contacted and transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a sexually transmitted infection. It’s one of the chronic diseases that severely attacks one’s immune system if infected. If it goes untreated it grows into AIDS which causes death. For years of vaccine and cure research, scientists have only been able to develop prevention technology and support drugs Antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication to treat HIV reduce the effects of the virus in the body and chances of infecting another person.

HPV

Human Papillomavirus is one of the most common STD apart from HIV. Most of the time HPV goes undetected making it another health problem among women and men and even young people who are sexually active. It is incurable thus protection is less expensive than treatment.

Key takeaways:

Safe and highly effective vaccines are available for 2 viral STIs: hepatitis B and HPV. These vaccines have represented major advances in STI prevention.
Safe sex is the only way to protect one from most STIs
Scheduling time for a genital check-up with your gynecologist is important to rule out HPV and cervical cancer.
Don’t hesitate to visit a doctor anytime you feel a little discomfort around your genitals
Incurable STIs cannot be cured but can be managed through treatment and medication.