Can STDs Make HIV Easier to Catch?

Many͏͏ times,͏͏ HIV͏͏ prevention͏͏ mentions͏͏ safe͏͏ sex,͏͏ testing,͏͏ and͏͏ even͏͏ reducing͏͏ stigma.͏͏ Sometimes,͏͏ the͏͏ aspect͏͏ that͏͏ is͏͏ involved͏͏ regarding͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ increasing͏͏ the͏͏ rate͏͏ of͏͏ risk͏͏ to͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ gets͏͏ mentioned.͏͏ With͏͏ HIV͏͏ still͏͏ being͏͏ a͏͏ problem͏͏ worldwide,͏͏ understanding͏͏ how͏͏ different͏͏ infections͏͏ interact͏͏ with͏͏ each͏͏ other͏͏ is͏͏ important.͏͏ Now,͏͏ more͏͏ than͏͏ ever,͏͏ comprehensive͏͏ sexual͏͏ health͏͏ care͏͏ is͏͏ important,͏͏ and͏͏ this͏͏ article͏͏ will͏͏ delve͏͏ into͏͏ the͏͏ science͏͏ behind͏͏ how͏͏ STDs͏͏ facilitate͏͏ the͏͏ spread͏͏ of͏͏ HIV.

02 February 2025

9 min read

301

STDs͏͏ and͏͏ HIV͏͏ Transmission:͏͏ The͏͏ Unseen͏͏ Link

Good͏͏ evidence͏͏ links͏͏ STDs͏͏ with͏͏ HIV,͏͏ again͏͏ in͏͏ both͏͏ an͏͏ alarming͏͏ and͏͏ unsurprising͏͏ way.͏͏ The͏͏ natural͏͏ barriers͏͏ against͏͏ infection͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ vagina͏͏ are͏͏ compromised͏͏ when͏͏ ulcers͏͏ or͏͏ inflammation͏͏ there͏͏ are͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ likes͏͏ of͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ herpes,͏͏ and͏͏ syphilis.͏͏

It͏͏ becomes͏͏ significantly͏͏ easier͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ to͏͏ enter͏͏ the͏͏ bloodstream͏͏ during͏͏ sexual͏͏ intercourse͏͏ when͏͏ these͏͏ physical͏͏ barriers͏͏ are͏͏ breached͏͏ or͏͏ damaged.͏͏ Another͏͏ shocking͏͏ reality͏͏ that͏͏ highlights͏͏ the͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ prevent͏͏ and͏͏ promptly͏͏ treat͏͏ all͏͏ the͏͏ STDs͏͏ the͏͏ moment͏͏ they͏͏ are͏͏ diagnosed͏͏ is͏͏ that͏͏ having͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ can͏͏ increase͏͏ one's͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ five͏͏ times͏͏ more.

HIV͏͏ Transmission͏͏ from͏͏ STDs

Here͏͏ are͏͏ some͏͏ possible͏͏ biological͏͏ ways͏͏ how͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ could͏͏ increase͏͏ susceptibility͏͏ to͏͏ HIV:

Breaks͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Skin:͏͏ STDs͏͏ that͏͏ cause͏͏ sores͏͏ or͏͏ ulcers͏͏ (like͏͏ herpes͏͏ or͏͏ syphilis)͏͏ create͏͏ openings͏͏ through͏͏ which͏͏ HIV͏͏ can͏͏ enter͏͏ the͏͏ body.
Inflammation:͏͏ Infections͏͏ like͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ and͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ cause͏͏ inflammation,͏͏ drawing͏͏ cells͏͏ that͏͏ are͏͏ targets͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ site͏͏ of͏͏ infection.
Viral͏͏ Shedding:͏͏ People͏͏ with͏͏ STDs͏͏ and͏͏ HIV͏͏ may͏͏ have͏͏ higher͏͏ concentrations͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ in͏͏ their͏͏ bodily͏͏ fluids,͏͏ increasing͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ transmission͏͏ to͏͏ partners.

STDs That Increase the Risk of HIV Contagion

Many͏͏ STDs͏͏ can͏͏ increase͏͏ the͏͏ vulnerability͏͏ to͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ through͏͏ various͏͏ means.͏͏ Some͏͏ infections͏͏ create͏͏ an͏͏ environment͏͏ that͏͏ promotes͏͏ entry͏͏ and͏͏ transmission͏͏ of͏͏ HIV.͏͏ The͏͏ following͏͏ STDs͏͏ pose͏͏ the͏͏ highest͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ transmission͏͏ with͏͏ HIV:

Syphilis

Syphilis͏͏ causes͏͏ chancres,͏͏ open͏͏ sores͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ mouth,͏͏ anus,͏͏ or͏͏ genital͏͏ area͏͏ that͏͏ provide͏͏ a͏͏ direct͏͏ way͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ to͏͏ enter͏͏ the͏͏ bloodstream.
According͏͏ to͏͏ studies,͏͏ having͏͏ syphilis͏͏ infection͏͏ can͏͏ raise͏͏ the͏͏ vulnerability͏͏ to͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ five͏͏ times͏͏ higher.

Gonorrhea

Infection͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ vaginal͏͏ tract͏͏ caused͏͏ by͏͏ this͏͏ bacterial͏͏ infection͏͏ attracts͏͏ the͏͏ CD4͏͏ T-cells͏͏ which͏͏ the͏͏ HIV͏͏ manipulates͏͏ to͏͏ infect.
There͏͏ is͏͏ evidence͏͏ that͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ enhances͏͏ the͏͏ spread͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ in͏͏ sperm͏͏ and͏͏ vaginal͏͏ fluids,͏͏ making͏͏ HIV͏͏ positive͏͏ individuals͏͏ more͏͏ infectious.

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Herpes͏͏ Simplex͏͏ Virus͏͏ Types͏͏ 2͏͏ and͏͏ 1

Apart͏͏ from͏͏ causing͏͏ painful͏͏ ulcers,͏͏ genital͏͏ herpes͏͏ can͏͏ also͏͏ transmit͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ when͏͏ there͏͏ are͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms͏͏ appearing.
Since͏͏ herpes͏͏ outbreaks͏͏ give͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ a͏͏ readily͏͏ available͏͏ point͏͏ of͏͏ entry,͏͏ individuals͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ are͏͏ at͏͏ a͏͏ significantly͏͏ higher͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ developing͏͏ and͏͏ spreading͏͏ HIV.

Chlamydia

Like͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ chlamydia's͏͏ inflammation͏͏ and͏͏ tissue͏͏ damage͏͏ make͏͏ one͏͏ more͏͏ vulnerable͏͏ to͏͏ HIV.
Due͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ fact͏͏ that͏͏ it͏͏ often͏͏ has͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms͏͏ at͏͏ all,͏͏ many͏͏ people͏͏ become͏͏ more͏͏ vulnerable͏͏ to͏͏ HIV͏͏ without͏͏ even͏͏ knowing͏͏ it.

Trichomoniasis

Increased͏͏ vaginal͏͏ irritation,͏͏ resulting͏͏ from͏͏ this͏͏ parasitic͏͏ infection,͏͏ becomes͏͏ a͏͏ gateway͏͏ for͏͏ HIV.
Scientists͏͏ have͏͏ confirmed͏͏ that͏͏ trichomoniasis͏͏ increases͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ transmission͏͏ to͏͏ sexual͏͏ partners͏͏ because͏͏ of͏͏ higher͏͏ concentrations͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ vaginal͏͏ fluids͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ infected͏͏ woman.

Human͏͏ Papillomavirus͏͏ (HPV)͏͏

The͏͏ virus͏͏ itself͏͏ does͏͏ not͏͏ increase͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection,͏͏ but͏͏ the͏͏ vaginal͏͏ warts͏͏ and͏͏ cervical͏͏ lesions͏͏ that͏͏ HPV͏͏ causes͏͏ can͏͏ lead͏͏ to͏͏ small͏͏ breaks͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ skin͏͏ that͏͏ provide͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ an͏͏ entry͏͏ point.
An͏͏ increased͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ is͏͏ associated͏͏ with͏͏ some͏͏ high-risk,͏͏ oncogenic͏͏ types͏͏ of͏͏ HPV.

Importance͏͏ of͏͏ These͏͏ STDs͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ Prevention

All͏͏ of͏͏ these͏͏ diseases͏͏ have͏͏ a͏͏ heightened͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ transmission͏͏ because͏͏ of͏͏ one͏͏ or͏͏ more͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ following:

Transmission͏͏ of͏͏ virus͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ body͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ blood͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ skin͏͏ penetration.
Enhanced͏͏ inflammation͏͏ that͏͏ sends͏͏ out͏͏ chemical͏͏ signals͏͏ requesting͏͏ HIV-targeting͏͏ immune͏͏ cells͏͏ for͏͏ assistance.
Through͏͏ their͏͏ acceleration͏͏ of͏͏ viral͏͏ shedding,͏͏ thus͏͏ making͏͏ people͏͏ living͏͏ with͏͏ HIV͏͏ more͏͏ infectious.

How͏͏ can͏͏ you͏͏ reduce͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ injury?͏͏ Condoms͏͏ and͏͏ PrEP͏͏ are͏͏ forms͏͏ of͏͏ prevention,͏͏ but͏͏ so͏͏ are͏͏ testing͏͏ for͏͏ STDs͏͏ regularly͏͏ and͏͏ getting͏͏ prompt͏͏ treatment.͏͏ To͏͏ stop͏͏ STDs͏͏ before͏͏ they͏͏ become͏͏ severe,͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ individuals͏͏ should͏͏ consider͏͏ taking͏͏ advantage͏͏ of͏͏ home͏͏ test͏͏ kits.

Common͏͏ Myths͏͏ and͏͏ Misconceptions

Most͏͏ people͏͏ have͏͏ wrong͏͏ notions͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ role͏͏ of͏͏ STDs͏͏ in͏͏ HIV͏͏ transmission.͏͏ Let͏͏ me͏͏ set͏͏ a͏͏ few͏͏ myths͏͏ right͏͏ for͏͏ you:

Myth: People͏͏ say͏͏ that͏͏ if͏͏ one͏͏ has͏͏ oral͏͏ intercourse͏͏ only,͏͏ then͏͏ too͏͏ there͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ possibility͏͏ of͏͏ contracting͏͏ HIV.͏͏ This͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ true.
- Truth: The͏͏ reality͏͏ is͏͏ that͏͏ oral͏͏ sex͏͏ presents͏͏ a͏͏ reduced͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ transmitting͏͏ HIV͏͏ than͏͏ other͏͏ forms͏͏ of͏͏ sex,͏͏ but͏͏ it͏͏ can͏͏ still͏͏ facilitate͏͏ the͏͏ transfer͏͏ of͏͏ herpes͏͏ and͏͏ syphilis.
Myth:͏͏ My͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ transmitting͏͏ HIV͏͏ is͏͏ unaffected͏͏ by͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ if͏͏ my͏͏ viral͏͏ load͏͏ is͏͏ undetectable.
- Truth: Having͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ can͏͏ still͏͏ raise͏͏ genital͏͏ HIV͏͏ shedding,͏͏ which͏͏ could͏͏ increase͏͏ transmission͏͏ risk,͏͏ even͏͏ though͏͏ being͏͏ undetectable͏͏ greatly͏͏ minimizes͏͏ it.

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Testing͏͏ and͏͏ Prevention:͏͏ Your͏͏ Best͏͏ Defense

The͏͏ good͏͏ news?͏͏ It͏͏ is͏͏ freeing͏͏ and͏͏ empowering͏͏ to͏͏ take͏͏ responsibility͏͏ for͏͏ one's͏͏ sexual͏͏ health.͏͏ For͏͏ your͏͏ health͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ health͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ partners,͏͏ the͏͏ top͏͏ recommendation͏͏ is͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases,͏͏ including͏͏ HIV,͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ regular͏͏ basis.͏͏

Checking͏͏ your͏͏ status͏͏ has͏͏ never͏͏ been͏͏ easier͏͏ or͏͏ more͏͏ accessible͏͏ than͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ proliferation͏͏ and͏͏ quality͏͏ of͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ kits.͏͏ Condoms,͏͏ honesty͏͏ with͏͏ partners,͏͏ and͏͏ vaccination͏͏ -͏͏ where͏͏ necessary,͏͏ as͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ case͏͏ of͏͏ HPV͏͏ -͏͏ when͏͏ added͏͏ to͏͏ regular͏͏ testing,͏͏ form͏͏ a͏͏ very͏͏ powerful͏͏ arsenal͏͏ against͏͏ infection.͏͏

FAQs

1.- How͏͏ do͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ increase͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection?͏͏

STDs͏͏ that͏͏ cause͏͏ ulcers-herpes͏͏ and͏͏ syphilis͏͏ are͏͏ examples-or͏͏ that͏͏ cause͏͏ inflammation-such͏͏ as͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ and͏͏ chlamydia-facilitate͏͏ HIV͏͏ entry.͏͏ They͏͏ create͏͏ an͏͏ environment͏͏ that͏͏ makes͏͏ it͏͏ easier͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ to͏͏ enter͏͏ the͏͏ body͏͏ by͏͏ drawing͏͏ in͏͏ immune͏͏ cells,͏͏ which͏͏ the͏͏ virus͏͏ infects.

2.- Among͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases,͏͏ which͏͏ are͏͏ the͏͏ ones͏͏ most͏͏ likely͏͏ to͏͏ increase͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ acquiring͏͏ HIV?

The͏͏ most͏͏ serious͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ those͏͏ that͏͏ cause͏͏ genital͏͏ ulcers,͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ herpes͏͏ and͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ because͏͏ they͏͏ create͏͏ open͏͏ sores͏͏ that͏͏ allow͏͏ HIV͏͏ to͏͏ more͏͏ easily͏͏ enter͏͏ the͏͏ body.͏͏ Other͏͏ inflammatory͏͏ STDs͏͏ like͏͏ trichomoniasis,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ and͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ increase͏͏ vulnerability͏͏ by͏͏ drawing͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ very͏͏ immune͏͏ cells͏͏ that͏͏ HIV͏͏ targets.

3.͏͏- Would͏͏ getting͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ make͏͏ my͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ worse?

Yes.͏͏ When͏͏ someone͏͏ has͏͏ an͏͏ STD,͏͏ their͏͏ viral͏͏ shedding͏͏ is͏͏ increased,͏͏ meaning͏͏ their͏͏ body͏͏ fluids͏͏ may͏͏ contain͏͏ larger͏͏ quantities͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ and͏͏ be͏͏ more͏͏ easily͏͏ transmitted͏͏ to͏͏ their͏͏ sexual͏͏ partners.

4.- Can͏͏ condoms͏͏ completely͏͏ prevent͏͏ HIV͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ infections?

Condoms͏͏ greatly͏͏ lessen͏͏ the͏͏ likelihood͏͏ of͏͏ contracting͏͏ HIV͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ (STDs),͏͏ but͏͏ they͏͏ do͏͏ not͏͏ offer͏͏ complete͏͏ protection,͏͏ particularly͏͏ against͏͏ herpes͏͏ and͏͏ HPV,͏͏ which͏͏ are͏͏ transmitted͏͏ through͏͏ skin-to-skin͏͏ contact.

5.- Is͏͏ my͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ contracting͏͏ HIV͏͏ still͏͏ there͏͏ if͏͏ the͏͏ symptoms͏͏ of͏͏ my͏͏ STD͏͏ disappear?

Yes.͏͏ You͏͏ may͏͏ still͏͏ be͏͏ at͏͏ increased͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ contracting͏͏ HIV͏͏ if͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ infection͏͏ remains͏͏ in͏͏ your͏͏ body͏͏ after͏͏ symptoms͏͏ go͏͏ away.͏͏ Even͏͏ when͏͏ no͏͏ symptoms͏͏ appear,͏͏ several͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ (STDs)͏͏ like͏͏ chlamydia͏͏ and͏͏ gonorrhea͏͏ can͏͏ trigger͏͏ inflammation͏͏ that͏͏ makes͏͏ HIV͏͏ transmission͏͏ easier.

6.- Does͏͏ getting͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ treated͏͏ lower͏͏ my͏͏ chance͏͏ of͏͏ contracting͏͏ HIV?͏͏

Yes.͏͏ Lower͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ infection͏͏ and͏͏ transmission͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ result͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ reduction͏͏ of͏͏ inflammation͏͏ and͏͏ restoration͏͏ of͏͏ natural͏͏ barriers͏͏ thanks͏͏ to͏͏ prompt͏͏ STD͏͏ treatment.͏͏ Still,͏͏ regular͏͏ testing͏͏ and͏͏ prevention͏͏ remain͏͏ the͏͏ safest͏͏ methods.

7.- Can͏͏ a͏͏ STD͏͏ in͏͏ one͏͏ partner͏͏ make͏͏ oral͏͏ sex͏͏ a͏͏ vector͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ transmission?͏͏

Yes.͏͏ Although͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ acquiring͏͏ HIV͏͏ through͏͏ oral͏͏ sex͏͏ is͏͏ much͏͏ lower͏͏ compared͏͏ to͏͏ vaginal͏͏ or͏͏ anal͏͏ sex,͏͏ a͏͏ person͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ highly͏͏ exposed͏͏ to͏͏ acquiring͏͏ the͏͏ infection͏͏ through͏͏ oral-genital͏͏ contact͏͏ in͏͏ case͏͏ of͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ herpes,͏͏ syphilis,͏͏ or͏͏ gonorrhea.

8.͏͏- Can͏͏ someone͏͏ with͏͏ an͏͏ undetectable͏͏ viral͏͏ load͏͏ and͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ infect͏͏ me͏͏ with͏͏ HIV?

Assuming͏͏ the͏͏ HIV-positive͏͏ partner͏͏ is͏͏ taking͏͏ effective͏͏ antiretroviral͏͏ therapy͏͏ and͏͏ has͏͏ an͏͏ undetectable͏͏ viral͏͏ load,͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ is͏͏ negligible.͏͏ Nevertheless,͏͏ preventing͏͏ and͏͏ treating͏͏ STDs͏͏ is͏͏ important͏͏ because͏͏ having͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ can͏͏ make͏͏ a͏͏ person͏͏ living͏͏ with͏͏ HIV͏͏ have͏͏ higher͏͏ levels͏͏ of͏͏ HIV͏͏ in͏͏ their͏͏ bodily͏͏ fluids.͏͏

9.͏͏- How͏͏ often͏͏ should͏͏ I͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ STDs?

Testing͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ done͏͏ yearly͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ very͏͏ minimum͏͏ for͏͏ sexually͏͏ active͏͏ individuals.͏͏ Those͏͏ at͏͏ higher͏͏ risk͏͏ should͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ every͏͏ three͏͏ to͏͏ six͏͏ months.͏͏ These͏͏ include͏͏ men͏͏ who͏͏ have͏͏ sex͏͏ with͏͏ men,͏͏ those͏͏ who͏͏ have͏͏ multiple͏͏ partners,͏͏ and͏͏ those͏͏ with͏͏ known͏͏ exposures.͏͏ You͏͏ can͏͏ stay͏͏ on͏͏ top͏͏ of͏͏ things͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ help͏͏ of͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ in͏͏ between͏͏ visits͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ doctor.

10.- How͏͏ can͏͏ I͏͏ be͏͏ safest͏͏ from͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases͏͏ and͏͏ HIV?

Some͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ best͏͏ ways͏͏ to͏͏ prevent͏͏ them͏͏ are:

Using͏͏ condoms͏͏ consistently
Getting͏͏ routinely͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ HIV͏͏ and͏͏ sexually͏͏ transmitted͏͏ diseases
If͏͏ at͏͏ very͏͏ high͏͏ risk͏͏ for͏͏ HIV,͏͏ taking͏͏ PrEP͏͏ (Pre-Exposure͏͏ Prophylaxis)͏͏ is͏͏ crucial.
Getting͏͏ vaccinated͏͏ (hepatitis͏͏ B͏͏ and͏͏ HPV)
Talking͏͏ openly͏͏ and͏͏ honestly͏͏ with͏͏ partners͏͏ about͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ and͏͏ sexual͏͏ health

Don't Wait. Act Now.

If͏͏ you͏͏ have͏͏ the͏͏ facts͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ relationship͏͏ between͏͏ STDs͏͏ and͏͏ HIV,͏͏ you͏͏ can͏͏ help͏͏ protect͏͏ yourself͏͏ as͏͏ well͏͏ as͏͏ others͏͏ by͏͏ making͏͏ informed͏͏ choices.͏͏

If͏͏ you're͏͏ sexually͏͏ active-especially͏͏ with͏͏ multiple͏͏ partners-make͏͏ sure͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ regularly͏͏ and͏͏ talk͏͏ to͏͏ your͏͏ health͏͏ care͏͏ doctor͏͏ about͏͏ risks.͏͏ And͏͏ don't͏͏ forget͏͏ how͏͏ easy͏͏ self-testing͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ convenience͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ own͏͏ home͏͏ can͏͏ be,͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ way͏͏ to͏͏ keep͏͏ track͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ condition͏͏ between͏͏ doctor's͏͏ visits.

Let͏͏ us͏͏ get͏͏ into͏͏ the͏͏ ease͏͏ of͏͏ home-testing͏͏ STD͏͏ kits,͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ for͏͏ STDs͏͏ and͏͏ HIV͏͏ frequently,͏͏ and͏͏ stay͏͏ informed͏͏ so͏͏ that͏͏ chain͏͏ of͏͏ transmission͏͏ is͏͏ broken.͏͏ Take͏͏ care͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ health.