Regular STD Testing

Std testing is an important way to ensure that you are not infected with a potentially harmful virus or bacteria. By getting tested, you can be sure that you are not putting yourself or others at risk. There are a variety of STD tests available, and it is important to talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. Testing is relatively quick and easy, and it could potentially save your life. For those who are sexually active, getting tested is the only way to be sure that they are not carrying any unwanted diseases.

Getting tested is important for several reasons. First, it can help to identify any potential health risks that may be present. It can also help to ensure that treatment is received in a timely manner. Finally, std testing helps to protect your sexual partners from any potential exposure to STDs. Testing is typically conducted by a healthcare provider, and usually involves taking a sample of blood, urine, or other bodily fluid. In some cases, it may involve a physical examination.

Getting tested is a relatively simple process, usually involving a swab sample from the inside of the vagina or penis. The swab is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Your tests might also be covered by insurance, and many clinics in Singapore offer affordable testing options.

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STD Testing – Why It’s Important

STD testing in Singapore is an important part of maintaining one’s sexual health and wellbeing. With millions of new STD cases surfacing every year, it can be easy to contract an infection without even realizing it. This is why STD testing is useful – it allows you to get screened for a range of sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, herpes, hpv, and hiv. Getting tested ensures that you can seek the treatment you need to deal with any infections that you might have contracted. In Singapore, getting tested is quick, easy, and relatively painless, so you should definitely consider getting tested if you are sexually active.

Unfortunately, STDs often go undiagnosed due to the stigma surrounding them and the lack of awareness about the risks associated with certain sexual behaviors. With regular testing, sexually active individuals can proactively identify any infections that they may have and work with their doctors to treat and prevent the spread of these infections to others.

STD testing in Singapore also help patients gain access to treatments and education on safe sex practices that can reduce risk factors for infection. Whether you are concerned about your own health or want to protect loved ones from STD-related complications, regular testing is a smart choice for anyone living in Singapore. With quick access and affordable pricing, there’s every reason to take charge of your sexual health today.

In clinics throughout Singapore, qualified medical professionals are ready to help individuals take control of their sexual health through accurate diagnosis and evidence-based prevention strategies. Whether you are looking to undergo STD testing on your own or with a partner, there are many resources available to support you in this process. So if you want to protect yourself from the potential harms of an STD infection, be sure to seek out STD testing services today.

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STD Clinic Singapore

DTAP Std Clinic Singapore is a std testing and treatment center located in Singapore. DTAP  Std Clinic Singapore offers std testing, std treatment, and std prevention services. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore is a certified std testing center by the Singapore Ministry of Health. DTAP Express Std Clinic Singapore is committed to providing std education and awareness to the public. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore offers a wide range of std testing services including std rapid test, std blood test, std urine test, std swab test, and std saliva test. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore also offers std treatment services such as std medication and std surgery.

DTAP Std Clinic Singapore provides confidential std testing and std treatment services in professional, discreet and private settings. The confidential std testing and treatment services are for men, women and adolescents in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore’s std testing services are performed by experienced Std clinicians using the latest Std testing technology. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore‘s std treatment services are individualized to meet the unique needs of each std patient. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore offers std education and counseling services to std patients and their families. DTAP Std Clinic Singapore is committed to providing optimal std care to all of its patients.

STD Testing In Singapore

STD testing in Singapore is important for individuals who are sexually active. STD testing can be done through a blood test, urine test, or swab test. Getting tested is important because it can help to diagnose infections early, allowing for effective STD treatment. Additionally, STD testing is important for public health as it can help to prevent a prolific spread of STDs. STD testing in accredited Singaporean clinics is private and confidential. STDs do not discriminate, which is why every sexually active individual should get tested.

STD testing in Singapore is important for many reasons. Besides achieving early treatment and preventing spread of disease, STF testing can also help to identify new infections as they emerge, allowing for prompt treatment and prevention measures to be put in place. STD testing can also help to build trust and confidence within sexual relationships, as well as reduce the stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections. Getting tested is, therefore, an essential part of maintaining good sexual health.

There are plenty of STD testing centers around the country, and most offer confidential testing. STD tests are typically done using blood or urine samples, with test results taking up to two weeks to come back. Anyone who has had unprotected sex should consider getting tested, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

Some STDs can cause serious health problems if left untreated. This is entirely preventable as testing is quick and easy, and can be done at most family planning clinics. You may be asked to provide a urine sample , which will be tested for the presence of STDs. Depending on where you get tested, results may be sent to you via mail or conveyed to you in person. If you test positive for an STI, you will be referred to a doctor for treatment. Getting STD testing done is the best way to protect your health, and the health of your sexual partners.

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Explainer: Everything You Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

What is an STD?

The term STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease, and is a term of reference to any disease that is transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. While most people consider sexual contact to be unprotected vaginal intercourse, it is only one form of sexual contact. The term “sexual contact” also refers to unprotected anal or oral sex with another person. When there is any form of sexual contact with someone who already has an STD, then there is a chance that the disease will be transmitted.

STD Symptoms Men

Not all STDs have accompanying symptoms. In fact, many do not. While there is the possibility of getting an STD and having no symptoms at all, some STDs share a set of obvious symptoms that manifest in men.

These symptoms include:

* pain or discomfort during sex or urination
* sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the penis, testicles, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
* unusual discharge or bleeding from the penis
* painful or swollen testicles

STD Symptoms Women

In women, STD may cause the following symptoms:

* pain or discomfort during sex or urination
* sores, bumps, or rashes on or around the vagina, anus, buttocks, thighs, or mouth
* unusual discharge or bleeding from the vagina
* itchiness in or around the vagina

Types of STDs

Different STDs manifest symptoms in different ways. We have come up with a list of symptoms for common STDs to help you understand them better.

Chlamydia

Some kinds of bacteria cause chlamydia. It’s one of the most commonly reported STDs globally.

People with chlamydia often do not develop noticeable symptoms. However, if they do develop symptoms, they will encounter:

  • pain or discomfort during sex or urination
  • green or yellow discharge from the penis or vagina
  • pain in the lower abdomen

If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to:

  • Infections of the groin area, including the urethra, prostate gland or testicles.
  • PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Infertility

If a pregnant woman has untreated chlamydia, she can pass it to her baby during birth. The baby may develop:

  • pneumonia
  • eye infections
  • blindness

Chlamydia is easily treatable through the use of antibiotics. This is why it’s important to diagnose early and treat it as quickly as possible.

Syphilis

Also bacterial in nature, Syphilis often goes unnoticed in its early stages.

The first symptom is a small round sore called a chancre. Chancres can develop anywhere on the genitals, anus, or mouth. At this point, the disease is painless but very infectious.

Later symptoms of syphilis can include:

  • rash
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • headaches
  • joint pain
  • weight loss
  • hair loss

If left untreated, late-stage syphilis can lead to:

  • loss of vision
  • loss of hearing
  • loss of memory
  • mental illness
  • infections of the brain or spinal cord
  • heart disease
  • death

Early diagnosis is important as it is an easily treatable disease. Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis as the disease can be fatal to the newborn.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) damages the immune system, and increases the risk of contracting viruses, bacteria and developing cancer. When left untreated, HIV progresses to AIDS. However, with modern medicine, many people living with HIV don’t ever develop AIDS.

Screening is important as it is easy to mistake the early symptoms of HIV with those of the flu. These symptoms can include:

  • fever
  • chills
  • aches and pains
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • sore throat
  • headache
  • nausea
  • rashes

These initial symptoms typically clear within a month or so. Beyond this period of time, a person with HIV can live without developing any other symptoms for years. Others might develop nonspecific symptoms, such as:

  • recurrent fatigue
  • fevers
  • headaches
  • stomach issues

While there’s no cure for HIV, treatment options are available. Early and effective treatment can help people with HIV live as long as those without HIV.

Effective treatment decreases the chances of transmitting HIV to another sexual partner, breaking the chain of transmission. This means that treatment can lower the amount of HIV in a person’s body to undetectable levels. At such low levels, HIV cannot be transmitted to other people.

However, without regular testing, people with HIV will not know that they carry the virus. This is why regular screening is recommended. With recent advancements in testing and treatment, it’s possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea, also known as “the clap” is  common bacterial STD.

People with gonorrhea might develop no symptoms. However, when present, symptoms may include:

  • a white, yellow, beige, or green-colored discharge from the penis or vagina
  • pain or discomfort during sex or urination
  • more frequent urination than usual
  • itching around the genitals
  • sore throat

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:

  • infections of the urethra, prostate gland, or testicles
  • PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Infertility

Gonorrhea can be passed to a newborn during childbirth. This can cause serious health problems to the child. This is why doctors recommend that pregnant women get tested for potential STDs. Gonorrhea can usually be treated with antibiotics.

Pubic lice (‘crabs’)

They look like crabs, but these are actually pubic lice, so it’s more of an infestation than an infection. Public lice live in your public hair and feed on your blood

Some common symptoms of pubic lice include:

  • itching around the genitals or anus
  • small pink or red bumps around the genitals or anus
  • low-grade fever
  • lack of energy
  • irritability

Using a magnifying glass, you might be able to see the pubic lice, and their eggs, near the root of the pubic hair. They can also be found attached to the skin when feeding.

Untreated pubic lice can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, shared clothing, bedding, or towels. Scratched bites can also become infected. It is recommended that pubic lice infestations be treated as quickly as possible, before the lice grow in numbers.

Pubic lice can be treated using OTC topical treatments, and tweezers to pluck them off the pubic area. However, you must also clean your clothes, bedding, towels, and home to prevent continued infestation.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoan organism that can transmit through genital contact.

Less than one-third of people with trichomoniasis develop symptoms. If symptoms develop, they may include:

  • discharge from the vagina or penis
  • burning or itching around the vagina or penis
  • pain or discomfort during urination or sex
  • frequent urination

In women, the discharge often has a “fishy” smell.

If left untreated, trich can lead to:

  • infections of the urethra
  • PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Infertility

Trichchomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics, so early diagnosis and treatment is highly recommended.

Herpes

There are 2 main strains of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), namely HSV-1 and HSV2. Herpes is one of the most common STDs, and it is estimated that at least 1 out of every 6 persons have herpes.

HSV-1 is primarily responsible for something called oral herpes, and results in cold sores near the mouth. However, HSV-1 can also be passed from one person’s mouth to another person’s genitals during oral sex. When this happens, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes.

HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes. It’s most common symptom is blistery sores. While HSV-2 causes sores to develop near or on the genitals, HSV-1 causes them to develop near or on the mouth.

These sores will heal within a few weeks, and while the earlier sore outbreaks will hurt the most, they become less painful and less frequent over time.

Pregnant women with herpes can pass it to the fetus in the womb or to the newborn during childbirth. This is known as congenital herpes, and can endanger the child. It is therefore important for pregnant women to get an STD screening so that they know about their status.

Herpes has no cure, but it is non-lethal and there is medication that exists to control outbreaks. These same medications can also lower your chances of passing herpes to your sexual partner.

Regular STD screenings are important for early detection and management of herpes, so be sure to check in with your doctor to find out how you can get tested for herpes and other STDs.

Curable STDs

These STDs can be cured with antibiotics or other treatments:

  • chlamydia
  • syphilis
  • gonorrhea
  • crabs
  • trichomoniasis

These STDs are currently incurable:

  • HPV
  • HIV
  • herpes

It’s important to note that even if an STD can’t be cured, it can still be managed. This is why regular STD screenings are key, as they often allow you to acquire an early diagnosis so that your doctor can begin treating the disease and help you manage it. This also helps to break the chain of transmission, lowering your chances of transmitting the STD to another person. In many cases, people with STDs live normal lives with medication.

STDs and pregnancy

As mentioned earlier, pregnant women may transmit STDs to the fetus during pregnancy or newborn during childbirth. STDs can be life-threatening to newborns in many cases.

To help prevent STDs in newborns, it is important for pregnant women to be screened for STDs, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Diagnosis of STDs

Doctors will not be able to diagnose STDs just by looking at symptoms. While symptoms will point them in a certain direction, there will still need to be some kind of testing to know which specific STD is causing these symptoms.

You doctor will also recommend STD screenings depending on your sexual history, as many STDs do not cause noticeable symptoms. This is because even symptom-free STDs can cause damage and be transmitted to other people.

STD screenings take the form of a urine or blood test, as well as genital or anal swabs. If any sores are visible, those can be swabbed as well.

If you’ve had any type of sex at all, you should consider asking your doctor for an STD screening for your own safety and wellness.

Treatment of STDs

STD treatment is vital to your wellbeing and the health of your sexual partner. It’s very important that you and your sexual partner be successfully treated for STDs before resuming sexual activity. Otherwise, you can pass an infection back and forth between you.

Bacterial STDs

Bacterial STDs can usually be easily treated by antibiotics. However, antibiotics only work when they are taken as prescribed. That means finishing all of them. If your symptoms do not resolve, or they come back after you have finished your antibiotics, be sure to let your doctor know.

Viral STDs

Most viral STDs don’t have a cure associated with them, but some will resolve on their own. It is also important to note that no antibiotic will help with a viral infection. Most doctors will focus on treating the symptoms and reducing possibility of transmission.

A good example is that medications are available to slow or stop HIV from progressing to the stage of AIDS. Herpes medications that reduce the frequency and intensity of outbreaks are also available.

Other STDs

Some STDs are caused by small organisms. For example:

  • pubic lice
  • trichomoniasis
  • scabies

These STDs have readily available oral and topical treatments available, and are easily treated.

Preventing STDs

Completely abstaining from sexual contat, while not entirely practical, is the only way to truly prevent getting an STD. However, most people will have some form of sexual contact at one time or another in their lives. This is when they will need to know how to protect themselves.

Condoms are effective against many STDs, but only when used properly. For maximum protection, use condoms during all forms of sex, whether vaginal, oral or anal. Condoms act as a barrier, preventing STDs that spread through semen or blood. However, STDs that can spread through skin contact, like pubic lice, can be contracted in areas where the condom does not cover.

It is important to note that other forms of birth control do not protect against STDs.

Another important thing to do is to have regular STD screenings. As long as you are sexually active, it is advisable to conduct regular STD screenings for yourself. This is also true if you have a new partner, or have multiple partners.

Prior to sexual contact with a new person, it is important to discuss sexual history. You should consider having your partner screened for STDs by a professional. This is because many STDs can be asymptomatic in people, and testing is the only sure way to know if someone has any STDs.

Assuming your sexual partner does test positive for an STD, the next step is for them to strictly follow their doctor’s treatment plan. At this point, you should also check with your doctor about how you can protect yourself from contracting the STD that your partner has.

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Throat Swabs For STDs

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.

STD Testing – Who Should Get Tested

 

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.

 

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