What is the relationship between STDs and HIV?
A person who has an STD is much more likely than someone without an STD to become infected with HIV if they have unprotected sex (sex without a condom) with an HIV-infected person. This is especially true for people infected with an STD that causes genital ulcerations (cuts/open sores on the vagina or penis, or nearby areas). Cuts and open sores provide an easy route for HIV to enter the bloodstream. STDs that can cause genital ulcerations include herpes, syphilis, chancre, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and scabies.
