Some of the most curable STDs are gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, trichomoniasis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum and donovanosis.

STDs that are preventable but not curable are the viral STDs and include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B virus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

The total number of people aged 15–49 years who were living with HSV-2 infection worldwide in 2003 is estimated to be 536 million.

Numbers are readily available in the U.S and stand at around 1 in 5 people who have genital herpes. Most of these people would never know they are carrying the virus as it remains dormant in the body and they do not suffer an outbreak.

In the UK approximately 70% of people have the virus that causes cold sores (HSV-1) and approximately 10% have genital herpes (HSV-2). Remember thought that HSV-2 and HSV-1 infections can be transmitted between genitals and face and vice versa.

If you think you have an infection you should visit your local GUM (Genito Urinary Medicine) Clinic would help to diagnose the problem and offer some guidance. You can find a UK list of GUM clinics here