How to Get Rid of an STD at Home (SPOILER: You Can’t)

How to Get Rid of an STD at Home (SPOILER: You Can’t)

It’s bad enough that STDs can produce a number of painful symptoms and generate a variety of serious health conditions –– including potentially fatal problems. For many people, the stigma associated with STDs can be even worse than the infection itself. And while it’s understandable that many would like to know how to get rid of an STD at home with natural remedies, the reality is that you can’t. Home remedies, over-the-counter medications, and natural cure-alls WILL NOT treat STDs. The only way to cure an STD is through proper medical attention.

The Danger of Self Diagnosis & Home Remedies 

First thing’s first: there’s no way to tell if you have an STD without getting tested. Yes, there are certain symptoms that could alert you to the presence of an STD. However, these symptoms often resemble other medical conditions. In some instances, symptoms of one STD may be nearly identical to another. (Such is the case with chlamydia and gonorrhea.) No matter how many articles you read online, only a medical professional can diagnose an STD. 

Second, even if you correctly diagnose an STD, treating it at home is a bad idea for several key reasons. Treatments involving supposedly medicinal ingredients –– like garlic or apple cider vinegar –– won’t actually eradicate bacterial infections. But they might give the appearance of doing so. Indeed, STD symptoms can lessen or go away with time. Yet, this does not mean the infection has left your system. Instead, the STD could pass into a dormant phase, or move to another area of your body. Plus, you can still transmit an STD even if you aren’t exhibiting symptoms.

At-Home STD Testing

At-home STD testing is different to home remedies for STDs. Still, you should be careful when using at-home tests. Not all STDs can be detected with a test performed in the home. For example, HIV and syphilis require blood tests to diagnose. On the other hand, there are reliable swab test kits that can be used to detect the presence of chlamydia or gonorrhea in the mouth or anus. You can click here for more information about at-home swab test kits. 

Curable vs Incurable STDs

Some STDs cannot be cured –– at home or otherwise. Viral conditions like herpes and HIV, for instance, can’t be cured through antibiotics. Conversely, a number of STDs including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are bacterial and thus, curable. It’s important to remember that even if you have an incurable STD, you should still seek out medical attention. The sooner conditions like HIV are diagnosed and treated, the better they can be managed. Lastly, allows follow your doctor’s instructions when taking antibiotics or medication. Not taking your entire prescription, for example, could allow the infection to recover and reappear later.