Bodily fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal secretions may contain bacteria or viruses which cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, genital herpes, and chlamydia. Although people acquire these diseases sexually, sometimes infants contact such infections from the mother during pregnancy and childbirth. Fortunately, STD treatment in New York can help cure STDs caused by bacteria and manage viral infections. Your specialist may use one or a combination of the following treatments to manage your condition.
Antibiotics
Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia often need a single dose of antibiotics. Bacterial and parasitic infections cause these diseases, and antibiotics are usually functional since the medication blocks the vital processes of bacteria and stops them from multiplying. Your doctor will likely treat gonorrhea and chlamydia simultaneously since these infections often occur at the same time.
Doctors recommend patients complete the dose of antibiotics regardless of whether the symptoms have improved. You ensure all the bacteria are killed by finishing your prescription since the bacteria may still be present when symptoms fade away. Inform your doctor if you have doubts about complying with your prescription and discuss another shorter treatment course.
Once you’ve completed your prescription, it is essential to abstain from sex for at least a week to avoid reinfection. Women are highly susceptible to reinfections and should get retested after approximately three months.
Antiviral drugs
Infections caused by viruses such as herpes and HIV do not cure but can be managed. If you have one of these, your doctor will prescribe an antiviral drug that reduces the disease’s flare-ups. Although these drugs suppress the virus, you can still transmit the infection to your partner through intercourse.
These drugs are also used for patients with HIV, and they help keep the virus in check for many years. However, patients still carry the virus, although the risk of transmission is lower. Doctors advise treatment as soon as possible once you are diagnosed with HIV. Most people who take their medication as required lead healthy lives, and sometimes the viral load in the blood significantly reduces and can hardly be detected.
Finding out you have an STD can trigger several feelings such as anger, shame, and betrayal. However, it is best to employ healthy coping mechanisms such as:
- Avoid blaming other people for your condition. For example, you may easily assume that your partner has been unfaithful, yet you may have contracted the disease from your previous relationship.
- Try as much as you can to be honest with your caregiver without fear of being judged. Their job is to help you get better, and all your data is usually confidential.
Most people may shy away from seeking help and resort to self-treatment. However, experts advise against this since STDs are severe and contagious. If you have STD symptoms such as penis discharge and pain during sex, book a session with your doctor at Urologist: Michael Rotman, MD, for treatment to improve your health.
