There are some STI that are curable and others that cannot be cured. HIV is fatal, meaning that anyone who gets HIV may eventually die from AIDS. There is treatment available to slow down the disease and reduce the symptoms, but no cure. Syphilis is another STI that people can die from if it is left untreated for a long time. However, Syphilis is totally curable with antibiotics.

There are three different kinds of sexually transmitted diseases: bacterial, viral, and parasitic.

• Bacterial infections are caused by a germ or bacteria. They include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. These can be cured by taking antibiotics.
• Viral infections are carried in a person’s body and can’t be cured by medicine. They include herpes, HPV, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. The symptoms–sores, warts, or other health problems–can be treated, but the virus may stay with the person for life, and can be passed to partners.
• Parasitic infections are tiny bugs that live in the pubic hair and genital area. They include scabies and pubic lice (“crabs”). They can be spread during sexual contact and from sharing bath towels, bedding, and clothing. You can get rid of scabies and lice with prescription soap.