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Sexual Health Screening
Ask Dr Anthony Stanislaus about:
- Who do you go to for such screenings
- How often should you go for tests
- Why is sexual health check up important
- What should you be testing for
- Cost of screenings in Singapore
Dr Anthony graduated with the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Queensland, Australia and achieved a distinction in the exit exam. He also obtained a Bachelor of Medical Science degree with honours.
His current area of focus is in family medicine with special interest in Men’s health, sexually transmitted diseases and travel medicine. Along with is excellent interpersonal skills, Dr Anthony strives to provide a holistic primary care that benefits his patients.
Questions 10
Who are the people who are most at risk for STI/HIV?
Below are high risk behaviours that would put you at a higher risk of getting STI and HIV: Unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse Unprotected oral intercourse. Engaging in sexual activity from a young age. Sexually active with multiple partners Sexually active with a high-risk partner (one who is engaged in these high risk behaviours) Working in the sex trade industry Having intercourse with a partner who engages in injected illicit drug use.
Are results on self-test kits accurate?
Only a few suppliers are registered in Singapore to distribute test kits and they are only allowed to supply to medical clinics. This is based on the approval of Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Ministry of Health (MOH). The quality and accuracy of the test kits sold online cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, there is no way to ensure the patients are conducting the tests properly and that their results are accurate. In Singapore, doctors have to undergo training in order to perform these rapid tests in the clinic.
What are the vaccines available in Singapore that can help prevent STIs?
The only vaccine available in Singapore to help prevent a form of STI is the Cervical cancer vaccine. It protects you from certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can be transmitted sexually. Most HPV strains do not cause any symptoms and go away on their own. However, there are certain strains that cause cervical cancer in women. Besides that, certain strains can also cause less common cancers in both men and women such as cancer of the anus, penis, vagina or vulva and oropharynx. Moreover, some strains can cause warts in the genital area of men and women.
What should I do if I think I’ve got an STI?
If you think you’ve gotten an STI, I would recommend seeing a Sexual health doctor who is experienced in diagnosing and treating the different types of STI. A detailed history and examination will be done. After that, we will recommend tests based on your exposure and in certain cases will provide treatment immediately based on what we think is the cause.
Does douching lead to infection and infertility?
Hi, Douching can disrupt the pH and balance of bacteria in the vagina. This leads to a change in the composition of the bacteria that is usually found within the vagina. This in turn, could increase the risk of vaginal infections such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Besides that, it can also cause the spread of harmful bacteria, already present in the vagina, further up into the uterus. In reference to its impact on fertility, there are some studies that have shown that women who douche regularly take a longer time to become pregnant than women who do not douche.
Can HIV tests be considered conclusive if they show negative results?
Yes. If the HIV tests are done at the appropriate window periods a negative test can be considered conclusive. In your case, a negative 4th gen test at 1 month and a negative 3rd gen test at 3 months are conclusive.
Which STD tests should I take after non-protected intercourse?
If you had non-protected intercourse, especially with a high-risk partner, your risk of being infected by STD is high. You are at risk of all the STDs and HIV. I would suggest a complete STD screening at the appropriate window periods to make sure you did not get infected. This will include tests for: HIV Hepatitis Syphilis Herpes Gonorrhoea Chlamydia. It is recommended to see a doctor trained in sexual health who will tailor the tests according to your sexual history.
Are the results of an STD test revealed to anyone?
All results are kept private & confidential between a patient and doctor. It will not be shared with anyone without the patient’s permission. However, a positive HIV test needs to be notified to MOH under the Infectious Diseases Act.
When is the best time to go for a HIV screening after sexual contact?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a form of retrovirus that causes HIV infection. Over time it leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a condition where due to progressive failure of the immune system, allows life-threatening infections which don’t usually bother a healthy person and cancers to thrive in the body. This is why HIV is one of the infections we humans are most worried about after a sexual encounter. There are a few ways to detect HIV in the blood and each method has different testing window periods.
Do I still need to go for HIV screening if my STD screening test is non-reactive?
HIV and STD screening should be tailored to the type of sexual activity. If you had a high-risk exposure, HIV screening is still recommended even though the STD screening was negative. The chances of a person getting HIV via oral sex with a HIV positive partner is extremely low. The type of oral sex that may be the riskiest is mouth-to-penis oral sex, but with that in mind the risk is still very low and is much lower than with vaginal or anal sex.