“The popularity of ‘cauliflower’ has increased young people’s awareness of sexually transmitted diseases, especially the emphasis on genital warts.”
“Many people have sent private messages asking: If a health certificate needs to be presented before intimate activities, what items need to be checked?”
“If there are genital warts, can they be detected during premarital check-ups?”
“Can you provide a detailed process for male and female check-ups related to sexually transmitted diseases?”
“There are many such questions, and today we will discuss this topic.”
“One commonly heard term is ‘sexually transmitted diseases,’ which later replaced the term ‘STDs’ with ‘sexually transmitted infections.'”
“A broader concept is ‘sexually transmitted infections,’ referring to infections or diseases mainly caused by physical contact with infected individuals.”
“In simple terms, it is ‘sharing’ pathogens on each other’s genital organs through the intimacy process (‘you have one, I have one, I have one, you have one…’).”
“The pathogens spread through intimate contact and those possibly spread through it include the following categories:”
“Bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus ducreyi, Gardnerella vaginalis, Klebsiella granulomatis, Haemophilus ducreyi, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, etc.”
“Viruses: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2), herpes simplex virus (HSV-2 more than HSV-1), human papillomavirus, hepatitis viruses (such as hepatitis B virus), cytomegalovirus, molluscum contagiosum virus, human T-lymphotropic virus (types I and II), human herpesvirus (type 8), etc.”
“Fungi: Candida albicans.”
“Protozoa: Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia.”
“Ectoparasites: Pubic lice, scabies mites.”
“And also Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Treponema pallidum, among others.”
“How about it, aren’t there many pathogens that people haven’t heard of?”
“Correct, actually listing these pathogens is not to suggest everyone go to the hospital for each check-up, in reality, it is not necessary. (Just in case someone says that by promoting this, medical resources are being wasted)”
“The mode of transmission of genital diseases includes the following five main ways:”
“1. Direct genital contact transmission, whether through heterosexual or homosexual activities, is the main way these diseases spread.”
“2. Indirect contact transmission: This type of transmission is less common, such as spread through towels, bathtubs, and clothing, in cases of gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and fungal infections.”
“3. Bloodborne transmission: Diseases like HIV/AIDS, syphilis, etc., can be transmitted through blood, like when healthy individuals receive contaminated blood.”
“4. Mother-to-child transmission: Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, etc., can be transmitted from the mother to the baby.”
“5. Iatrogenic transmission: Inadequate protection by medical personnel during treatment, inadequate disinfection of medical instruments, can also lead to the spread of STDs. However, due to modern hospital management, iatrogenic transmission is now very rare.”
“It can be said that intimate contact is the main way of STD transmission.”
“For those single people who usually only use their hands, if you haven’t engaged in any activities and don’t feel any discomfort, there is no need to go to the hospital for STD checks.”
“If you do need to go to the hospital, for whatever reason, the most important thing is to go to a public hospital, never go to those private hospitals to avoid being deceived and wasting money.”
“So, when you get to the hospital, which department should you visit?”
“Men can go to the urology department or the andrology department, women can visit the gynecology department, and both men and women can go to the dermatovenereology department. However, if you only want to check for STDs, it is recommended to prioritize the dermatovenereology department. If the hospital you visit does not have a separate dermatovenereology department, you can go to the dermatology department (they may not have a sign specifically for STDs).”
“If you want to undergo STD-related check-ups, what tests should you do?”
“If two people intend to have further ‘in-depth communication,’ what kind of tests should they undergo? Usually, the doctor will first inquire about your medical history, i.e., why you visited the hospital.”
“Then, they will perform a physical examination (clinical exam), such as checking for any abnormalities in the male reproductive organs or conducting a gynecological examination for women.”
“Next, laboratory tests will be conducted.”
“[Blood tests:] Both men and women can do tests like hepatitis B serum five-item testing (Hepatitis B ‘two pairs and a half’), syphilis screening, HIV antibody testing, and the hospital’s examination package usually includes an ‘infection series’ that covers hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, HIV, etc. If concerned about genital herpes, an additional test for herpes simplex virus antibodies (mainly type 2 HSV) can be done.”
“For couples planning to marry and conceive, they can also check for TORCH infections, including toxoplasmosis antibodies, rubella virus antibodies, cytomegalovirus antibodies, as well as herpes simplex virus antibodies (types 1 and 2).”
“[Genital secretions tests:] Women can undergo routine vaginal discharge tests and screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Chlamydia trachomatis, while also investigating HPV and TCT.”
“If men have urethral discharge (which is generally not normal), secretion samples are taken for testing gonorrhea, chlamydia, and Chlamydia trachomatis. If there is no discharge, swabs or urine samples can be used to test for the aforementioned pathogens.”
“Some might ask how HPV is tested in men. By simply swabbing the genitals or inserting a swab into the urethra, an HPV DNA test can provide the desired results (specific testing methods and HPV variants that can be detected depend on local hospitals).”
“[Urine tests:] Urine routine tests are mainly used to evaluate the presence of urinary tract infections. However, if a person has a urinary tract infection, they are likely to experience symptoms like frequent urination, urgency, pain, etc., which can help with diagnosis.”
“In conclusion: If you are planning to start engaging in sexual activities or your sexual life is stable, without high-risk factors or discomfort symptoms, and you just want some related checks, the mentioned tests are more than sufficient.”
“What tests to do in case of high-risk sexual behavior or symptoms?”
“In such cases, it is important to visit the hospital for proper diagnostics. The attending physician will decide which specific tests to conduct based on individual circumstances.”
“The tests that may be involved include but are not limited to gonorrhea, chlamydia, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, among others.”
“For instance, the doctor may look for genital herpes, primary syphilis, or genital lesions caused by HPV.”
“If a woman has abnormal vaginal discharge (such as cottage cheese-like discharge or yellow-green foamy discharge), a routine vaginal discharge examination can be conducted to assess the presence of Candida albicans or Trichomonas infection. If a man has balanitis, with cheese-like white deposits, a Candida albicans infection may also be present.”
“If itching occurs in the pubic hair area and small crawling creatures are found, it is likely pubic lice. However, since localized itching doesn’t necessarily indicate an STD, it’s advisable to get checked at the dermatology department.”
“When to undergo tests?”
“If there are various physical symptoms, it is necessary to promptly seek medical attention for diagnostic tests.”
“However, some people may rush to get tested immediately after engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, but it’s challenging to detect infections during this early period. STDs have an incubation period, i.e., the time from pathogen entry during intimacy to the onset of clinical symptoms.”
“The incubation period for gonorrhea is generally 2-10 days, with an average of 3-5 days.”
“The incubation period for Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the urogenital tract is 1-3 weeks.”
“The incubation period for genital warts infections ranges from 3 weeks to 8 months, with an average of 3 months.”
“Syphilis typically presents with early skin lesions 10-90 days post-infection (average 3 weeks).”
“Genital herpes has an incubation period of approximately 2-12 days, with an average of 3-5 days.”
“For HIV infection, some people are eager to test the next day. Nevertheless, the clinical diagnostic testing for HIV (using fourth-generation HIV test kits) has a window period of about 2 weeks. Hence, testing for HIV shouldn’t be rushed.”
“If aware of a partner’s HIV infection and no preventive measures were taken, it’s advisable to take antiretrovirals within 72 hours (the sooner, the better).”
“Well, that’s the end of today’s discussion on health examinations.”
“In truth, the best prevention method for STDs is maintaining good personal hygiene. If neither person has these various pathogens on them and refrains from engaging in risky behavior, how could they transmit infections to each other?”
“If there are no plans for procreation, it’s best to wear protection! It’s not just about contraception but also about safety.”
“Disclaimer: Some images are sourced from the internet. Contact for removal if any infringement is found.”
“- End of this Issue -“
