A venereal disease is a sexually transmitted disease, meaning that it’s acquired through sexual activity. There are a number of types of VD, but HIV is the most serious one. It can also be transmitted through being stuck with an infected needle. If you have an exposure, HIV PEP might be an option.
What is a venereal disease? This is another term for a sexually transmitted disease, meaning an infectious disease that’s acquired through sexual activity. There are a number of common types of venereal disease, or VD.
The most serious type of venereal disease is HIV, the virus that (when left untreated) causes the deadly syndrome known as AIDS. There are also other methods of transmission of this virus, so it’s not always a venereal disease; being stuck with a contaminated needle, whether in a healthcare setting or through injection drug use, can also transmit HIV.
However, in many parts of the world, sexual transmission of HIV is the most common method. Although HIV is particularly common among men who have sex with men, it can also be transmitted through heterosexual sex. In fact, heterosexual sex has become the most common method of HIV transmission in many parts of the world.
People who have been exposed to HIV are usually very worried about the possibility of acquiring an HIV infection. In most cases, the likelihood of acquiring an HIV infection from one exposure is quite small, but because of the lifelong and serious nature of the infection, most people would like to do whatever they can to reduce the chances that they’ll have to live with this virus long-term.
The likelihood of acquiring an HIV infection from single sexual act is generally less than 1%. However, the risk is increased if you have another venereal disease (such as chlamydia or herpes) at the time you’re exposed. If you have a one-time sexual encounter with an HIV-positive partner and you want to decrease the chances of getting HIV, you can take post-exposure prophylaxis, or HIV PEP.
HIV PEP consists of taking anti-HIV medications for about a month, which keeps the virus under control and decreases the chances that enough virus will be present to establish an infection. It’s only appropriate for people who have a single known exposure; consider HIV PEP “for emergencies only.” If you have a regular sexual partner who is HIV-positive, or if you frequently have unprotected sex with people of unknown HIV status, then HIV PEP is not right for you. Instead, you might be a candidate for HIV PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis.
The best place to go for HIV PEP in Singapore is an STD clinic, where the doctors are specialists in the field of STDs. Much of the care at an STD clinic is devoted to HIV, so these doctors are very experienced in using HIV medications and are up on the latest research. Find your local STD clinic to discuss whether you might be a candidate for HIV PEP.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “STD symptoms: Common STDs and their symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. Published 18 Mar 2015. Accessed 27 Jun 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/std-symptoms/art-20047081
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 25 Feb 2014. Accessed 27 Jun 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/std/general/default.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Screening Recommendations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Recommendation Sources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 27 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/screening-recommendations.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “HIV Basics – Testing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 5 May 2016. Accessed 27 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).” AIDS.gov. Published 21 Sep 2015. Accessed 27 Jun 2016. https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/reduce-your-risk/post-exposure-prophylaxis/
References
HIV PEP at Shim Clinic, Singapore