Penile Discharge – What You Should Know

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When substances other than semen or urine is found to be coming out from the tip of the penis, it is a symptom known as penile discharge. Having penile discharge of any kind usually points to a larger issue, like a STD infection of some kind. 

Types of Penile Discharge

Penile discharge ranges from clear and watery to opaque, thick and white. The discharge may sometimes appear pus-like and yellow in colour, and can smell foul. The consistency of said discharge may even change throughout the day.

Penile discharge can be accompanied by other symptoms of STD infection, like itching and irritation at the tip of the penis, dysuria (pain when passing urine) or pain during ejaculation.

Penile discharge is a common symptom of STIs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. They are the top 2 STIs diagnosed in Singapore each year, with data in 2018 showing 2700 and 2000 cases per 100,000 population for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea respectively.

Testing Penile Discharge

Thankfully, getting to the root cause of penile discharge is possible with a DTAP Express Urine STD test or Full Urine STD test. The DTAP Express Urine STD test will pick up Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea from your urine sample and results will be sent via your chosen mode of communication in 72 hours.

For the DTAP Express Full Urine STD test, additional infections such as mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma urealyticum, trichomonas, gardnerella, candida, urine bacteria (Ufeme) which causes NGU or NSU (non gonococcal urethritis or non specific urethritis) can be detected.

Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, NGU/NSU can be passed from one person to another person through sexual contact. Vaginal sex, Oral Sex and Anal Sex.

Symptoms

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 3 days to a week after sexual exposure. However, most infections can remain as “silent” asymptomatic ones. This is common for conditions like Chlamydia or even NSU.

If left untreated, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea or NSU can cause further health complications such as pain and swelling in the testes or prostate, fertility issues in both genders, and even organ damage.

If your partner has been diagnosed with an STI or STD, DTAP Express offers rapid testing and expedited treatment for both of you.

Visit us at dtapexpress.clinic for more information. Alternatively, you may call us at +65 6962 1963 or email at hello@dtapexpress.clinic to book your appointment today!

Throat Swabs For STDs

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It is a common misnomer that STIs and STDs are only transmitted through vaginal sex or anal sex. The truth is, STDs can be spread through both insertive and receptive oral sex.

Symptoms

Symptoms one may experience after picking up an STI after insertive oral sex with or without condoms may include sore throat, fevers, enlarged neck glands, enlarged tonsils, or a general persistent discomfort at the back of one’s throat.

A medical study in 2019 by the international journal of STD & AIDS found that 90% of pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhoea in both men (straight or MSM) and women were symptomless.

If any symptoms did appear, they showed up anywhere between a few days to a week after the oral sex encounter.

Swab Tests

DTAP Express throat swab gives you a quick way to address those niggling throat symptoms or any worries you may have from a possible Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea infection of the throat.

DTAP Express throat swab is a laboratory test that predominantly diagnoses Chlamydia in the throat and Gonorrhoea in the throat. The test involves a simple self-administered soft swab to the back and surrounds of your throat, all in the comfort and privacy of our DTAP Express self testing clinic.

Pharyngeal Chlamydia or Pharyngeal Gonorrhoea are treatable and curable STIs that infect a person after the engagement of insertive oral sex, but must be properly diagnosed and treated effectively to prevent any further spread or complications.

If left untreated, this often symptomless STI in the throat can be passed on to your partner if you engage in insertive oral sex (give oral sex), with or without the use of condoms.

Oral STDs are Treatable

Oral STDs and STIs are all curable with the right antibiotics after the throat swab. 2 weeks after receiving treatment, it is advisable to obtain a test of clearance and repeat test to document complete clearance of infection. This allows you to document successful treatment and put the chapter behind you.

Vaginal Discharge – What Is Considered Abnormal?

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Unlike their male counterparts, it is quite normal for women to have vaginal discharge. There is no standard amount of discharge, as some have it daily, whereas others experience it once in a while. It can also be light and intermittent, or heavy and continuous.

In general, healthy vaginal discharge is one that is clear or whitish, may have a slight odour that is not strong smelling, and may even leave a yellow stain on the underwear. If you are experience this, you should not be worried.

Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

The concern comes when there is abnormal vaginal discharge. This type of discharge can either be clear and watery, thick and white, or even have other colour changes such as yellow, pink, red or even green.

This discharge can also accompany other symptoms like foul or fishy smell, vaginal pain during sex, itching and general discomfort. The consistency of the discharge can also turn thicker and more opaque as well.

If you are experiencing this abnormal form of discharge, you should know that it can be caused by an infection, whether hygiene-related or STI-related.

Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

Causes of abnormal vaginal discharge can fall into 2 categories: Hygiene-related or STI-related.

Causes of hygiene-related vaginal discharge include Yeast, Monilla, Candida, group B streptococcus, Gardnerella (also known as bacteria vaginosis).

Causes of STI-related vaginal discharge are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma urealyticum or other vaginal bacteria. Symptoms of these infections can appear 3 days after receptive vaginal intercourse or receptive oral sex. Conditions such as Chlamydia can remain asymptomatic in 7 out of 10 women.

When left untreated, the infections from STI -related vaginal discharge can cause long term problems. Infertility, organ damage and pelvic inflammatory disease are just some of the complications that can arise from untreated STIs.

Fortunately, all this is easily preventable with a simple, confidential and fuss-free DTAP Express vaginal STD swab. Rapid results for common STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea allow for quick peace of mind and expedited treatment for you and your partner.

STD Testing For Abnormalities

If you decide on getting the DTAP Express Full Vaginal STD swab, you will be able to test for both STI and hygiene related causes of vaginal. In either case, there is treatment available that can help to safely and effectively resolve the infection. A repeat swab test is also advised 2 weeks after the end of treatment to document treatment success.

In rare instances, some ladies experience repeated abnormal discharge when nearing their periods, or even abnormal discharge after sex even when both partners have been tested clear for STIs. In these situations, the results after the swab can then be discussed with our DTAP clinic doctors to further investigate the causes of these repeated symptoms. Our DTAP Clinics at DUO, Robertson and Holland Village have doctors who regularly encounter and treat women’s health conditions like repeated abnormal vaginal discharge.

Quick, confidential and fuss-free testing in the comfort and privacy of our DTAP Express clinic, designed around the comfort and needs of patients, allow for rapid results and expedited treatment.

References
Carla Re et. l., 2019 J. Int STD & Aids

Vaginal Pain – Causes And Possible Complications

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An often worrying and discomforting condition caused by a range of health issues, vaginal pain is something that affects women of all ages. This condition can be caused by infections, hormone related problems or even cysts. The pain can be located on the outer genital region at the vulva involving the skin and labia or even within the walls of the vagina.

Causes of Vaginal Pain

Vaginal pain during periods or menstruations are often associated with gynecological problems and require further women’s health investigations such as a thorough examination, blood test and even scans.

However, if vaginal pain comes together with vaginal discharge, itching and general discomfort, then it is likely caused by some kind of infection. These infections can either be STI and STD related, or hygiene related vaginal infections. The pain arising from such infections occur at the outer genital region or within the walls of the vagina during sex.

One reason why the pain occurs during an infection is that the walls of the vagina get inflamed and irritated. Upon physical contact during sex, pain is triggered.

Non-STI VS STI Infections

The infections that can give rise to vaginal pain include non-STI infections like Yeast, Monilla, Candida, group B streptococcus, Gardnerella (also known as bacterial vaginosis). These infections can occur due to a change in hormones, hygiene concerns or even bacteria from your partner after sex. Sometimes, these infections create a discharge that may have an odour . This discharge can either be clear and watery, thick and white, or even yellow or green in colour.

If the infection was caused by an STI or STD such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma urealyticum or other vaginal bacteria, it can also lead to vagina pain. Such infections may or may not produce discharge. Additionally, the presence of odour is uncertain. Sometimes, there might not be any symptoms at all. In the event that symptoms do show up, they may only appear 3-5 days after sexual exposure.

Getting Tested

If you suspect that an STD is causing you vaginal pain, DTAP Express Vaginal STD swab test will allow you to test for common STD infections with the aid of a soft self-swab. Studies have shown that self-administered swabs are as accurate as those taken by a healthcare worker. Self-testing comes with the added benefit of privacy, overcoming any embarrassment or shyness one may have about seeing a healthcare worker about a potential STD infection.

For those who prefer a comprehensive investigation, the DTAP Express Full Vaginal STD swab test will pick up the other causes of an infection, whether they are STI or non-STI related.

STD Testing – Who Should Get Tested

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It isn’t immediately obvious who needs to get an STD test, largely because most people don’t talk about this taboo topic. The truth is we need to know more about this topic to safeguard our health, and the wellbeing of those around us.

For most people, STD testing is not one of those things we think about on a regular basis. However, STD testing is important even if the individuals are in a monogamous relationship right now. After all, what happened in the past can still affect you today.

So, who should be testing themselves for for STDs?

  • Those who have symptoms
  • Those without symptoms
  • Those who have been treated 2 weeks ago

 

It’s especially important to get tested if:

Some situations call for tests, because a simple “trust me” is just not sufficient when it comes to protecting your health.

STD testing should definitely be done if:

  • One or both parties in the relationship tested positive for an STD.
  • Anyone is embarking on a new relationship.
  • Both parties are thinking about stopping condom use.
  • One or both partners have equal relations with other people outside of the relationship.
  • The relationship is no longer monogamous, and has changed to a polygamous or polyamorous one.
  • One or both parties in the relationship experience symptoms that suggest an STD infection

People in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, with both partners tested before entering the relationship may not need regular STI testing.

However, since most people who enter long-term relationships do not get tested before they do so, it is possible that one or both partners may carry an undiagnosed STD into the relationship. Testing is therefore highly important for the safety of both parties in the relationship.

 

Tags: STD Testing, STD Testing Singapore, STD Test