The epidemic nature of STDs attests to the difficulty of controlling them. Some public health officials attribute the increase in many of these diseases to increasing sexual activity. Also significant may be the replacement of the condom as a contraceptive method with birth control pills and diaphragms. The use of a condom in penetrative sex helps to protect against many STDs, such as gonorrhoea.
Patterns of STD also change. Whereas syphilis and gonorrhea were epidemic at one time, widespread use of penicilin brought syphilis under moderated control if administered in the early weeks. Attention then turned to control of gonorrhoea, at which time syphilis again began to increase in frequency. Genital herpes, NSU, and chlamydia increase in the 1970s and early 1980s.
First-line treatment of STDs is with antibiotics. Penicillin has been an effective drug against syphilis and gonorrheal organisms are now resistant to this agent. Spectinomycin is effective in these instances. Tetracyclines are used to treat lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale, and chlamydial urethritis. Specific treatment are also available for most STDs, with the exceptio of molluscum contagiosum. The antiviral drug aciclovir is providing useful against genital herpes. Salicylic acid is used to treat genital warts.
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