Can gonorrhea or chlamydia go away on its own

Can STDs go away on their own? People may hope that STDs will clear up on their own because they want to avoid getting tested and everything that goes with it: the embarrassment of going to a clinic or your doctor, the hassle of getting a prescription, and broaching the subject with your partner.

Contrary to popular STD myths, most STDs will not clear up on their own, and many get worse the longer they go without being treated, causing more and more harm to your health. To go into why and how to treat different STDs, let’s first break them down into their three main categories: bacterial, parasitic, and viral.

Can STDs caused by parasites or bacteria go away on their own?

Parasitic and bacterial STDs do not clear up on their own and always require prescription treatment. STDs caused by bacteria include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. STDs caused by parasites include trich, scabies, and pubic lice. All of these STDs are curable, but they require a diagnosis and a doctor’s prescription. Left untreated, these STDs can cause health complications and spread to sexual partners, so it’s important to get tested and treated regularly.

If left untreated, some bacterial infections can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility for men and women, and infection of the testicles. Chlamydia can also cause arthritis associated with eye and urethra inflammation, and gonorrhea can cause bloodstream infections.

Untreated syphilis can damage the nervous system, heart, joints, liver, blood vessels, and eyes and may even cause death.

Can STDs caused by viruses go away on their own?

Viral STDs are the only STDs that have the potential to clear up on their own. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HPV, for instance, may go away without any treatment or they may continue to cause health problems. Other like HIV and herpes, stay in the body for life.

Some people who contract hepatitis B or C will clear the virus from their system without any treatment. People whose immune systems don’t clear the virus develop chronic hepatitis, in which the virus later causes liver disease and even liver cancer.

There are more than 150 strains of HPV, and many do clear up on their own without causing any symptoms. However, other strains of HPV don’t go away and can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer.

As for HIV and herpes, there is no known cure for either of these STDs. However, while they are incurable, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to the doctor or seek a diagnosis or treatment as soon as possible. With both of these STDs, early detection and treatment are essential. Antiviral medication for herpes can lessen the severity and duration of outbreaks, increasing comfort for the person infected with herpes, and reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to a partner. Antiviral medication given to people infected with HIV significantly reduces the complications of the infection, reduces the likelihood of spreading the disease to a partner, delays the onset of AIDS, and lengthens lifespan to near-normal.

Treatment for STDs

Because STDs are often asymptomatic, it’s important to remember that the absence of symptoms does not mean that an infection isn’t present. Similarly, if you experience symptoms related to an STD and the symptoms eventually go away, this doesn’t mean the STD has gone away. This is also important to remember even if you’re receiving STD treatment. Many people will stop taking the medication they’ve been prescribed as soon as their symptoms clear up, but it’s important to finish whatever course of medication has been prescribed by the doctor. Not finishing a course of antibiotics can prevent the infection from going away and can contribute to more antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, making it more difficult to cure in the future.

So, can STDs go away on their own? In almost all cases, no. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re getting tested frequently and practicing safer sex. Find convenient STD testing centers near you and get tested today with Priority STD.

Reviewed on August 22, 2022

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How long can chlamydia last without treatment?

Being tested means that you can be treated, and the proper treatment will help clear up a chlamydial infection in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, if you don't get tested or don't see a healthcare provider for treatment, chlamydia can live in the body for weeks, months, or even years without being detected.

How long does gonorrhea go away on its own?

If you have any symptoms of gonorrhoea, these will usually improve within a few days, although it may take up to 2 weeks for any pain in your pelvis or testicles to disappear completely.

Can gonorrhea be gone by itself?

If left untreated, gonorrhea usually resolves naturally, but can also cause serious health problems. For women this could include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) and inability to have a baby.

What happens if chlamydia and gonorrhea are left untreated?

Although symptoms may not have occurred, chlamydia and gonorrhea represent serious health threats. If left untreated, the infection from these diseases can spread into the pelvic area and infect the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries – which, in turn, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).