Being Treated For Sexually Transmitted Diseases: 5 Tips
After experiencing symptoms, seeing a doctor might confirm that you have a sexually-transmitted disease, or STD. They're likely to put you on an antibiotic, antiviral, or other treatment as a result. When you fill your prescription, it's important to follow these treatment suggestions.
Tell Your Partner
If you're still sexually active at this time, it's vital that you notify any partner or partners that you have. It might be an awkward conversation to have, but they will need to have their own testing done. They must protect their own health, and if you'll continue having sexual activities with them, you don't want to go through treatment only to contract the disease from them again.
Avoid Stopping Prematurely
If you're prescribed antibiotics, after a few days you might start to feel better. You might start to see improvement and think that you can stop the medication. This is never a good idea. You should continue the medication as long as the doctor recommended. If not, the infection may not completely clear and you might end up with a longer antibiotic treatment time.
Notify Physician About Supplements
If you're interested in trying natural treatments or supplements that are meant to treat the disease you have, ensure you mention the supplements to your doctor. Supplements might interact with the medication they're prescribing you. They might also disrupt other health conditions you have. Whenever you're thinking about trying something new, ensure that your physician is the first to know.
Get Tested Again
Be aware that antibiotics and other treatments are not the same as an immunization. If you change partners or continue having intercourse with the person who infected you, get tested again. Regular testing is the best way to know that you're STD-free.
Take Steps to Avoid Diseases in the Future
When your treatment is over, that doesn't mean that you should return to your old behavior. Examine the reasons why you contracted the disease in the first place and take steps to prevent contracting the STD or similar diseases again. In addition to being tested regularly, you might use different methods of contraception or abstain from sexual activity altogether.
Getting a sexually-transmitted disease can be difficult. However, if you follow your doctor's treatment recommendations, you're likely to get through it and be able to make decisions that will prevent it from happening again. For more information on STD treatment, check out professionals in your area.