You may have just received positive STI testing results and are wondering, Can STIs just go away on their own? The question cannot be answered simply. Due to ethical issues, very few studies have been done to determine if the body is capable of ridding itself of an STI without treatment.

Therefore, if an STI has been diagnosed, the ethical thing to do is to prescribe treatment to prevent further bodily harm.

The symptoms experienced from an STI vary depending on the type of STI you have and can range from no symptoms, to having: burning or itching around your genitals, increased vaginal discharge with an odor, painful urination, pain with sex, and the list goes on.

One reason someone could “think” it’s possible that STIs just go away without treatment is because the symptoms can go away. But that does not mean that the infection is gone. As mentioned above, many people have an STI and have no symptoms; they would not know they have an STI without testing.

It is recommended that you get tested for STIs at least once a year if you are sexually active. However, if you have multiple partners, it is recommended that you get tested every 3-6 months and/or before having sex with a new partner. STIs are very contagious even if you don’t have symptoms, and can be spread through bodily fluids, skin-to-skin contact, and by sharing used syringes (IV drug use).

When trying to answer the questions, Can STIs just go away? the safest answer is NO; STIs require some type of treatment or management.

No one wants to hear they are positive for an STI. The best way to prevent contracting an STI is by not having sex. If you are going to have sex you need to use protection every time; this means using condoms or, for oral sex, dental dams.