Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are much more common than you might imagine. If you have ever had sexual contact with another person, you are at risk of contracting an STD. STDs can be very dangerous to your health if you do not get it assessed and treated appropriately at STD clinics in Singapore. Here are three reasons why you should get tested for STDs.
Some STDs are asymptomatic
Without symptoms, some of us may not assume that we are ill or have a disease. However, some STDs do not show any symptom for a long time. Such STDs are dangerous as they can still transmit between people despite not showing any symptoms.
For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls bacterial infection chlamydia as the ‘silent’ infection, as most infected people do not exhibit symptoms and lack abnormal physical examination findings. However, the CDC also estimates that about 1 in 20 young women aged 14 to 24 years old who are sexually active have contracted chlamydia, making it one of the most common STDs globally. Chlamydia can infect the cervix, causing an infection in the cervix, the urethra or the reproductive tract. Those who show symptoms generally experience great pain in their reproductive organs. It is worthy to note that chlamydia can be tested for and treated before symptoms show, similar to some other STDs. This is why you should get an STD test even if you don’t show any symptoms currently.
STDs can cause severe ailments, including life-threatening ones
If you are exhibiting some symptoms of STDs and are hoping it would go away without consequences, you should think twice. Some STDs can cause severe conditions if left untreated. One STD that causes such problems is gonorrhoea, a bacterial infection that initially shows symptoms of urethral infection in men and vaginal infection in women. However, when left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause serious health complications as it spreads across the body. Gonorrhoea can cause infertility or pelvic inflammatory disease. Gonorrhoea can also spread to the blood or joints, a condition known to cause death. By getting yourself tested, you can potentially avoid going through such serious conditions and save yourself a lot of money in the long run.
STDs can still be transmitted even if you don’t exhibit symptoms
Just because you don’t exhibit the symptoms doesn’t mean that you do not have the STD. It is especially frightening when you have a committed sexual partner because it means you could spread the disease to them when having sex. It would be wise for you to go for an STD test regularly to not only ensure that you do not contract any new STDs but also to ensure that your partner is safe while you are having sex with them. It is recommended that a sexually active person gets tested once a year, according to the CDC. Groups that are at risk of specific STDs, such as men who have sex with men, should get tested more frequently.
Conclusion
STDs can infect anyone without that person even knowing. Getting tested at an STD clinic is the best way to keep yourself healthy.
To book an appointment for testing at Elyon Clinic, call us at 6802 7208.
