With recent repeated highlights and adverts by MOH and AFA (Action for AIDS) on the importance of HIV testing, one cannot help but wonder is HIV the only STDs that one should be concerned of? If I am HIV negative, am I also safe from the rest of the STDs?
Unfortunately, that might not be the case. There are also other types of STD pathogens that can commonly infect a person during sexual intercourse.
In this article, we would like to explore the term’ full STD testing’. Is it really necessary?
When should I consider a Full STD testing?
You should consider a full STD testing if you have
History of multiple sexual partners
New partner with history of multiple sexual partner
Unprotected sex
Symptoms to suggest possible exposure to STD
History of STD in the past and concern of reinfection
Planning for future pregnancy
Routine sexual health checkup
What does Full STD panel entails?
A thorough STD tests covers a broad range of different pathogens that can be transmitted during unprotected sex- be it oral, vaginal or anal intercourse. The objective of a comprehensive STD panel is to pick up infection(s) early and allow timely treatment.
A general comprehensive STD panel usually consists of HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis,Neisseria gonorrhoea, herpes simplex virus and hepatitis viral screening. But if we delve further into the literature of STDs, one may notice the list of pathogens transmitted via sex can be even longer and concerning. A person’s exposure to STD may differ from another. One may also have symptom presentation suggestive of certain infections. Hence, it can be particularly useful to discuss with your healthcare provider before running a STD test.
Reasons why full STD panel (rather than just HIV testing) may be the way forward
STD infections can be asymptomatic
Being healthy and feeling normal do not equate to ‘disease-free’. STD infections can be insidious in the body for years. Even if some STD infections do cause symptoms, the symptoms can be mild that one tends to brush away as ‘normal’.
Without STD screening, the infection will not be picked up and it will continue staying in the body, potentially causing health complications and infecting other loved ones.
Having 1 STD infection increases risk of a second, third, fourth, fifth etc of another STDs
Having an untreated or even more than 1 untreated STDs makes a person more susceptible to acquiring other STD infections. For example, a person with untreated active herpes simplex virus has a higher risk of contracting HIV infection, chlamydia gonorrhoea and etc. Those with untreated HIV also has higher risk of acquiring other STD infections.
STDs can have negative health implication
One with active STD infection can experience symptoms such as fever, lower pelvic pain, painful urination, pus discharge from the genital area, abnormal vaginal discharge (in female), rash, ulcers and etc.
In long run, untreated STD increases risk of health morbidities that may not be reversible. In the case of bacterial STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, one can develop chronic inflammation and scarring of the genital organs leading to infertility both in female and male. Chronic STDs can be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in female or orchitis/prostatitis in men. In the case of syphilis, chronic untreated syphilis can be associated with cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke. In HIV, untreated condition can lead to end stage AIDS, various severe systemic infections and one can eventually succumb to HIV infection.
Untreated STD infection can be passed on to loved ones, partner(s) or spouse, or even offspring
As the name suggested, STD infections can be transmitted sexually- be it oral route, vaginal route, or anal route. STDs are not discriminative of one’s sex, age, occupation or socio-economy status. No one is immune against STDs unless abstinence or safe sex is practiced. To make things worse, STDs can be transmitted from mother to unborn child during pregnancy and delivery. STDs can be associated with premature delivery, baby blindness, brain damage and lung infection of the infant.
Understanding a person’s background sexual health history allows one to take proactive precautionary measures to protect oneself and their family members
As we now know, STD can be silent, without any symptoms. Not having any alarming symptoms does not equate to being healthy. Furthermore, certain STDs such as HPV, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis can have longer incubation period. Undergoing a thorough sexual health checkup enables one to understand their health, just like your usual annual general health screening. If there are any infections, one can take proactive action to treat or manage the disease to prevent and minimize the risk of spreading around.
Some of the STDs are treatable and can be eradicated from the body if treated early
Bacterial STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are completely treatable. If these are nipped in the bud early, the infection should not come back unless there is a re-infection.
Even in the case of HIV where hitherto no medical cure is possible, there are good anti-retroviral medication that can contain the disease, allowing one with HIV to have good quality of life and reduce the ability to spread to their love ones.
The risk of STD is not as low as we think even if we are in a monogamous relationship
Being in a monogamous relationship does not mean you are safe from STDs.
As we live in a real world, majority of us have past sexual history with more than 1 partner(s). If you consider your partner also having similar past sexual history, and the permutation continues, you will understand monogamy is not completely safe either.
While practicing monogamy reduces the risk of transmitting STDs, one can still be infected with untreated STDs from previous relationship(s). Full STD testing allows diseases to be picked up and addressed early.
STD testing enables one to understand their risk factors and consider immunisation vaccine(s) against certain STDs.
Those who are at risk of STDs can consider vaccination against HPV and hepatitis infections if they are not yet immunized.
Sexual checkup helps to understand a person’s risk to STD, thereafter considering proactive measures such as vaccines to protect against certain infections.
Not knowing STD status can be mentally distressing
Being in the dark, uncertain whether having any infection lurking can affect one’s mental health causing anxiety, depression and etc.
If there is a history of possible exposure to STDs, the only way to find out and address early is via a thorough STD screening. Don’t suffer alone, as most of the STDs are treatable and manageable medically.
Knowing one’s STD status allows informed decision of a person’s sexual history to their current or future partner
Understanding a person’s STD background enables one to share or disclose their medical history to their other partner(s). Although this can be daunting, open and honest communication between partner(s) regarding their sexual health will be beneficial to the relationship in long run. This allows the sexual partner(s) to take both active and proactive measures to manage any STD infection(s) and avoid further spread of the disease(s).
How is full STD testing performed?
A comprehensive STD testing usually involves blood tests (to screen for blood-borne related diseases), urine test, and genital swab test involving various sites including the vagina (female), urethra, anal or throat regions.
A good STD testing also involve getting guidance from your doctor on which tests to consider. While one may think they are perfectly well, sometimes medical history or physical examination by your doctor may prove otherwise. This may determine the focus of your STD testing.
Self-testing versus physician testing? Which is better?
Over the recent years, there are more available self-testing options. Some STD kits can be obtained online, or some healthcare places offer self-testing options- providing kits, swabs for one to be tested at one’s convenience.
Is self-testing better than physician testing? Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
STD tests
Advantages
Disadvantages
Self-Testing
- Convenient - Can be done at own private time and space - Discreet - No need to disclose history to anyone - Can be Cheaper - Encourage more people to test regularly
- Test kits may not work - Test kits can be mere marketing gimmicks - Test kits may not be FDA/ HSA approved. - Test kits can give false positive or false negative results - Test may be done at the wrong time after exposure (too early to test) - Nobody to interpret and navigate the test results and treatment
Physician Testing
- Test will be done safely and appropriately with the correct method - Test will be done at the right timeline after exposure - Physician is able to advise on which tests to consider based on the exposure risk and symptoms - Physician is able to follow through the results and treatment.
- Involve physical trip to see your doctor - Disclose personal sexual and social history to doctor - Can be more costly
Consider both the pros and cons above and decide what is best for yourself!
Contact Dr Ben Medical Clinic
Unsure if an HIV test is enough? Get clarity and peace of mind with a full STD screening at Dr Ben Medical. Book a private consultation today.
Kenyon C, Herrmann B, Hughes G, de Vries HJC. Management of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections in Europe: towards a differentiated, evidence-based approach. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2023 Oct 26;34:100743.
Tao X, Ghanem KG, Page KR, Gilliams E, Tuddenham S. Risk factors predictive of sexually transmitted infection diagnosis in young compared to old patients attending sexually transmitted diseases clinic. Int J STD AIDS. 2020 Jan 21;31(2):142–149
Conley TD, Matsick JL, Moors AC, Ziegler A, Rubin JD. Re-examining the effectiveness of monogamy as an STI-preventive strategy. Prev Med. 2015 Sep:78:23-8.
Tilson EC, Sanchez V, Ford CL, Smurzynski M, Leone PA, Fox KK, Irwin K, Miller WC. Barriers to asymptomatic screening and other STD services for adolescents and young adults: focus group discussions. BMC Public Health. 2004 Jun 9;4:21.
HIV infection will cause an infected person to produce antibodies as a response to fight the disease. HIV tests revolve mainly on detecting these antibodies to indicate whether HIV infection is present in the human body.
