Bacterial STIs can be cured with antibiotics while viral STIs cannot be cured. Antiviral drugs can help control symptoms of viral STIs. Vaccines are available for some STIs to prevent infection.
Bacterial STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, can generally be cured with antibiotics.
However, viral STIs, like genital herpes and HIV/AIDS, cannot be cured.
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so antiviral drugs are used to treat viral STIs to control symptoms, but the virus remains in the body for life.
It is important to note that while some STIs may not be curable, they can be prevented through vaccinations, such as the HPV vaccine.