Venereal diseases in Singapore are becoming increasingly common, despite the availability of condoms. There are treatments for many types of VD.
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Venereal disease, or VD, refers to a type of disease that’s transmitted through unprotected sex. Most VD can be transmitted by any type of sex, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The risk can be greatly reduced by the use of condoms with every sex act.
Some types of VD can be cured, while other types can only be managed.
Curable VD
Antibiotics have made some types of VD easily curable in most cases, although antibiotic resistance can sometimes be a problem. In Singapore, VD is antibiotic resistant in increasing numbers of cases, so it still pays to be careful and use condoms.
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are caused by bacteria, while trichomoniasis is caused by a single-celled parasite. These diseases all cause the symptoms classically associated with VD, such as discharge from the penis or vagina and burning with urination. Oral or injectable antibiotics are used to cure them, either in a single dose or a short course of medication.
Syphilis is also caused by bacteria. This disease causes a sore to appear on the genitals; if untreated, the bacteria spread, causing a rash, and later causing damage in major body systems, including the brain. A single dose of penicillin can often cure syphilis, but early treatment is key, because the damage is often irreversible.
Manageable VD
In many cases, VD cannot be cured. These diseases may have to be managed for life, or they may be self-limiting.
The most serious such disease is HIV, which is transmitted by sex or by infected blood (on shared needles). The disease attacks the immune system and is fatal if untreated. While medications can be used to manage HIV and give the patient a chance at a long life, at least three medications are needed and they must be taken every single day without a break to avoid resistance of the virus.
Hepatitis B is another potentially serious type of VD, and is also transmitted either by sex or by infected blood. Saliva can even transmit hepatitis B. This disease attacks the liver, causing several serious liver diseases. In many cases, the body will clear hepatitis B on its own. When that doesn’t happen, medications can manage the infection and sometimes can clear it out of the body. However, liver cancer and other liver problems are still common.
Herpes is a viral infection that causes sores to appear on the genitals or in the mouth. Once the infection is in the body, it often remains for life. It can cause recurrent infections of the sores, which are sometimes very frequent. Antiviral medications can help to reduce the severity of an outbreak, and can be used daily to suppress outbreaks, but will not cure the infection.
HPV is a virus that can cause genital warts. This infection cannot be cured, but is self-limiting, usually going away within 18 months. Many people prefer not to wait that long, and opt to have the warts removed. Different strains of HPV cause cervical cancer in women.
References
Venereal disease at Shim Clinic, Singapore