Getting rid of STD fear: scientific understanding and treatment

Author: Ge Fengqin, Associate Researcher, Dermatology Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (National Center for STD Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Reviewer: Wang Qianqiu, Researcher, Dermatology Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, STD Control Center)

Sexually transmitted disease phobia is a neurosis with phobia as the main clinical manifestation, and is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Patients usually have a certain personality foundation; the onset is often related to a history of high-risk sexual behavior and stressful life events; after they undergo sexually transmitted disease-related tests, the results are negative; however, the patients are in pain and repeatedly seek medical treatment.

1. Which type of people are more likely to develop STD phobia?

A person's personality is related to whether he or she has psychological disorders, especially anxiety disorders. In other words, people with fragile and sensitive personality traits and other psychological disorders (mainly anxiety disorders) are more likely to suffer from STD phobia. Although these people do not have high-risk sexual behaviors, they have misunderstandings about the clinical manifestations and transmission routes of STDs, which is one of the reasons for their fear. The fear is completely based on their subjective imagination and association. They often ask the same question repeatedly, such as "How long is the incubation period?" "Am I absolutely not infected with STDs?" "Will my test result be a false negative?" They will ask these questions over and over again, imagining "what if" scenarios for many low-probability or impossible events, and feel anxious about them.

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Another type is people who have engaged in high-risk sexual behavior. A survey shows that more than half of those with STD phobia have had extramarital sex or close physical contact with people engaged in sex trade. They are condemned by their hearts and are afraid of contracting STDs and affecting their families. They are also afraid of being discriminated against by society, which leads to a sense of guilt that cannot be let go, and eventually turns into a fear of the disease.

2. What are the symptoms of patients with STD phobia?

Patients will go to multiple hospitals to check whether they have sexually transmitted diseases. Even if the test results are negative, they will seek medical treatment from multiple places, and then show symptoms such as mental depression, silence, stubbornness, etc., and will also cause physical discomfort symptoms such as cold sweats, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, as well as emotions such as fear, tension, and anxiety, which seriously affect their normal life.

Patients with STD phobia who come to consult often have symptoms such as over-treatment and over-washing, which are caused by excessive fear and are not good for human health. For example, some people take antibiotics after sexual intercourse, or use antibiotics regularly, and some people try to prevent STDs and relieve fear by repeatedly washing the vagina after sexual intercourse. The above practices are wrong and even harmful to human health.

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3. How is STD phobia generally treated?

It is recommended that people who have risk behaviors that may lead to STDs or have suspicious symptoms should first go to a regular hospital for examination. If STDs have been ruled out, but the fear is still uncontrollable and affects normal life and work, it is recommended to seek psychological counseling from a professional psychiatrist or psychologist to release negative emotions and adjust the mentality and cognition. If necessary, you can take oral tranquilizers as prescribed by the doctor to improve the condition, and you can also take vitamins in combination.

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