A lot of people usually think that sexually transmitted infections (STI) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are one and the same. They are not. Bacteria, parasites, or viruses cause sexually transmitted infections which harm the body. If not treated, an STI can result in a sexually transmitted disease. STIs often lead to STDs as infections sometimes do not show symptoms. If you are a man and you suspect that you may already have STD, know that you can get anonymous STD screening in Singapore (https://speedoc.com/sg/mens-health).
Obvious Signs of STD
The most obvious signs of sexually transmitted diseases are:
- Irregular periods
- Pain during periods
- Pain when urinating or having sexual activity
Other symptoms will depend on the kind of STD that a person may have. These are the possible symptoms that can be experienced:
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Hearing or vision changes
- Inflammations
- Loss of weight
- Lumps
- Nausea
STD Types
There are several types of STDs, including:
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome, otherwise known as AIDS, is perhaps the most popular STD that is recognized around the world. This disease is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. While HIV can be managed and people who are infected with this virus have an increased chance of living healthy and long lives, thanks to the more advanced treatments available today. However, this does not mean that the virus cannot evolve and lead to the deadly AIDS syndrome. When HIV turns into AIDS, the immune system becomes weak and unable to defend the body from severe illnesses and infections. There is currently no treatment or cure available for AIDS. A person who has AIDS and receives no medication or treatment can expect to live no longer than three years.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an infection transmitted by a virus. This virus causes abnormal mucous membrane or skin growths, commonly known as warts. Some types of warts caused by HPV are common, flat, genital, and plantar warts. Likewise, some kinds of HPVs can cause cancers that affect the anal region, penis in men, and cervix and vulva in women.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection prevalent in women. This is caused by bacteria that are transmitted sexually, which infects the reproductive organs. PID may be asymptomatic and can go undetected until such time that a woman experiences chronic pain in the pelvis area or has challenges in conceiving a baby. The most common PID infections are caused by gonorrhoea and chlamydia, which are transmitted during sexual activity with no protection.
- Tertiary syphilis
Tertiary syphilis is a type of STD that may cause serious damage to the other parts of the body, such as the brain, blood vessels, bones, eyes, heart, liver, and joints. Often this disease is already diagnosed several years following the initial infection that is left untreated.
Diagnosing STD
Because there are many symptoms that are similar among the different kinds of STDs and even STIs, it is imperative that a person undergoes screenings and tests, so that health professionals can accurately identify the presence of STD.
Some people feel hesitant to undergo screenings due to embarrassment, but it is important to remember that leaving symptoms untreated can lead to more serious or even fatal conditions down the line. Nowadays, anonymous STD screenings are available in Singapore.
What happens during an anonymous STD screening?
Anonymous STD screenings are done without taking a record of a patient’s name, contact numbers, or NRIC numbers. To get the results of a test done, a patient receives a unique number instead. Patients can retrieve the results of their screenings without divulging their identities, whether their tests come back positive or negative.
Booking an anonymous STD screening at comfort of your own home
Speedoc offers STD screening services that can be done at the comfort of your own home. To keep your sexual health in check, Speedoc offers the following screenings for:
- Chlamydia
- Hepatitis A, B, and C
- Herpes Type 1 and 2
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- STI (Syphilis)
Booking your health screening with Speedoc is quick and easy. You can do this via their website or download their mobile app. Speedoc also has a 24/7 hotline that you can contact for any concerns. Once you have made an appointment, you can expect a Speedoc medical staff to contact you and share information on what to prepare prior to your home appointment. You can expect the Speedoc team to arrive on your doorstep on the date of your appointment to do your tests. You do not need to leave your house to visit a clinic and have your results interpreted by a doctor. This is done virtually through a free video consult.
Why book your sexual health screenings with Speedoc?
Speedoc is very convenient for patients as its mobile application enables patients to set an appointment with a doctor that is closest to their location. Users of the mobile application can book medical appointments and other health screenings for themselves or for their loved ones.
Speedoc’s services are available 24/7. You can be sure that a doctor can come to your aid at any time of the day with just the click of your finger tips. With Speedoc, you can skip the long queues and seemingly endless hours of waiting to see a doctor in clinics or hospitals for a health check up. An online doctor consultation booked through the app usually has a short waiting time of 15 minutes. Telemedicine appointments can also be scheduled in advance at your own convenient time.
While booking doctor appointments and health screenings via Speedoc can be convenient, it is crucial that a person needing urgent care due to a medical emergency or any critical health situation should be brought immediately to a hospital. The Speedoc app is not designed for situations that can be fatal or life-threatening.