Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are viruses and bacteria that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact. These microorganisms can cause severe pain in the sexual organs, result in itches and rashes, and even be life-threatening in some cases. STDs are often contracted because one or more sexual parties are unaware of the safety precautions and therefore do not practice safe sex.

In the event that you suspect you have an STD, you should visit an STD clinic in Singapore for a Singapore STD testing session. The doctors in these clinics specialise in patients with STDs, so they are very likely to understand the circumstances surrounding your sexual encounter.

We’ve compiled together a list of 3 STDs that you should be keeping an eye out for whenever you’re engaging in sex – whether it is with a new or existing partner.

HIV

Perhaps the deadliest of STDs, HIV has affected over 7,500 patients in Singapore, of which about 1,800 have passed away. HIV is scary because patients usually do not exhibit symptoms until it has developed into a dangerous condition called AIDS. This means that it is possible that any unprotected sexual encounter you have – even with those who look perfectly healthy – could result in you contracting HIV. This disease is also scary because there is no cure available for it at the time of writing. HIV patients live with the virus inside their bodies until it develops into AIDS. However, advancements in medical care have created medicines that suppress the virus’s attack on the immune system. This virus is the number one reason why you should always wear protection (condoms) while engaging in sexual encounters. Condoms help to create a barrier between the sexual fluids of the two sexual parties, thereby stopping the transfer of the virus from one party to the other.

Some early symptoms of HIV can include a high fever, weariness, or other flu-like symptoms. If you suspect that you have HIV, please do go for confidential HIV testing in Singapore. Testing is the only way to confirm if you have contracted the virus.

Syphilis

Syphilis is another STD that could lead to severe consequences if left untreated, including blindness. It could also prove to be lethal. Syphilis is a bacterial STD that initially manifests itself as painful sores, which later develops into a severe body rash. In later stages, it starts to attack the internal organs, causing damage to the nervous system, brains or other organs. Because these sores can come and go, patients should instead get tested if they think they may have syphilis. Thankfully, once the test confirms the status, there is a medicine that can cure syphilis. However, these antibiotic medicines can only prevent your body from taking further damage from the virus, and not reverse the damage that was previously taken. That is why doctors recommend testing for syphilis early, so as to prevent serious damages to the body.

Chlamydia

Another STD that often does not show any symptoms is chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that causes a burning sensation when urinating or discharge from the penis or vagina. Similar to syphilis, chlamydia can be treated with a course of antibiotics, but a lot of chlamydia patients do not know that they have the disease, because they don’t experience any symptom. However, they can still carry the disease and transmit it to other people. If you experience pain while urinating, you should see an STD doctor as soon as possible, as it could be chlamydia.

Conclusion

STDs can affect your life in scary ways. Being more aware of STDs will help you better understand the risks associated with sexual behaviour.