Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. An understanding of the relationship between STDs and HIV infection can help in the development of effective HIV prevention programs for persons with high-risk sexual behaviors.
Individuals who are infected with STDs are at least two to five times more
likely than uninfected individuals to acquire HIV infection if they are
exposed to the virus through sexual contact. In addition, if an HIV-infected
individual is also infected with another STD, that person is more likely
to transmit HIV through sexual contact than other HIV-infected persons. ...more...