In Singapore, sexually transmitted infections are on the rise. Prevention is possible, and early treatment is crucial to prevent serious health consequences.
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In Singapore, sexually transmitted infections are on the rise. While it’s not necessary to live in extreme fear, it does pay to gain some knowledge so that you can protect yourself.
There’s a range of different infections that can be transmitted by sex. Some are also transmitted in other ways, such as through sharing needles or by toilet seats, while others are strictly sexually transmitted infections. Some of these illnesses are very serious, while others are merely nuisances.
Systemic Infections
The most serious sexually transmitted infections are HIV and hepatitis B. Both are viruses that can be transmitted by sex or through sharing needles; healthcare workers can acquire them by getting stuck with a contaminated needle. Either of these infections can be life-threatening. HIV attacks the immune system and, if untreated, leads to death; it can be managed, but not cured. Hepatitis B attacks the liver; sometimes, the body can clear out the virus, but if not, then liver disease and death can result. It can also be managed, and occasionally cured.
Bacterial Infections
Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are three STIs caused by bacteria or single-celled parasites, and are transmitted almost exclusively through sex. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are among the most common STIs in Singapore. Most of these can lead to severe health consequences if untreated. Syphilis attacks the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and other parts of the body, and can be disabling or deadly. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can lead to infertility in women or in men. Any of these diseases can be effectively treated with antibiotics, but the damage caused by the illness cannot be reversed. For this reason, early treatment is key.
Viral Infections
Herpes is not deadly, but is also not curable. Infection with this virus leads to the formation of sores. The virus remains within the body for life, with sores reappearing periodically. Medications can help to tamp down the infection but cannot cure it. In Singapore and around the world, genital herpes is increasing in frequency; oral herpes is also common, and can be transmitted through oral sex or by kissing.
A few sexually transmitted infections are mere nuisances. Genital warts, which are transmitted by direct contact, are caused by a virus; the wart will eventually heal as the body removes the virus, but it can take years. Physical removal of the wart by a doctor is possible, but new warts may form until the virus is gone. Molluscum contagiosum can be spread to the genital area or other parts of the body through sex or on contaminated objects. This leads to the formation of small growths; again, they heal eventually, but this may take months or even years. Both of these diseases are transmitted through direct contact with the infected area.
Making Sex Safer
Sex can be made safer through the use of condoms. The key to prevention is to stop bodily fluids from mixing and to prevent direct contact between the genitals. Any area not covered by a condom can transmit certain STIs; however, the most serious diseases are transmitted in bodily fluids, which can be effectively prevented through use of a condom.
References
Sexually transmitted at Shim Clinic, Singapore