Health Information by Dr Tan And Partners (Singapore)

Dr. Tan & Partners was established in 2005 with a vision to provide quality medical services with competency and care to our community - Health Information on Men's Health, Women's Health, Public Health and Sexual Health (HIV/STD)

How to Prevent HIV?

HIV and AIDS Infectious Disease

 

What can we do to Prevent HIV?  -  by Dr Tan and Partners

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Preventing sexual transmission
  • Use of condoms, including female condoms (although condoms are not 100%, they reduce transmission rate significantly)
  • Limit the number of sexual partners
  • Sex education to spread awareness
  • Treating other sexually transmitted infections

Preventing HIV transmission through blood

  • Don’t inject drugs
  • But if you do, do not share needles. Only use sterile drug injection equipment.
  • Screening blood products (most countries are already doing this)
  • Prevent needle-stick injuries

Preventing mother to child transmission

  • Testing mother for HIV and offering treatment if tested positive

Preventing transmission of HIV from HIV positive individuals

Appropriate treatment for HIV positive patients plays an important role in preventing HIV transmission. With early treatment and good compliance to HIV medicine, HIV level becomes so low that it is undetectable in the blood. This not only save lives, it also reduces the risk of spreading HIV to their sexual partners.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

HIV medicine can also be used to prevent HIV transmission in other situations. People who are at increased risk of HIV infection can take a HIV pill called Truvada as a daily dose to reduce the risk of being infected with HIV. This is also known as Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Click here to read more on PrEP

PEP

HIV treatment known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, is a combination of anti-retroviral medications that can be taken after a potential exposure to HIV. If taken within 72 hours post-exposure, they can reduce the chances of being infected with HIV significantly.

 

Click here to see video on PEP

HIV Testing

When it comes to treatment and prevention of HIV, the most important thing that one can do is to get an HIV test. Rapid HIV testing is available these days. In Singapore we have anonymous HIV testing. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least a yearly HIV screening for people considered at high risk for infection. This is especially important for young people from ages 13 to 24, because more than half in that age group who tested positive for HIV did not know that they had been infected.

Some people are afraid of getting tested because they fear the possibility of being HIV positive. Some feel embarrassed about it. HIV stigma and discrimination that still exist in our community have perpetuated this problem. The truth is, the earlier HIV is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Therefore, do not be afraid of getting tested. This not only protects yourself, it also protects your family, your sexual partners and your loved ones.

 

HIV treatment works, but prevention is the key. If you wish to know more, visit us and speak to our doctors. All our doctors are fully certified and trained to conduct counselling, consultation and testing for HIV.

PrEP and PEP treatment are available in all 4 of our clinics.

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