Articles

You Can Prevent STIs And HIV; This Singaporean Doctor Explains How

PLACEHOLDER
Portrait of Dr Wei Sheng Tan
Dr Wei Sheng Tan

January 24th, 2019· 5 min read

Get a quote and compare

I just want to be prepared...

Sexually transmitted diseases can be hard to talk about. In many ways, there's still a certain sense of taboo whenever the topic comes around. This is especially true in Asian countries like Singapore.

Such a lack of familiarity can become an issue. Many individuals aren’t well-informed about the various types of STIs that can be contracted, as well as the types of treatment and preventive measures available.

A number of Human readers have posted questions pertaining to sexually-transmitted illnesses. Dermatologist Dr Tan Wei Sheng shared his professional opinions.

In Singapore, vaccines are available for certain infections

vaccines for HIV STI

Vaccines are available for certain types of infections. They include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Your doctor might recommend you to go for vaccination if he/she feels that your situation requires it.

If you practice oral-anal sex, you are at risk of Hepatitis A

Hepatitis

If you practice rimming (oral-anal sex), there's a chance that you might contract Hepatitis A. This condition causes liver inflammation. [1]

Generally, most health screening packages will let you know through a blood test if you are already immune to Hepatitis A or require vaccination.

Also read: The Ultimate Guide to STD Tests in Singapore (2021)

Vaccination for Hepatitis B consists of injections over 6 months

Hepatitis B vaccine

Hepatitis B is another infection which can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. A blood test will let you know if you require vaccination, which is a series of 3 injections over 6 months.

HPV infects more people than you might expect

HPV virus singapore

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) virus is spread through skin contact during sexual intercourse. It is estimated to have infected 1 in 10 women in Singapore. [2]

Men aren't safe from HPV either, as it infects both genders and can lead to potentially serious diseases including cancer.

There are low and high-risk subtypes of HPV

HPV and cervical cancer

Low-risk subtypes of HPV can cause common infections including viral warts and genital warts.

The high-risk types are responsible for responsible for cervical, anal, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. [3]

Vaccines can safeguard you from both low and high-risk subtypes

Gardasil 4 and Gardasil 9 are the vaccines that can protect you against both the high and low-risk subtypes of HPV.

Typically, they are licensed for use in males and females aged 9-26. If you're above 26, you can still consult your doctor about possibly receiving the vaccine.

Ideally, HPV vaccines are taken before you're sexually active

HPV vaccines

Taking the vaccine before being sexually active means that you can get the most out of the protection.

The vaccine is usually given in a series of 3 injections over 6 months and is known to be safe and well-tolerated.

PEP medication is an effective measure against HIV

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) medication

Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a course of anti-HIV medication that's taken a month after high-risk sexual exposure to HIV. Essentially, it aims to prevent the HIV virus from infecting you after being exposed to it. [4]

Remember, PEP is normally only for high risk of HIV exposure

PEP is usually only reserved for patients who have been in high-risk exposure to HIV. There's more than 1 in a 10,000 chance that you might contract HIV from a single encounter, so a thorough consultation will need to be carried out before you need PEP.

Doctors will need details of sexual history during the examination

In order to assess if you need PEP, doctors need to know a detailed history of the nature of sexual exposure, including characteristics of the sexual partner in order to determine the level of risk.

Where does the highest risk of HIV come from?

risk of HIV singapore

Generally, the highest risk comes from unprotected anal sex (both for the receiver and giver). On the other hand, the lowest risk of contracting the disease comes from oral sex. Other factors that increase the risk of exposure include broken skin or cuts at the genital area or the mouth.

PEP must be performed right after exposure

The sooner you undergo PEP after the sexual exposure, the better. The effectiveness of the medication has been shown to subside within a 72-hour period.

After this timeline, the medication has no benefit. Additionally, PEP carries a small risk of side effects (which is why it's reserved for high-risk exposures).


Also read:

The Ultimate Guide to getting a HIV Test in Singapore (2021)

The Ultimate Guide Getting a Pap Smear in Singapore (2021)


Conclusion

Ultimately, immediate action is necessary once you suspect that you might be at risk of contracting a sexually-transmitted disease.

The best thing would probably be to seek preventive measures even before being sexually active. Seek treatment and evaluation from an experienced doctor before it’s too late.

Article medically reviewed by Dr Tan Wei Sheng.


I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Wei Sheng Tan and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

Get a free quote

We recommend the best doctors based on your needs