What happens if you leave STD untreated?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as they are also referred to, often have no symptoms. However, if left untreated there can be serious consequences including blindness and other neurologic manifestations, infertility, mother-to-child transmission or birth defects.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on who.int


What happens if you leave an STD untreated for a month?

Risk of complications

Some of the complications that one can develop from an untreated STD are: Pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility by Chlamydia. Pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility by Gonorrhea. Meningitis and bladder issues by Genital herpes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on embrywomenshealth.com


What happens if you ignore STD?

If left untreated: Those symptoms often then subside — even for years while the virus slowly chips away at your immune system. Eventually, you might come down with an infection that people with healthy immune systems shouldn't be getting, Tosh explains. By that time, the virus might be advanced.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on menshealth.com


What will happen if you have a STD for too long?

But when the long-term side effects of STIs can include chronic pelvic pain, infertility and in rare cases, cancer, it turns out they are no laughing matter. STIs are spread from one person to another through sex and sexual body contact.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.qld.gov.au


Will an untreated STI go away?

Most STDs are curable with the right medication. However, there are a small number of STDs that are incurable and, once contracted, will never go away. Hepatitis B, HIV and Herpes, and HPV are a few examples of these.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yoursexualhealth.co.uk


How do you know if you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?



Can your body naturally fight off STDs?

The upshot is that it's possible for some — not all — STDs to go away by themselves, but it's also possible for STDs to persist for months, years, or the rest of your life. If you could have been exposed to an STD, the best thing to do is get tested — not to hope that if you did get something, it'll just go away.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on plannedparenthoodaction.org


How can I cure an STD without going to the doctor?

There is no proven alternative therapy to treating an STI. Treatment is testing and antibiotics. The most effective complementary treatments of STIs — that is, those that that go along with standard medical treatment — involve prevention and patient counseling.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wexnermedical.osu.edu


Can you have an STD for 10 years and not know?

Symptoms can develop within a few days or weeks, but sometimes they do not appear until months or even years later. Often there are few or no symptoms and you may not know you have an STI. If there's any chance you have an STI, go to a sexual health clinic or GP for a free and confidential check-up.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


How long can STDs last?

There are two different types of STDs: bacterial and viral. Bacterial STDs can typically be cured quickly with cured with antibiotics if treatment begins early enough. Viral STDs, however, cannot be cured and can last for a lifetime.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on afcurgentcaresouthcharlotte.com


Can you have chlamydia for 10 years?

How long can you have chlamydia for? An untreated chlamydia infection can persist for several years. Although this goes for both men and women, it is believed that men are less likely to carry the bacteria for several years. If you remain infected for a long time you have an increased risk of complications.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on onlinedoctor.superdrug.com


How does an STD feel?

That said, there are some common symptoms of STDs, like itching, a burning sensation when you pee, and unusual and bad-smelling discharge. If you're noticing any of these, then you need to see a health care provider right away.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on plannedparenthood.org


Do STDs make you smell?

STDs that can cause an unusual smell include: Chlamydia. Gonorrhea. Trichomoniasis, a common STD caused by a protozoan parasite.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stdcheck.com


Can STDs cause permanent damage?

Your test results show you have gonorrhea or chlamydia – or both. These are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that can cause permanent damage to you and your sex partners if not treated early.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.state.mn.us


What happens if chlamydia is left untreated for 3 months?

If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant), chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.ny.gov


What happens if you have chlamydia for 6 months?

People who have chlamydia for long periods without treatment risk becoming infertile or developing arthritis. For women, chlamydia can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to ectopic pregnancies, chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pregnancybirthbaby.org.au


What happens if you leave chlamydia untreated for 6 months?

If chlamydia is left untreated, it can spread to the womb and cause a serious condition called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is a major cause of ectopic pregnancy and infertility in women.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


How can you tell if someone has an STD?

Signs and symptoms may include:
  • Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge.
  • Discharge from the penis.
  • Strong vaginal odor.
  • Vaginal itching or irritation.
  • Itching or irritation inside the penis.
  • Pain during sexual intercourse.
  • Painful urination.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


What is a permanent STD?

However, there are still four incurable STDs: hepatitis B. herpes. HIV. HPV.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


How do I know if I have an STD male?

Men may experience the following symptoms:
  1. Burning or itching in the penis.
  2. A drip (discharge) from the penis.
  3. Pain around pelvis.
  4. Sores, bumps or blisters on penis, anus, or mouth.
  5. Burning and pain with urine or with bowel movements.
  6. Having to go to the bathroom often.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on urologyhealth.org


What are 5 common symptoms of an STD?

Signs and symptoms that might indicate an STI include:
  • Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral or rectal area.
  • Painful or burning urination.
  • Discharge from the penis.
  • Unusual or odorous vaginal discharge.
  • Unusual vaginal bleeding.
  • Pain during sex.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Can an STD lay dormant for 20 years?

There are STDs that can lie dormant and you can continue to be asymptomatic for years. The most important STD to test for in this regard is HIV, which can lie dormant for many years. Anyone who has ever had unprotected sex should consider getting this blood test.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on parents.com


What are three negative effects of untreated?

Some of the health complications that arise from STDs include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and perinatal or congenital infections in infants born to infected mothers.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on niaid.nih.gov


How long can you have chlamydia before it causes damage?

Symptoms usually appear within one to three weeks after being infected and may be very mild. If not treated, chlamydia can lead to damage to the reproductive system. In women, chlamydial infection can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), according to the CDC.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on stanfordchildrens.org


What is the fastest way to get rid of an STD?

Antibiotics. Antibiotics, often in a single dose, can cure many sexually transmitted bacterial and parasitic infections, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. Typically, you'll be treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia at the same time because the two infections often appear together.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Are STDs harmful?

Some curable STDs can be dangerous if they aren't treated. For example, if left untreated, chlamydia and gonorrhea can make it difficult—or even impossible—for a woman to get pregnant. You also increase your chances of getting HIV if you have an untreated STD. Some STDs, like HIV, can be fatal if left untreated.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cdc.gov