Viewed from another perspective, however

Viewed from another perspective, however, in a monogamous relationship between HIV-infected partners, with good diagnostic screening, the problems of gonorrhea and chlamydia are usually not insurmountable. Thus, when diagnosed, these diseases are generally curable. The same holds true for syphilis, except that it can be difficult to treat. Finally, herpes disease, although manageable, is never cured, and once acquired, results in life-long infection.

Other sexually transmitted infections can cause serious diseases that may be difficult or impossible to cure. For example, hepatitis B and C both can be transmitted sexually and may be difficult to cure. Remember, however, that hepatitis B is preventable by vaccination. While hepatitis C is more frequently spread by exposure to blood (for example, during intravenous drug abuse), transmission can occur from sexual exposure. Moreover, when hepatitis C infection occurs, about 85% of cases result in a chronic (long duration) infection that may be difficult to treat and can lead to liver failure and/or liver cancer.

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is also sexually transmitted and cannot be eliminated. It is associated with cervical cancer in women and anal cancer in both men and women. Additionally, HPV is associated with an even greater frequency of these cancers in individuals co-infected by HIV.

The human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) has been strongly linked to Kaposi's sarcoma (a skin cancer in patients with HIV disease). Therefore, HHV-8 is clearly an infection worth avoiding if at all possible. However, it is not known just how the spread of HHV-8 occurs and how it can be prevented. It may very well be transmitted sexually. At this time, however, there is no readily available way of determining whether an individual is infected with this virus.