Frequently Asked Questions
THE ROLE OF STD DETECTION AND TREATMENT

Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be an effective tool in preventing 
the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. An understanding of the relationship between STDs 
and HIV infection can help in the development of effective HIV prevention programs for persons with 
high-risk sexual behaviors.

What is the link between 		Individuals who are infected with STDs are at least two to five
STDs and HIV infection?			times more likely than uninfected individuals to acquire HIV if 
					they are exposed to the virus through sexual contact. In 	
					addition, if an HIV-infected individual is also infected with 	
					another STD, that person is more likely to transmit HIV through 
					sexual contact than other HIV-infected persons (Wasserheit, 
					1992).
					Increased susceptibility. STDs probably increase 		
					susceptibility to HIV infection by two mechanisms. Genital 	
					ulcers (e.g., syphilis, herpes, or chancroid) result in breaks in 
					the genital tract lining or skin. These breaks create a portal of 
					entry for HIV. Non-ulcerative STDs (e.g., chlamydia, 	
					gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis) increase the concentration of 
					cells in genital secretions that can serve as targets for HIV 	
					(e.g., CD4+ cells). 
					Increased infectiousness. Studies have shown that when 
					HIV-infected individuals are also infected with other STDs, they 
					are more likely to have HIV in their genital secretions. For 	
					example, men who are infected with both gonorrhea and HIV 
					are more than twice as likely to shed HIV in their genital 	
					secretions than are those who are infected only with HIV. 	
					Moreover, the median concentration of HIV in semen is as 	
					much as 10 times higher in men who are infected with both 
					gonorrhea and HIV than in men infected only with HIV. 

How can STD treatment 			Evidence from intervention studies indicates that detecting and
slow the spread of			treating STDs can substantially reduce HIV transmission at the 
HIV infection?				individual and community levels. (Fleming, Wasserheit, 1999).

What are the implications		Strong STD prevention, testing and treatment can play a vital 
for HIV prevention			role in comprehensive programs to prevent sexual 	  
programs?				transmission of HIV. Furthermore, STD trends can offer 	
					important insights into where the HIV epidemic may grow, 	
					making STD surveillance data helpful in forecasting where HIV 
					rates are likely to increase. Better linkages are needed 	
					between HIV and STD prevention efforts nationwide in order 
					to control both epidemics.
					In the context of persistently high prevalence of STDs in many 
					parts of the United States and with emerging evidence that the 
					United States’ HIV epidemic increasingly is affecting 	
					populations with the highest rates of curable STDs, the U.S. 
					Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory 
					Committee on 	HIV and STD Prevention (ACHSP) has 	
					recommended the following:
					* Early detection and treatment of curable STDs should 	
					   become a major, explicit component of comprehensive HIV 
					   prevention programs at national, state and local levels; 
					* In areas where STDs that facilitate HIV transmission are 	
					   prevalent, screening and treatment programs should be 	
					   expanded; 
					*  HIV and STD prevention programs in the United States, 	
					   together with private and public sector partners, should take 
					   joint responsibility for implementing these strategies. 

For more information:			Call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at                      
					1-800-232-4636, TTY: 1-888-232-6348 In English en Español. 

 
 
Contact Number: STD Program, (302) 744-1050
Revised: 03/2007 Doc. # 35-05-20/07/03/13