Although there are many types of sexually transmitted infection, the one that usually worries people most is HIV. Do you know about the HIV test? There are several different HIV tests available, some of which give results within hours. Don’t wonder what your status is – get an HIV test in Singapore.
When you’re having a sexual encounter with someone, the last thing you want to think about is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Unfortunately, these types of infections are part of the reality of sex today. It’s important to be aware of the possibility of getting a sexually transmitted infection, so that you can protect yourself.
Many STIs are nuisances, which may cause discomfort but don’t threaten your life. For instance, genital herpes (which causes sores on the genitals) and genital warts may be uncomfortable, but in general they don’t cause other damage. Some STIs, such as syphilis, have the potential to cause serious complications (such as nerve damage) if they aren’t treated, but antibiotics usually clear the infection easily. As long as you catch syphilis before it does major damage, it can be cured and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.
HIV is different. If you don’t know that you have HIV, it will start to damage your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to other types of infections. There is medication available that can help to keep the virus under control. However, HIV cannot be cured, but instead must be managed with medications for the rest of a patient’s life.
It’s important to try to protect yourself from HIV. This means using condoms every time you have sex, whether it’s vaginal intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex. Any exchange of bodily fluids can transmit HIV, so you should make sure to use a condom to prevent fluids from mixing.
However, condoms aren’t perfect, and sometimes can leak or break. That’s why you need to get an HIV test regularly if you have sex, even if you always protect yourself with a condom. You can get several different types of HIV test in Singapore. One type of test uses oral fluid; you swab the inside of your mouth, and then the fluid on the swab is tested for antibodies against HIV. A similar test looks for antibodies in a drop of blood obtained via a fingerprick. With an antibody test, results are available very quickly, sometimes within a few hours. However, it takes time (3-12 weeks) for the body to make antibodies against HIV after the infection gets started, so the test may miss an HIV infection that has just been acquired.
A more thorough type of HIV test uses a blood sample to look for antibodies against the virus, as well as proteins from the virus itself. Results may be available within hours, or may take 2-3 days. This test has a greater ability to detect HIV sooner after a person becomes infected, but it can still miss a very new infection. It takes 2-6 weeks for this test to become positive.
There are other types of HIV test available, but they’re more expensive and are generally used to measure the level of virus in the blood, rather than as screening tests to detect HIV infection. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, or if you have sex with new partners or inject intravenous drugs, then it’s recommended that you have an HIV test in Singapore at least once a year to make sure your infection is caught early if you do acquire HIV. Visit your local STD clinic to get your HIV test.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “STD symptoms: Common STDs and their symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. Published 18 Mar 2015. Accessed 25 Jun 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/std-symptoms/art-20047081
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 25 Feb 2014. Accessed 26 Jun 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Screening Recommendations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Recommendation Sources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/screening-recommendations.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “HIV Basics – Testing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 5 May 2016. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
References
Sexually transmitted infection at Shim Clinic, Singapore