Sexual Health Resources

In addition to the resources listed below, many city and state agencies — as well as colleges and universities — offer programs that provide information and treatment about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Most are free or low-cost.

Most of these organizations provide information and resources on sexual health as well as on STIs, specifically.

• Advocates for Youth
• American Sexual Health Association (ASHA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• National Coalition for Sexual Health
• Planned Parenthood
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health
• World Health Organization: Sexual Health

If you’re living with a sexually transmitted infection, it can help to connect with others facing the same health and, often, social challenges.

• ASHA: Sexual Health STI Support Group and Discussion Community
• ASHA: Herpes Support Groups
• Dating With Herpes.org
• The STI Project: STD Support Groups

These organizations track statistics related to STIs, and some of them additionally track federal and state policies related to sex education, birth control, and STD prevention and treatment.

• Guttmacher Institute: United States HIV & STIs
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: HIVinfo
• SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030: Sexually Transmitted Infections

Some STIs can be cured with medication, some can be prevented with vaccines, and others cannot be cured but can be managed with antiviral or other therapies.

Antibiotics for chlamydia:

• azithromycin (Zithromax)
• doxycycline (Vibramycin)
• erythromycin (MY-E)

Antivirals for genital herpes:

• acyclovir (Zovirax)
• famciclovir (Famvir)
• valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Vaccines for hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV):

• Hepatitis B adult vaccine
• Hepatitis B pediatric vaccine
• HPV vaccine

Antivirals for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV):

• FDA-approved HIV Medicines — National Institutes of Health
• Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir)

Topical preparations for warts caused by HPV:

• imiquimod (Aldara)
• podofilox (Condylox)
• podophyllum resin (Podocon-25)
• sinecatechins (Veregen)

Antibiotics for gonorrhea:

• ceftriaxone injection (Rocephin) with doxycycline (Vibramycin)
• azithromycin (Zithromax)

Antibiotics for syphilis:

• penicillin (Bicillin L-A)
• doxycycline (Vibramycin)

Sexual feelings and preferences exist throughout a lifetime, although they can change over time and may be expressed differently at different stages of life. These resources address sexuality at various ages and in various circumstances.

• Scarleteen
• Sex, Etc.
• HelpGuide.org: Better Sex as You Age
• National Institute on Aging: Sexuality in Later Life

Read how others have dealt with STIs as well as other issues around sexuality and relationships.

• The STD Project: Blog
• STDcheck.com: Exposed
• TeenSource.org: Blog

In most cases, a primary-care provider or obstetrician-gynecologist can test and treat for STIs. Some geographic areas have STI clinics devoted just to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. This tool from the CDC can help locate the nearest location that tests for and treats them.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): GetTested

You can also find at-home STI test kits online.

Research on STIs ranges from drug trials to studies on ways to prevent the transmission of infections in certain populations.

• CenterWatch
• ClinicalTrials.Gov
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): Find a Study on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)