Final answer:
True Some STIs can be fatal if left untreated. STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea often show no symptoms, making them hard to detect without testing. While bacterial STIs can be cured with antibiotics, viral STIs can only have their symptoms managed, and some are preventable with vaccines.
Step-by-step explanation:
True: Some Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can indeed be fatal if left untreated. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two STIs that often do not cause symptoms, particularly in females, making them difficult to notice without testing.
While some bacterial STIs like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics, viral STIs such as genital herpes and HIV cannot be cured, but their symptoms can be managed with medication.
It is important to note that antibiotics are not effective against viral infections such as genital herpes. The most common STI in the United States is human papillomavirus (HPV), which can sometimes lead to cancer, exemplifying the relationship between certain STIs and cancer. HPV is preventable with a vaccine.
Moreover, practicing safe sex, such as using condoms, can significantly reduce but not completely prevent the risk of STI transmission. HIV is another serious STI that, if untreated, can progress to AIDS, a condition that greatly weakens the immune system and can be fatal.