STD thread below made me want to ask this. Several of the STDs are treatable with antibiotics--Ghonorrhea (sp?), Chlamydia, Syphilis, and now even Hep C. HSV no. HIV may be held in abeyance. Hep B not treatable but preventable with a proper vaccination.
What about HPV? Several strains of which are known causes of cervical and other cancers? Recently two vaccines have been approved for use in females, and I understand Gardasil is now also approved for males.
These came out after my time for vaccines. Are most/any of the providers getting it? I read it is for men up to 26 yo (not sure why the cut off). Have any men gotten it? I was thinking about it.
antibiotics. Some emerging strains of Gonorrhea are resistant to conventional antibiotic therapies. Check CDC for the most recent STD treatment guidelines, and most recent GISP (gonococcal isolate surveillance project) data.
Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections. Vaccines remain the best defense:
Hep A and B vaccines are available and I suggest you get them. Hepatitis C vaccines are not available.
HPV is preventable via vaccine; there are two available - Gardasil and Cervarix. Gardasil is "quadrivalent", meaning it protects against the 4 strains of HPV that cause most cancers and genital warts. Cervarix is "bivalent", meaning it protects against the two main strains of HPV that cause cancer only. There are in fact 40+ strains of HPV. Regardless of the vaccination recommendations based upon age, a frank talk with your physician about your lifestyle should produce a willingness to consider the Gardasil vaccine (I don't believe Cervarix is approved for use in men). Yes, I did get it in my 40's.
Anti-viral medications also exist for treatment of viral STDs as well.
Do some research. Get tested. Play safe. Have fun
Very Good information MasterZen.. you da man!!