Will "people-to-people connections" decrease and sexually transmitted infections decrease? Doctor: I'm afraid it just wasn't detected through screening!
Are there fewer connections between people? Doctor: Failure to screen for STDs does not mean they have not occurred
During the COVID-19 epidemic, with social distancing policies, although “connections between people” have decreased, the number of STD screenings has also decreased. “healthorn” conducted field interviews on the street and found that the general public still lacks knowledge about STD prevention and treatment, such as PrEP, STD screening and other related knowledge. Doctors remind that only by correctly understanding self-protection measures and regular STD screening can we effectively prevent the risk of infection during sexual behavior. .
Dr. Gu Wenwei, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Taipei City Hospital Heping Renai Branch, said that with the promotion of civil society, public health and medical institutions, the number of HIV infections in Taiwan has continued to decline for three consecutive years, and has achieved considerable prevention and treatment results. However, with the previous outbreak of COVID-19, the number of people going to hospitals has dropped significantly, and the number of STD screenings has also dropped significantly. Whether there is a “black number” of STD infections hidden among them deserves attention and heightened vigilance.
Dr. Gu Wenwei pointed out that although sexual behavior may have decreased during the outbreak, it does not mean that it has not occurred. The decrease in the number of sexually transmitted diseases is not necessarily due to a decline in sexual life. It may be due to a decrease in the number of people being screened. Recently, as the epidemic situation has slowed down and people have returned to hospitals, a certain proportion of gonorrhea, syphilis infection and other cases are still detected through screening.
Can STDs be screened for at home? Supermarket pickup ensures the privacy of screeners
Dr. Gu Wenwei said that some sexually transmitted diseases may not have obvious symptoms, such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C , etc., and it is even impossible to confirm whether the infection is present without drawing blood. It is recommended that the public should undergo regular STD screening. The medical center has methods such as blood drawing screening and anonymous screening, and people can go for screening according to their own needs.
In order to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment, there is now also a “home screening” method. Dr. Gu Wenwei explained that the public can search the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare online for information on online application reagents. After the application is successful, they can go to the supermarket to pick up the goods. To take privacy into consideration, no relevant words will be displayed on the screening packaging. In addition, designated pharmacies, health centers, specific vending machines or gender-friendly clinics also provide relevant channels.
Is taking PrEP just for fun or fornication? Doctor: Wrong prevention concepts are terrible
Although the number of HIV infections continues to decline, many people still have stereotypes about STD prevention and treatment, such as equating the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis with “sexual indiscretion” and “chaos in private life.” Dr. Gu Wenwei pointed out that preventing sexually transmitted diseases is a means of “self-protection” and a positive manifestation of health awareness.
Dr. Gu Wenwei believes that taking “PrEP” pre-exposure prophylactic medication as an example, through publicity in recent years, the gay community’s awareness of related preventive measures has generally been improved. On the contrary, the general public’s awareness of HIV prevention and screening is still relatively low. insufficient. Doctors emphasize that using PrEP or STD screening is like traveling to a travel clinic and vaccination before going abroad. It is a preventive measure and has nothing to do with whether the sexual life is chaotic. People should view STD prevention and treatment correctly and avoid misconceptions.
What should I do if I find out that my partner is taking PrEP? Three tips to improve self-protection “before it happens”
If you find your partner is using pre-exposure prophylaxis, should you get tested for STDs early? Dr. Gu Wenwei said that if preventive medication is used correctly under the evaluation and prescription of a doctor, it will mean that the body is HIV-negative and uninfected. However, HIV is not the only kind of sexually transmitted disease, and it may not have obvious symptoms. It is recommended to communicate with your partner to reach a consensus and discuss the best protection plan for each other.
Dr. Gu Wenwei emphasized that preventive medication is like using a condom. It not only protects your own body, but also protects the other person from the threat of sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to preventive medication, other protective measures are also essential. Using PrEP before having sex, wearing condoms at all times, and conducting regular STD screenings are the “trilogy” to improve self-protection. If you have any concerns about STD transmission, you can seek medical assistance from the infectious disease department as soon as possible.
