What's the difference between a bacterial and viral STD?

The main difference between these two categories of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), now more commonly referred to as sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, is what causes them — bacterial STIs are caused by bacteria and viral STIs are caused by viruses. As a result of being caused by different microorganisms, bacterial and viral STIs vary in their treatment. Bacterial STIs, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, are often cured with antibiotics. However, viral STIs, such as HIV, HPV (genital warts), herpes, and hepatitis (the only STI that can be prevented with a vaccine) — the four Hs, have no cure, but their symptoms can be alleviated with treatment.

In addition to bacteria and viruses, STIs can also be caused by protozoa (trichomoniasis) and other organisms (crabs/pubic lice and scabies). These STIs can be cured with antibiotics or topical creams/lotions.

One of the most common symptoms of an STI is no symptom, so it's important to go for check-ups (for example, up to 80 percent of women and 40 percent of men diagnosed with chlamydia may not experience symptoms). STIs need to be diagnosed correctly and fully treated as soon as possible to avoid complications that could be serious and/or permanent.

Most of all, prevention rules. If you're sexually active with more than one person, or with someone who's sexually active with more people than you, "respect yourself, protect yourself" by having safer sex and getting regular check-ups. For safer sex guidelines, read What's an STD? in Alice's Sexual Health archive.

Alice

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What's an STD?

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