Updated December 16, 2014.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Question: How Does STD Infection Increase HIV Risk?

Answer:

Numerous STDs are not only dangerous in and of themselves; they actually increase the risk of becoming infected with other STDs, including HIV. HIV-positive individuals with STDs are also more infectious – they're three to five times more likely than individuals without STDs to transmit HIV during sexual activity.

How Do STDs Increase HIV Risk?

STDs increase a person's risk of acquiring HIV in one of two ways.

1. They can cause lesions on the skin, making it easier for HIV to enter the body. STDs that increase HIV risk in this way include:
   • Syphilis
   • Chancroid
   • Herpes
   
    
   
2. They can cause inflammation, which is triggered by the immune system. Since HIV prefers to infect immune cells, any disease that causes a increase in these cells also will make it easier for a person to become infected with HIV. STDs that increase HIV risk in this way include:
   • Gonorrhea
   • Chlamydia
   • Trichomoniasis

Of course, many STDs increase a person's susceptibility to HIV in both ways. It is therefore extremely important for anyone who has an STD to be treated. It can help to protect their long-term health. As can, unsurprisingly, practicing safer sex. Reliably, and properly, using condoms for all sexual activity will greatly reduce an individual's risk of acquiring HIV.

Regular Screening Is Essential

It is extremely important for individuals with STDs to be treated. However, before a person can be treated, they first need to be diagnosed. For that, regular screening is essential.

Most sexually transmitted diseases are asymptomatic. With no symptoms, the only way to ensure a timely diagnosis is screening. Otherwise, an infection can linger under the radar for many years. That is why it's not enough just to go for STD testing when you have symptoms. Every sexually active adult should consider being screened for STDs on a regular basis. This not only reduces HIV risk, it also lowers the risk of STD related infertility, a problem that does not only affect women.
_{Sources
CDC HIV FAQ: "Is there a connection between HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases?" Accessed 11-18-07}