After You've Been Diagnosed With An STD...
By Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
A sexually transmitted disease diagnosis can be extremely stressful. You may feel dirty, or feel you've been betrayed. It is important to remember, however, that STDs are just diseases. You shouldn't feel bad about yourself just because you have one. At this point, it's time to talk to your doctor about STD treatment, and to your partner about responsibility. If you know who you got the STD from, they should be tested and treated as well, and you should let any former partners know that they might be at risk. More than ever, while you're being treated, you'll need to practice safe sex.
Treatment
The first question a person often has when they've been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease is, "Can it be cured?" Although not all STDs can be cured, most can, and all can be treated to relieve symptoms and reduce the possibility of transmission to your sexual partners. You can learn more about the treatment for specific STDs below, but remember that even if you're cured once, it doesn't mean you can't be infected again.
Living with STDs
Some sexually transmitted diseases cannot be cured. When that's the case, the only thing you can do is live with them, stay as healthy as possible, and try to protect your partners. Being diagnosed with an incurable STD is not the end of your life, it just means that you have to live a little differently.
- Living With Herpes
- I've Never Had a Herpes Outbreak, Do I Need Treatment?
- Dating Sites for People With STDs (category)
- How Do STDs Increase HIV Risk?
- HPV and Throat Cancer
STDs & Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be the most incredible time of a woman's life. Unfortunately, it's also a time when women have to be careful about what they allow into their bodies -- and sexually transmitted diseases are no exception to that rule. Many sexually transmitted diseases can have negative effects on the pregnancy, but fortunately these effects can usually be minimized if the conditions are caught and treated early. STD screening is possibly even more important during pregnancy than it is at other points of a person's life.
STD Screenings - STDs In The Media
If you've been diagnosed with an STD, it can be difficult to discuss it with your partner, friends, or family. Sometimes seeing your condition on television, or in a movie, can put the disease in a new light and make it easier to talk about. Here are some good conversation starters...
