HIV & STI Treatment
HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have a variety of impacts on a person’s health and wellbeing. Some of these impacts may be minor or unnoticeable, and others may be serious, potentially resulting in severe illness.
The great news is that thanks to scientific and medical advances, most STIs can be cured or controlled effectively with treatment.
If you’ve been sexually active and experience any of the symptoms outlined below, consider speaking with a health care provider and getting tested to ensure you and your partner(s) can access treatment if you need it. If you test positive for certain STIs, contact tracing may occur to make sure anyone you had contact with receives appropriate testing and care.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
When left untreated, HIV can weaken a person’s immune system, making it more likely that they will experience other infections which can lead to serious illness or even death.
Treatment
Antiretroviral medication in the form of a pill, taken every day for the remainder of a person’s life.
Results
There is no cure for HIV. However, when someone takes their medication as prescribed:
The virus typically doesn’t progress, allowing people living with HIV to lead long, healthy lives.
They will also likely achieve an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot pass HIV onto others sexually. Undetectable = Untransmittable!
Next Steps
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may guide your treatment or refer you to a specialist at an HIV Clinic. Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
A small percentage of people’s bodies will naturally eliminate Hepatitis C from their system without any long-term impacts. Unfortunately, the majority of people who get Hepatitis C are unable to naturally eradicate the infection, resulting in chronic Hepatitis C. When left untreated, chronic Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure and liver cancer.
Treatment
Antiviral medication in the form of a pill (or pills) taken for 12-24 weeks.
Results
With access to new direct-acting antiviral medications, 95% of people living with chronic Hepatitis C are cured within 12-24 weeks.
Next Steps
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may guide your treatment or will refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hep C more than once in your lifetime. Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Most adults (90-95%) infected with Hepatitis B will naturally eliminate the virus on their own without treatment. When people are unable to clear the virus on their own, it results in chronic Hepatitis B. When left untreated, chronic Hepatitis B can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and cancer.
Treatment
Antiviral medication in the form of a pill taken for life, and/or injections of interferon.
Results
Treatment for chronic Hepatitis B does not cure the disease but instead helps suppress the virus and reduce its negative impacts on the body.
Next Steps
In Alberta, some people can access the Hepatitis B vaccines for free. You can find if you fit that criteria here: www.immunizealberta.ca. Your family or nurse practitioner may manage your treatment or refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hepatitis B more than once in your lifetime. Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Hepatitis A can cause jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and white parts of the eyes), vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue which can last for several months. In rare cases, people can experience lasting liver damage.
Treatment
Hepatitis A will usually resolve itself after a few months. Treatments are focused on symptom control (such as replacing fluids from vomiting and diarrhea).
Results
Most people recover from Hepatitis A on their own without any treatment.
Next Steps
There are vaccinations for Hepatitis A. In Alberta, some people can access this vaccine for free. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner may take on your treatment or refer you to a specialist. Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire Hep A more than once in your lifetime. Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
There are more than 100 types of HPV. In many cases, someone with a healthy immune system will clear the virus on their own within two years. Some types of HPV, however, can result in genital warts, abnormal cell growth and cancer. Types of cancer associated with HPV include: cervical, anal, head and neck, penile, vaginal and vulvar.
Treatment
There is no treatment specifically for HPV. Instead, treatment and monitoring focus on the complications caused by the virus, such as genital warts and cancer.
For genital warts, the treatment might include creams or removing the warts using chemicals, laser surgery or freezing with liquid nitrogen.
For HPV-related cancers, treatment typically involves the removal of precancerous cells, different types of surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Results
Once infected, there is no cure for HPV. HPV-related complications can be monitored (i.e. through pap tests of the cervix or anus) and successfully treated. In some cases, even after successful treatments, genital warts, precancerous lesions, and cancers can return after several years.
Next Steps
There are vaccinations for HPV. In Alberta, some people can access this vaccine for free. You can find if you fit that criteria here.
HPV vaccination protects people against many of the most dangerous types of HPV. You can still get this vaccine even if you have been infected with certain strains of HPV.
Depending on the strain of HPV you have, you may be monitored by your family doctor, a nurse practitioner or a specialist. Your Pap testing schedule may be altered.
If your HPV infection involves genital warts, there may be periods of time when you cannot have sexual activity. Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities. There may be lifestyle changes you can follow to prevent future outbreaks of genital warts.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Many people who have genital herpes (HSV) do not experience any symptoms. For others, it can cause irritating and painful blisters or sores in the genital area.
Some people also experience flu-like symptoms or an abnormal discharge and pain when they pee. Some people who get genital herpes only experience a handful of additional outbreaks throughout their lifetime while others can experience several different outbreaks per year.
Treatment
Antiviral medication can be taken daily to prevent outbreaks from occurring and/or during outbreaks to help control them and make them heal faster.
Results
There is no cure for genital herpes. Treatment works to prevent and control outbreaks and reduce the chance of transmission to others.
Next Steps
Your health care provider will support you to make informed decisions about your future sexual activities.
Sexual contact during an active outbreak carries a high risk of transmission of herpes to partner(s), and is not recommended.
There may be lifestyle changes you can follow to prevent future outbreaks of herpes.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Syphilis occurs in stages and each stage is associated with unique symptoms, with periods of no symptoms at all. Some of these may include:
A small, painless sore called a chancre
Hair loss
Rashes
Feeling unwell
Warts
If left untreated, syphilis can cause severe neurological damage, cardiovascular damage and even death.
Treatment
Syphilis is treated by antibiotics, most often through injections. Treatment will vary based on your “stage” or severity of infection.
Results
Once you have completed treatment, you should be cured of syphilis. Your provider may request retesting to confirm successful treatment.
Next Steps
Treatment does not prevent re-infection; you can acquire syphilis more than once in your lifetime.
You will require follow-up testing after your treatment.
It is not recommended to have sex until your treatment is completed, and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Most people who have chlamydia experience no symptoms at all. Others can experience a range of symptoms which can include:
Genital discharge
Swelling
Itching and pain
Pain in the stomach or pelvis
Burning or pain when peeing
Pain during sex
Irregular genital bleeding, especially after sex
Discharge, itching or bleeding from the bum
When chlamydia is in the throat, it may cause:
A sore throat
Cough
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes
Treatment
In most cases, chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics taken as a single dose or several doses over the course of one week.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of chlamydia.
Next Steps
You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms. While most people with penises develop symptoms, most people with vaginas/front holes do not. When symptoms are present, they may include:
Genital discharge
Swelling or pain
Burning or pain with urination
Pain during sex
Irregular genital bleeding
Genital itching
When gonorrhea is in the throat, it may cause:
A sore throat
Cough
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes
When left untreated, it may cause:
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Infection and inflammation of the testicles
Rashes
Sores
Arthritis
Infertility
A severe infection of the blood
Treatment
Gonorrhea can be treated and cured with antibiotics. The treatment usually includes pills and a single injection.
This treatment is also effective for treating chlamydia as well.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of gonorrhea.
Next Steps
You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Trich can affect people with vaginas/front holes. About 70% of people infected with trich do not experience any symptoms. When people do experience symptoms, they can often come and go. Symptoms may include:
Genital discharge
Sore or itchy genitals
Pain during intercourse or while peeing
Treatment
Trichomoniasis can be treated through antibiotics in a pill form.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of Trich.
Next Steps
You cannot have sex until your treatment is completed and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
LGV (lymphogranuloma venereum) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. Many people with LGV experience no symptoms. When symptoms are experienced, they can include:
Fever
Fatigue
Painless sores
Swelling of the lymph nodes in the genital area
Genital abscesses
Mucous discharge and bleeding from the anus (if you’ve had anal sex)
Rectal pain and abdominal cramping
Symptoms in the joints, lungs, and liver
Treatment
LGV is typically treated over three weeks through antibiotics taken in pill form.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of LGV.
Next Steps
You cannot have sex until your treatment is completed and/or until your doctor/nurse says it is okay.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for follow-up testing after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) affects people with vaginas/front holes. Symptoms include:
Genital discharge and itching
Burning when you pee
Foul smelling, “fishy” odor to the genitals
BV is not sexually transmitted, but is a common genital infection.
Treatment
Bacterial Vaginosis can be treated by oral medications (in pill form) or creams that can be inserted in or applied to the genitals.
Sometimes BV can be asymptomatic which does not always need to be treated.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should either be free of symptoms or cured of BV.
Sometimes BV can reoccur within three to 12 months.
Next Steps
Your doctor/nurse may suggest lifestyle or hygiene changes to prevent future BV infections. Your doctor/nurse may also ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
People with yeast infections can experience:
Genital itching, irritation, pain, soreness, and redness/welling
Genital rash
Genital discharge, which can be watery or be thick and white with a cottage cheese appearance
A burning sensation during sex or while peeing
Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted, but are a common genital infection.
Treatment
Yeast infections are typically treated by antifungal medications, either in the form of creams, ointments, or tablets which are applied to or inserted into the genitals or taken orally in the form of a tablet.
For mild to moderate cases, treatment is typically completed within several days. More complicated cases might require treatment for several months.
Results
Once someone has completed treatment, they should be cured of their yeast infection.
Next Steps
Your doctor/nurse may suggest lifestyle or hygiene changes to prevent future yeast infections.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Symptoms of pubic lice (or crabs) include:
Genital itching
Small bugs or eggs in your pubic hair
Dark spots where the lice are living
Feeling feverish or run-down
Treatment
Pubic lice are typically treated by special liquids, foams, gels, and shampoos. You may also need to wash and dry clothes, towels, and bedding at hot settings and seal non-washable fabric items in an airtight plastic bag for several days.
Results
Upon completion of treatment, pubic lice should be successfully eliminated. In some cases, people may need to repeat treatments.
Next Steps
You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities.
Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.
-
Health Impacts/Symptoms
Scabies is caused by mites that burrow into the skin. Symptoms of scabies include:
Severe itching that is generally worse at night
A rash with tiny blisters or sores
Treatment
Scabies is typically treated by lotions and creams.
You may also need to wash and dry clothes, towels, and bedding at hot settings and seal non-washable fabric items in an airtight plastic bag for several days.
Results
Upon completion of treatment, scabies should be successfully eliminated. In some cases, people may need to repeat treatments.
Next Steps
You can discuss with your provider the sexual activities that are safe to engage in. They will provide you with a timeline of when you can resume your usual sexual activities. Your doctor/nurse may ask for a follow-up appointment after your treatment.
This information was developed in consultation with queer, trans, and two spirit community members, community-based organizations, health care providers, and public health professionals. Information is based on the best guidance available and was informed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, the BC Centre for Disease Control, the Centre of Disease Control (US), and Planned Parenthood (US). Information has been adapted for succinct, accessible delivery to community and is not intended to be exhaustive or be used for clinical guidance.
Produced in partnership by
