STDs: Transmission, Treatment & Prevention Essentials

Transmission Routes

• Penetrative sex (vaginal/anal): Infected fluids (semen, vaginal, blood) contact mucosa.
• Oral sex: Saliva/fluids → throat/genital mucosa (gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV, HIV).
• Skin-to-skin contact: HPV, herpes, syphilis (chancre), molluscum.
• Shared sex toys: Without cleaning/condom covering.
• Blood: Needle sharing, unscreened transfusions (rare now).
• Perinatal: Mother-to-child (syphilis, HIV, HSV, HBV).

Treatment by Etiology

• Bacterial (curable): Gonorrhea (ceftriaxone), chlamydia (azithromycin/doxycycline), syphilis (penicillin G).
• Viral (manageable): Herpes (acyclovir/valacyclovir suppressive), HIV (ART), HPV (no cure; vaccines prevent), HBV (vaccine, antivirals).
• Parasitic: Trichomoniasis (metronidazole).

Prevention

• Condoms (every act, every partner).
• Vaccines: HPV (9-valent), Hep A/B.
• Regular testing (asymptomatic screening).
• Mutual monogamy + testing.
• PrEP for HIV.
• Expedited partner therapy (EPT) where legal.

Untreated STDs cause infertility, chronic pain, cancer, neonatal harm, and increased HIV susceptibility.