STI treatment, and what is included

Most STIs are treated quickly and effectively, often with a single course of antibiotics. This article sets out how the common infections are treated, what a test of cure is and when you need one, and what is included in your care so there are no surprises. No judgement, no assumptions: treatment is routine, and the goal is to get you sorted with as little fuss as possible.

How the common infections are treated

The bacterial STIs are curable, and treatment is usually short:

• Chlamydia: a course of antibiotic tablets, taken twice a day for seven days, which clears the infection in over ninety-five percent of cases.

• Gonorrhoea: a single antibiotic injection. Because gonorrhoea can be resistant to some antibiotics, the laboratory checks which ones will work against your particular infection.

• Syphilis: an antibiotic injection, with follow-up blood tests over the following months to confirm the treatment has worked.

• Trichomonas: a course of antibiotic tablets.

Treatment is matched to the specific infection and to you, including any allergies or other medication you take. The doctor explains what you are taking, how to take it, and what to expect while you do.

What a test of cure is

A test of cure is a repeat test after treatment to confirm the infection has gone. It is not needed for every infection. Chlamydia, for example, does not usually need a test of cure unless you are pregnant or your symptoms persist. Gonorrhoea does need one, taken at the right interval after treatment, because resistance makes confirmation worthwhile. Syphilis is followed with blood tests at set points. The doctor tells you whether you need a test of cure and exactly when to have it.

While you are being treated

To stop the infection bouncing back and forth, you will usually be asked to avoid sex until treatment is complete, and for some infections until a follow-up test is clear. Recent partners should be tested and treated too, so that you are not re-infected the moment your own course finishes. Our article on partner notification covers how that is handled, including the anonymous option.

What your care includes

For infections treated with a prescription our own pharmacy dispenses, which covers most chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomonas, the treatment is part of your care rather than a separate hurdle. Alongside the medicine, your care includes the doctor's review of your results, partner-notification advice so you know what to tell whom, and any test of cure that is clinically needed.

Some conditions sit outside a simple course of treatment. HIV and hepatitis C, for instance, need ongoing specialist management, so the consultation does not cover the long-term specialist care that follows a referral. The doctor is clear about this distinction at the time, so you always know what is included and what is being arranged elsewhere on your behalf.

Will it definitely work

For the common bacterial STIs, treatment works in the great majority of cases, and where a test of cure is advised it is there to confirm exactly that. The main reasons treatment occasionally falls short are re-infection from an untreated partner, not finishing the course, or, for gonorrhoea, antibiotic resistance, which is why the lab checks sensitivities and why a follow-up test matters. Following the plan, completing the course, and making sure partners are treated covers nearly all of it.

When treatment needs to escalate

A small number of presentations need more than a standard course. Pelvic infection, infection of the testicles, syphilis affecting the nervous system, and a widespread gonococcal infection all need prompt, more intensive treatment and sometimes specialist referral. The doctor recognises these and acts on them quickly. They are uncommon, but they are exactly the kind of thing a clinical assessment is there to catch before they become serious.

The honest summary

Most STIs are cured with a short course of antibiotics. Some need a test of cure to confirm success, and the doctor will tell you if yours does. Treatment for the infections our pharmacy dispenses is part of your care, along with results review and partner advice. The few conditions that need specialist care are referred, and you will always know which is which.

Ready to start?

If you want to move from reading to acting, the next step is a short, confidential assessment with one of our doctors. No judgement, no assumptions.

Begin your assessment at this link. Online or in person at Westfield London.