HIV guides
HIV pillar hub →U=U Explained — undetectable equals untransmittable
The science, studies, and what U=U actually does and does not cover.
PrEP vs PEP — HIV prevention compared
Daily prevention vs 72-hour emergency intervention. Both, explained.
HIV life expectancy in 2026 — what the data shows
Near-normal lifespan with modern care. Honest numbers.
Acute HIV symptoms — first weeks
What the seroconversion illness actually feels like.
HIV test types compared — rapid, lab, at-home
4th gen vs rapid vs OraQuick vs RNA — which test to use when.
HIV PEP eligibility — when you qualify
Who qualifies, where to go, what to bring. 72-hour window.
Long-acting injectable PrEP
Apretude every 2 months, Lenacapavir every 6 months. No more daily pills.
PrEP side effects — what to actually expect
Truvada, Descovy, Apretude, Lenacapavir — honest comparison.
Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
No. Here is the science behind the myth and what actually transmits HIV.
Sex after an HIV diagnosis — what actually changes
U=U, disclosure, partners, kids — the practical post-diagnosis playbook.
HIV cure 2026 — trials update
bnAbs, CRISPR, latency reversal, gene therapy — what is actually promising.
HIV in older adults (50+)
Half of US PLWH are 50+. Late diagnosis common. Why screening matters.
HIV viral load and CD4 — what the numbers mean
Two essential HIV labs explained. Targets, frequency, what to ask about.
HIV criminalization laws — disclosure and legal risk
HIV-specific criminal laws in 30+ states. What disclosure requires.
HIV vaccine pipeline — what is actually coming
mRNA, bnAb induction, past failures. Honest 2026 update.
Herpes guides
Herpes pillar hub →Newly diagnosed with herpes — what to do next
A 30-day plan from people who walked this path.
Herpes outbreak triggers and how to reduce them
Evidence-based triggers and what actually works.
Can you get herpes from kissing? The real risk
HSV-1 vs HSV-2 transmission, when it matters.
HSV test results — what your number actually means
IgG, IgM, index values, false positives.
Herpes cure 2026 — trials update
Moderna, BioNTech, Pritelivir, CRISPR — what is real.
Valacyclovir vs Acyclovir — which is better?
Same effectiveness. Different dosing, cost, convenience.
HSV-1 vs HSV-2 — what is the difference?
Different viruses, different patterns. Why knowing which matters.
Can you have herpes without symptoms?
Most people with herpes never have a recognized outbreak.
Herpes and pregnancy
Risk to baby under 1% with proper management. Suppressive antiviral from 36 weeks.
Herpes blood test accuracy
IgG vs IgM, low-positive false positives, when to ask for Western blot.
Oral herpes vs cold sore vs canker sore
Cold sores ARE oral herpes. Canker sores are NOT. Side-by-side comparison.
Neonatal herpes — real risk and prevention
New infection in third trimester is the real risk. Established HSV is < 1%.
HSV-1 genital herpes — why it’s rising
Now the majority of new genital herpes in young US adults. Milder course.
Living with chronic herpes — a 5-year view
What life actually looks like over time. First year worst; year 5+ usually fine.
HSV in immunocompromised patients
More severe outbreaks, possible resistance, suppressive therapy considerations.
HPV guides
HPV pillar hub →HPV vaccine for adults over 26 — is it worth it?
FDA-approved to 45. Honest numbers on benefit.
HPV warts removal — which treatment actually works?
Seven evidence-based options compared.
HPV and cervical cancer risk
Most HPV clears. Persistent high-risk strains are what matters.
HPV in men — symptoms, testing, treatment
Most men with HPV never know. No screening test. What to watch for.
Anal cancer screening for MSM
ANCHOR trial proved screening works. What anal Pap and HRA mean.
Genital warts treatment options compared
Cryotherapy, imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, TCA — seven options side-by-side.
HPV throat cancer — what to know
Now more common in US men than cervical cancer in US women. Vaccine prevents it.
Cervical cancer screening guidelines (2026)
Current Pap, HPV co-test, and primary HPV screening intervals by age.
Penile cancer warning signs
HPV causes 60% of cases. Self-exam, lichen sclerosus, when to see a doctor.
Molluscum guides
Molluscum pillar hub →Molluscum natural treatments — what actually works
Tea tree, ZymaDerm, ACV — evidence-graded, honestly.
Molluscum vs warts vs acne — how to tell them apart
Side-by-side comparison with diagnostic features.
Molluscum in children — practical parent guide
Daycare, treatment options, the BOTE phase, and what to actually do.
Chlamydia guides
Chlamydia pillar hub →Doxycycline vs Azithromycin for chlamydia
2021 CDC update made doxycycline first-line. Here is why.
Chlamydia symptoms in men
Discharge, burning, testicular pain — half of cases are silent.
Chlamydia symptoms in women
70% asymptomatic. Discharge, bleeding, pelvic pain, PID risk.
PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
The main complication of untreated chlamydia/gonorrhea. Treatment + fertility.
Chlamydia test accuracy — false positives & negatives
NAAT sensitivity, why urine misses some cases, when to retest.
Syphilis guides
Syphilis pillar hub →Syphilis symptoms by stage
The four stages, neurosyphilis, congenital risks.
How syphilis testing actually works
Two-step blood tests, RPR/VDRL vs TPPA, how to read titer results.
Syphilis epidemic 2026 — why cases are rising
US cases up 7x since 2010. Congenital syphilis quintupled. What drives it.
Syphilis test types compared — RPR, VDRL, TPPA
Non-treponemal vs treponemal tests, the two-step algorithm, reading titers.
Syphilis in pregnancy & congenital syphilis prevention
Universal screening, penicillin treatment, why timing matters for fetal outcomes.
General guides
General pillar hub →How to tell a partner you have an STI
Disclosure scripts that actually work.
Free STI testing — where to go
County clinics, AHF, Planned Parenthood, at-home kits.
Do condoms prevent STIs? An honest guide
Honest numbers per infection, perfect vs typical use.
Can I still have kids with an STI?
Yes — with proper prenatal care, vertical transmission is minimal.
A condom broke — your 72-hour action plan
PEP, emergency contraception, STI testing schedule.
STI cure pipeline 2026 — trials tracker
HSV, HIV, HPV trials in development. mRNA, CRISPR, more.
STI testing window periods
When tests turn positive after exposure — by STI.
Genital herpes vs genital warts
Different viruses, different bumps. Side-by-side.
STI vs STD — what is the difference?
Same diseases, different framing. Why the language shifted.
STI statistics 2026 — current rates and trends
Cited CDC + WHO data on STI prevalence. A reference page.
Sex after STI treatment — when is it safe?
Wait schedule by infection. Chlamydia 7 days. Syphilis 14 days + healed.
How to talk to your doctor about STIs
Exact phrases, what to ask, what to expect — and what to do if it goes badly.
Gonorrhea treatment and antibiotic resistance (2026)
Current first-line ceftriaxone regimen and why it keeps changing.
Genital itching — STI or not?
Most genital itching is not an STI. How to tell the difference.
BV vs yeast vs STI — how to tell them apart
Side-by-side comparison of discharge, itch, odor, treatment.
Gonorrhea symptoms in women
Up to 80% of cases are asymptomatic. Discharge, pelvic pain, bleeding.
DoxyPEP — doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis
One pill within 72 hours of sex prevents most bacterial STIs.
Hepatitis B vaccine — schedule and immunity
95%+ effective. Heplisav-B 2 doses or Engerix-B 3 doses.
STI testing during pregnancy
Standard prenatal STI screening, when each test happens, what positive results mean.
When to retest after STI exposure
A negative first test isn’t always the end. Retest schedule by infection.
Mpox basics — symptoms, vaccine, prevention
JYNNEOS vaccine, PCR diagnosis, sexual transmission risk and what to do.
Condom types and alternatives — complete guide
Latex, polyurethane, lambskin, internal, dental dams. What works for what.
Asymptomatic throat gonorrhea — why screening matters
Up to 90% asymptomatic. Resistance reservoir. Screening for MSM matters.
Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) — the emerging STI
Not in most STI panels. Causes urethritis/cervicitis. Resistance is rising.
Trichomoniasis — symptoms, testing, treatment
Most common curable STI in the US — and the most often missed.
Hepatitis C cure in 2026
Curable in 95%+ of cases with 8-12 weeks of oral pills.
Sex toy hygiene and STI risk
Cleaning, sharing, materials — practical guide to safer toy use.
Yeast infection in men
Yes, men get them too. Symptoms, treatment, prevention.
STI disclosure — real scripts for real situations
Words to use for first date, new partner, hookup, long-term.
Mental health after an STI diagnosis
First 72 hours, first month, first year. A practical coping playbook.
LGV (lymphogranuloma venereum)
Severe rectal chlamydia variant in MSM. Needs 21-day doxycycline.
Pubic lice and scabies — STIs you can see
Parasitic STIs you can spot. OTC permethrin works. Treat partners.
Hepatitis A vaccine and sexual transmission in MSM
Hep A spreads through anal-oral contact. 2-dose vaccine, highly effective.
BV recurrence — why it keeps coming back
50% recur within a year. Boric acid, suppressive gel, partner treatment.
STI screening intervals — how often to test
By population: women under 25, MSM, HIV+, pregnant, sex workers.
Telehealth STI testing — pros, cons, who to use
How at-home STI testing kits work, what they catch, what they miss.
Sexual assault and STI prophylaxis
What happens at the ER. HIV PEP, antibiotics, Plan B, evidence collection.
Vulvar conditions that aren’t STIs
Lichen sclerosus, vulvodynia, dermatitis — chronic conditions often misdiagnosed.
STI rash differential — what rash is an STI?
Syphilis, HSV, mpox, HIV, scabies — features that distinguish each.
Trans sexual health — practical guide
Screening, hormones, surgery, affirming care. For trans men + trans women.
Mgen partner protocols + treatment failure
Partner notification, resistance testing, what to do when first treatment fails.
Open relationship sexual health
Testing frequency, agreements, disclosure protocols for ENM/poly.
Reactive arthritis from STIs (Reiter’s)
Joint pain + eye + urethral symptoms after chlamydia. The triad explained.
BV in pregnancy — risk and management
Linked to preterm birth. Safe treatment, screening debate, what to do.
Penile discharge — causes and what to do
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, Mgen, non-STI — differential by appearance.
Sexual health for people with disabilities
Often overlooked. Screening, accommodation, advocacy. ADA rights.
Sex worker safer sex — practical protocols
Testing frequency, PrEP, DoxyPEP, vaccinations, client screening.
Postpartum sexual health — recovery and resumption
When safe to resume sex. Common issues. Pelvic floor PT, breastfeeding effects.
The community behind the guides.
These guides are written for and with the Shameless Path community — people living with STIs who answer each other's questions every day. Join us.
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