Can You Cure an STD Without Going to the Doctor?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), refer to conditions that develop from an infection passed from one person to another through sexual contact, including vaginal, oral, or anal.^1,2 Various pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, cause several types of STDs.^1,2 The different types of STDs include:

• Chlamydia

• Gonorrhea

• Viral hepatitis

• Herpes

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen)

• Syphilis

• Trichomoniasis

Preliminary STD surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in 2021.³ The large number of reported cases serves as a reminder that STDs remain a significant public health issue.

Schedule STD telehealth appointment

Many kinds of sexually transmitted infections have very mild to no symptoms.^1,4 Therefore, it is possible for someone to have an STD and unknowingly pass the infection to others.² If left untreated, some STDs can lead to severe complications and may even become life-threatening, depending on the type of infection. If you do experience symptoms, they may include:⁴

• Bumps or sores near the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus

• Swelling and redness or severe itching near the penis or vagina

• Discharge from the penis or vagina that may have a foul odor and cause irritation

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Painful sex

• Skin rash

• Weight loss, diarrhea, or night sweats

• Aches, pains, fever, and chills

• Jaundice

• Painful or frequent urination

The CDC has a number of recommended screenings that you should undergo regularly to get tested for sexually transmitted infections—this is still very important even if you are asymptomatic.² Many STDs are easily diagnosed with the appropriate testing. A healthcare provider can help recommend the right testing for you, based on your symptoms, potential exposure, and medical history.

The different types of STDs are treated or managed differently based on the pathogen responsible for the infection.¹ Some STDs are curable with appropriate treatment, while some do not have cures and are only managed with available therapies. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are common STDs that are frequently curable, while herpes, HIV, and HPV currently do not have cures.^1,5

Antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals are classes of medications used to treat, manage, or cure the different types of STDs.^1,5 These drugs require a prescription from a healthcare provider before you can get them. Getting the proper diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and follow-up is crucial if you have an infection.¹ To avoid reinfection, your partner(s) should also visit a healthcare provider to get appropriate treatment. Though various alternative therapies, such as naturopathy, homeopathy, and herbal medicines, are sometimes used to help manage STDs, more research is needed to evaluate these approaches.⁶ It is generally not recommended by healthcare providers to use these alternative therapies because of the lack of evidence of their efficacy.¹

The short answer is no — curable STDs are cured with prescription antibiotics or other prescription medication, and that requires a licensed healthcare provider to diagnose the infection and prescribe the right treatment.^1,5 There is no over-the-counter or at-home remedy that cures a sexually transmitted infection.

What you can skip is the in-person office visit. Anxiety, scheduling conflicts, and cost concerns are common reasons people delay STI care, and delaying it can allow an untreated infection to progress or be passed to a partner.² Two options can help you get evaluated and treated sooner:

• Telehealth — meet with a healthcare provider virtually to discuss symptoms or exposure and, if appropriate, get a prescription.

• At-home lab testing — collect your sample at home, send it to a lab, and review your results with a provider.

Both keep a qualified provider involved in your care — they just remove the trip to the office.

The availability of telemedicine or telehealth allows you to virtually schedule an appointment to discuss STD testing, treatment, and management online with a healthcare provider from the comfort of your own home. Telehealth may be an option for you if you have been exposed to an STD or have mild symptoms. These symptoms include painful urination, pelvic pain, pain during sex, unusual penile or vaginal discharge, or abnormal vaginal odor.⁴

You will need to get the appropriate recommended treatment for curable STDs to become cured. Based on the CDC treatment guidelines, treatments are based on the specific pathogen responsible for the infection.¹ Each sexually transmitted infection has treatment and management recommendations. The antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal used for the treatment of the STD requires a prescription from a healthcare provider. Through telehealth, a healthcare provider can recommend appropriate STD testing or prescribe STD treatment if a diagnosis is confirmed.

Treatment starts with knowing your status — and since many STDs cause few or no symptoms, testing is the only way to find out.^1,7 At-home lab tests let you collect your sample privately, at your own pace, and send it to a lab for processing. Research indicates that at-home lab tests for STDs are accurate, and that they increase diagnosis rates — likely because the convenience and privacy get more people to test in the first place.⁸

Everlywell offers an at-home STD test that ships discreetly to your door, and you receive results in days. If your results are abnormal, a board-certified physician will reach out to discuss them and may prescribe treatment.

From there, you can work with a healthcare provider — virtually or in person — on whatever comes next, whether that’s treatment, a follow-up test, or a conversation with your partner(s). If your exposure was recent, check how soon after sex you can test first, since testing too early can miss an infection.

Prevention is key to limiting your chances of getting infected with STDs.^1,7 The CDC recommends a few ways to protect yourself and your sexual partners, such as abstinence, reducing the number of sex partners, mutual monogamy, and using barrier methods such as condoms.⁷ You can implement these prevention strategies at home without ever seeing a healthcare provider in person. Another recommendation is getting vaccines or starting certain prophylactic medicines (such as PrEP) that are available to help in protecting against some specific kinds of sexually transmitted infections. It’s best to ask your healthcare provider which vaccines or prophylactic medicines may be right for you.

STDs are common, and many of them are quiet — you can carry an infection for weeks or longer without noticing a single symptom. That’s what makes testing, rather than waiting for something to feel wrong, the reliable way to know your status. Several of the most frequently reported STDs are curable with the right prescription treatment, and the ones that aren’t can usually be managed well once they’re identified.

What you can’t do is cure a sexually transmitted infection on your own. A diagnosis and a prescription both require a licensed healthcare provider. What has changed is how you reach one: a virtual visit or an at-home lab test can get you evaluated and treated without an in-person appointment, which removes some of the most common reasons people put off care in the first place.

If you’ve had a possible exposure or you’re noticing symptoms, testing is a reasonable next step — and if you’re sexually active without symptoms, it’s worth asking a provider how often you should be screened based on your own risk factors. Knowing your status protects you and gives you the information you need to talk with your partners, so anyone who needs treatment can get it.