STI / STD Treatment, Diagnosis & Information
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STD / STI Incubation, Treatment & Information
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. When present, symptoms may include abnormal genital discharge, burning during urination, and pain during intercourse.
- Incubation Period: 7 to 21 days
- Treatment: Antibiotics such as azithromycin or doxycycline. Both partners should be treated simultaneously.
- Retesting: Recommended 3 months after treatment to check for reinfection.
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. Symptoms can include painful urination, abnormal discharge, and testicular pain in men, or pelvic pain in women.
- Incubation Period: 2 to 14 days
- Treatment: Antibiotics like ceftriaxone, often combined with azithromycin or doxycycline. Treatment of both partners is essential.
- Retesting: Recommended 3 months after treatment to ensure the infection is cleared and to check for reinfection.
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- Symptoms: Varies by stage. Primary stage includes a painless sore (chancre). Secondary stage may involve rash, mucous membrane lesions, and flu-like symptoms. Latent and tertiary stages can cause severe damage to organs.
- Incubation Period: 10 to 90 days (average 21 days)
- Treatment: Penicillin is the primary treatment. Doxycycline or tetracycline can be used for those allergic to penicillin.
- Retesting: Follow-up blood tests recommended at 6 and 12 months after treatment to confirm the infection is cured and to monitor for reinfection.
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- Symptoms: Painful blisters or sores on the genitals, rectum, or mouth. Other symptoms include itching, fever, and body aches. Symptoms can recur periodically.
- Incubation Period: 2 to 12 days
- Treatment: Antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. These manage outbreaks but do not cure the infection.
- Retesting: Generally not necessary, as herpes is a lifelong infection. Regular monitoring and symptom management are advised.
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. When present, symptoms may include genital warts, which are small, flesh-colored bumps. Some strains can cause cervical and other cancers.
- Incubation Period: 1 month to several years
- Treatment: No cure for HPV itself, but treatments for genital warts and cervical precancer include topical agents, cryotherapy, or surgery. Vaccination is recommended for prevention.
- Retesting: No retesting for the virus itself, but follow-up Pap smears or HPV tests may be recommended if there were abnormal cervical changes.
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- Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms during acute infection (fever, fatigue, sore throat). As the disease progresses, symptoms include weight loss, night sweats, and recurrent infections. AIDS is marked by severe immune system damage.
- Incubation Period: 2 to 4 weeks for acute symptoms; years for AIDS symptoms
- Treatment: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) to control the virus and prevent progression to AIDS.
- Retesting: Regular monitoring of viral load and CD4 counts is essential. Continuous treatment is required.
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they include itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort during urination, and discharge.
- Incubation Period: 5 to 28 days
- Treatment: Antibiotics like metronidazole or tinidazole. Both partners should be treated to prevent reinfection.
- Retesting: Women should be retested within 3 months after treatment due to the high rate of reinfection. Routine retesting in men is not typically recommended unless symptoms persist.
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- Symptoms: Symptoms may include fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, and joint pain. Many cases are asymptomatic.
- Incubation Period: 6 weeks to 6 months
- Treatment: Antiviral medications for chronic infections. Vaccination is the best prevention.
- Retesting: Chronic cases require regular monitoring of liver function and viral load. For acute infections, follow-up testing may be needed to confirm clearance.
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic in early stages. When present, symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, and abdominal pain. Chronic infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Incubation Period: 2 weeks to 6 months
- Treatment: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) can cure most cases. Treatment duration varies.
- Retesting: After completing treatment, retesting is recommended at 12 weeks post-treatment to confirm the virus is undetectable (sustained virologic response).
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- Symptoms: Often asymptomatic. When present, symptoms may include urethritis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.
- Incubation Period: 1 to 3 weeks
- Treatment: Antibiotics such as azithromycin or moxifloxacin. Proper diagnosis and follow-up are essential due to rising antibiotic resistance.
- Retesting: Retesting recommended 3 to 4 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection is cleared, especially due to potential antibiotic resistance.
- Symptoms: Small, firm, painless bumps on the skin. The bumps may become itchy or inflamed.
- Incubation Period: 2 to 6 weeks
- Treatment: Often resolves on its own, but treatments like cryotherapy or topical agents can be used.
- Retesting: Generally not necessary unless lesions persist or recur.
- Symptoms: Intense itching in the genital area, visible lice or eggs on the pubic hair.
- Incubation Period: 6 to 10 days
- Treatment: Permethrin cream or lotion and washing of clothing and bedding are necessary.
- Retesting: Not required if symptoms are resolved. However, monitoring is important to ensure the infestation is fully treated.
- Symptoms: Intense itching, especially at night, and a pimple-like rash. The itching is caused by mites burrowing into the skin.
- Incubation Period: 2 to 6 weeks (first infection); 1 to 4 days (reinfection)
- Treatment: Topical scabicides like permethrin or oral ivermectin. Treating close contacts is important to prevent reinfestation.
- Retesting: Not required if symptoms are resolved, but follow-up is important to ensure all mites and eggs are eliminated.
- Symptoms: Small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in the genital area. Warts can be raised or flat, single or multiple, and may sometimes resemble cauliflower in appearance. They may cause itching or discomfort, but are often painless.
- Incubation Period: 1 to 8 months, with most cases appearing within 3 months.
- Treatment: There is no cure for the virus that causes genital warts (HPV), but the warts themselves can be treated with topical treatments, cryotherapy (freezing), surgical removal, or laser treatments. The HPV vaccine can prevent most cases of genital warts.
- Retesting: Not typically required unless warts recur. Regular follow-up may be recommended to monitor for new warts, especially in cases with a history of recurrence.
How May I Proceed?
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STI / STD Treatment: Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean if an STD recurs after treatment?
If an STD recurs after treatment, it could be due to reinfection, particularly if your partner was not treated simultaneously, or if the infection wasn’t fully cleared during the initial treatment. Some STDs, like herpes, are chronic and can cause recurrent outbreaks even after treatment.
How long is the incubation period for most STDs?
The incubation period for STDs varies widely depending on the infection. For example, gonorrhea and chlamydia symptoms may appear within a few days to 3 weeks after exposure, while syphilis can take 10-90 days, and genital warts (caused by HPV) may take several months to years to develop. Some STDs may not show symptoms at all.
When should I get retested after treatment for an STD?
Retesting recommendations vary by STD. For example, it’s generally recommended to get retested for chlamydia and gonorrhea about 3 months after treatment to check for reinfection. For syphilis, follow-up blood tests may be recommended at 6 and 12 months. Always follow your healthcare provider's advice on retesting.
Can I be reinfected with the same STD after treatment?
Yes, you can be reinfected with the same STD if you’re exposed to the infection again, particularly if your partner hasn’t been treated. This is common with chlamydia and gonorrhea, which is why simultaneous treatment and safe sex practices are important.
What should I do if my STD symptoms return after treatment?
If your symptoms return after treatment, contact your healthcare provider immediately. This could indicate that the infection wasn’t fully treated, you’ve been reinfected, or there’s resistance to the treatment used. Your provider may recommend further testing and a different treatment approach.
Why do some STDs require retesting after treatment while others do not?
Retesting is necessary for some STDs because of the risk of reinfection or treatment failure, particularly for infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Other STDs, like herpes, are managed rather than cured, so retesting isn’t needed unless symptoms reappear or worsen.
How long should I wait after exposure to get tested for an STD?
The timing of STD testing depends on the incubation period of the infection. For example, HIV can be detected within 2-4 weeks, while syphilis might require 3 weeks to 3 months for reliable testing. It’s best to consult with a healthcare provider for guidance on the appropriate time to get tested based on potential exposure.
Can treatment for one STD cure other STDs?
Treatment for one STD will not necessarily cure another STD, as different infections require specific medications. For example, antibiotics used to treat gonorrhea may not be effective against syphilis or trichomoniasis. It’s important to get tested for multiple STDs if exposure is suspected and follow the specific treatment plan for each infection.
Is it necessary to finish all prescribed medication for an STD even if symptoms disappear?
Yes, it’s crucial to complete the full course of prescribed medication for an STD, even if symptoms disappear. Stopping treatment early can lead to incomplete clearance of the infection, potential recurrence, or antibiotic resistance.
How soon after treatment for an STD can I resume sexual activity?
You should wait until you and your partner(s) have completed treatment and are cleared by your healthcare provider before resuming sexual activity. This helps prevent reinfection and the spread of the STD. For some infections, like chlamydia or gonorrhea, this may mean waiting for about 7 days after completing antibiotics.
Directions
Opp Clarke Quay Station (B04239)
Bus No: 2, 12, 33, 54, 147, 190, 12E, TS3, 147A
Clarke Quay Station Exit E (B04222)
Bus No: NS1, NS2, 2, 2A, 12, 12E, 33, 51, 54, 61, 63, 80, 124, 145, 147, 166, 174, 174E, 190, 197, 851, 851E, 961, 961M
Opp High Street Centre (B04251)
Bus No: 32, 195, 195A
Boat Quay (B05029)
Bus No: NS1, NS2, 51, 61, 63, 63A, 80, 124, 145, 166, 174, 174E, 197, 851, 851E, 961, 961M
Clarke Quay Station (NE5)
Exit E
The Riverwalk Carpark
Mon-Fri Before 5/6pm: $2.00 for 1st hr, $1.00 for next subsequent 30min from 7am to 5pm
Mon-Fri after 5/6pm: $3.21/entry from 5pm to 7am the following day
Sat: $2.00 for 1st hr, $1.00 for next subsequent 30min from 7am to 5pm, $3.21/entry from 5pm to 7am the following day
Sun/PH: $3.21/entry from 7am to 7am the following day