There are many types of genitourinary disease, and most are sexually transmitted. Those with a genitourinary disease are more likely to get HIV through sexual contact. It’s recommended that anyone who has been diagnosed with another STD also get an HIV test in Singapore.
There are many types of %genitourinary disease%, and most are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some STDs, such as syphilis and herpes, cause sores or rashes to appear on the genitals. Others, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, primarily cause irritation on the inside of the genital tract, which leads to pain and burning with urination and/or with sexual intercourse.
Sometimes, a genitourinary disease is not an STD. For example, a rash on the genitals is often caused by an STD, but can also be caused by a skin problem called dermatitis, in which the body is very sensitive to environmental factors like chemicals in laundry soap. Pain and burning with urination can also be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is caused by bacteria but is not considered an STD.
There are also some STDs that don’t cause genitourinary disease, but rather cause symptoms in other body systems. One example are the viruses that cause hepatitis B and C. Both of these can enter the body through sexual activity, but then cause liver damage and liver cancer. Another example is the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. This virus can enter the body during sexual activity, but then it attacks the body’s immune system, leading to infections with organisms that would normally be fought off by a healthy immune system. That’s how HIV eventually causes death if left untreated; it makes the body unable to defend itself against the huge numbers of bacteria and other micro-organisms in the enviroment.
Someone who has a genitourinary disease, whether it’s a sexually transmitted disease or a non-infectious problem like dermatitis, is more likely to contract HIV as well as the hepatitis B and C viruses. This is because these viruses need access to the bloodstream to cause an infection. Normally, the mucous membrane of the genital tract provides a barrier that helps to prevent the virus from getting inside. However, anything that irritates this mucous membrane provides a small break through which the virus can get through into the bloodstream. People who have any type of genitourinary disease and are sexually active should be particularly vigilant about using condoms, and should also have an %HIV test% regularly.
People who are diagnosed with another STD should also have an HIV test as soon as possible, because it’s common for more than one STD to be transmitted at a time. You may have acquired HIV during the same sexual encounter that gave you the other STD, or you may have acquired HIV later, when you were more vulnerable because of the other STD. You can get an %HIV test in Singapore% at a genitourinary medicine clinic, also known as an STD clinic.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “STD symptoms: Common STDs and their symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. Published 18 Mar 2015. Accessed 25 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 26 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 20 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 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html
References
Genitourinary at Shim Clinic, Singapore