There are many different kinds of STDs, and the types of treatment are as varied as their symptoms. NIAID supports the development and licensure of vaccines, topical microbicides, and drug treatments, such as antibiotics and antifungals, for the microbes that cause STDs. No STD is harmless. Even the curable ones can cause serious consequences if left untreated. HIV is of particular concern as biological evidence demonstrates the increased likelihood of acquiring and transmitting HIV when STDs are present.
Today, scientists at NIAID are testing new vaccines for STDs, such as herpes, and new ways to treat drug-resistant STDs, such as gonorrhea, in animal models and clinical trials. Research findings may lead to faster, safer, and more effective treatments.