What is HPV?

HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus, a common virus that can infect many parts of the body. There are more than 100 different strains of HPV, grouped into (i) high-risk types (may cause cancer) and (ii) low-risk types (non-cancer causing).

• About 40 HPV strains can infect the genital area.

What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?

Risk factors for the development of cervical cancer include the following:

• HPV subtypes - Persistent infection with high-risk strains.

How is HPV transmitted?

HPV infection is very common in men and women. It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual activity, by sharing contaminated sex toys, and rarely during delivery from an infected mother to her baby. HPV cannot be spread by sitting on toilet seats or touching common surfaces. Source: Healthhub.sg

What are the signs and symptoms of a HPV infection?

• Most HPV infections do not have any signs or symptoms.
• Some HPV infection may cause genital warts.
• High-risk HPV infection of the cervix does not cause any signs and symptoms. The abnormality on the cervix is detectable by cervical screening (Pap test) and by HPV DNA (genetic material) tests.
• Symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding such as bleeding after menstrual periods of after sex. There may also be changes in the amount, colour or smell of the vaginal discharge.

Can HPV be treated?

• No treatment is required for asymptomatic HPV infections.

How is HPV related to cervical cancer?

Certain types of HPV can infect the cervix (the lower part of the womb), vagina, and vulva. In most cases, the body's immune system can fight off the infection and clear the virus. However, sometimes the HPV infection can persist and cause abnormal changes to the cells. Some of these abnormal cells may develop into cervical cancer. This usually takes years to develop. Specifically, HPV subtypes 16 and 18 account for about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. Source: Healthhub.sg

How can I best protect myself against cervical cancer?

• Go for regular cervical cancer screening as it is the most effective way to detect abnormal changes in the cervical cells and cervical cancer.

What is the difference between Pap Smear and HPV Screening?

To detect cervical cancer, the Pap test has been the gold standard for more than 60 years. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in cancer, has emerged in recent years, and screening for HPV, aka HPV DNA test, has started to rival the Pap. It has been well-established that the HPV DNA test was more successful in assessing cervical cancer risk than the Pap smear. Differences primarily are:

• Pap test involves scraping and brushing cells from your cervix, which are then examined in a lab for abnormalities. A Pap test can detect abnormal cells in the cervix, including cancer cells and cells that show changes that increase cervical cancer risk.

What is Ferne Health?

Ferne Health is a Singapore based company that delivers at-home consulting and screening services for sexual health. We started in January 2020 and hope to become the first sexual health companion for everyone in Asia. We never stop listening to our customers’ voices and learning from the experts –– so here we are –– delivering the most convenient services to your place with full privacy! No more long waits in the clinic and awkward conversations about your sex history. It’s your health, it’s your rules. Learn more about us here .

What products and services does Ferne Health offer?

We offer home-based screening kits for common sexually transmitted infections, including:

• Cervical Cancer HPV Kit –– Screen for high-risk HPV strains that could lead to cervical cancer.
• Made For Women Kit –– Designed to help women better understand their reproductive health.
• Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Kit For Female –– Screen for the two most common STIs: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.
• Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Kit For Male –– Screen for the two most common STIs: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

How long will it take for me to receive my screening results?

The screening time varies per screening service:

• Cervical Cancer Kit –– 2-3 business days
• Designed For Women Kit –– 3-6 business days
• Made For Women Kit –– 3-6 business days
• G&C Kit For Female –– 3-6 business days
• G&C Kit For Male –– 3-6 business days
• Common STDs Screening Service –– 6 business days

What are home-based STI screening kits?

Home-based screening kits use self-collected, mail-in samples to perform lab tests that will screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Home-based screening kits offer discreet screening process for STIs in the privacy of your own home, free of social stigmas and unnecessary discrimination.

How does tele-consultation work?

You can easily get in touch with our doctor from the comfort of your home through teleconsultation:

• Schedule a teleconsultation session through our website

How would I know if my results are accurate?

All samples and screening results with be reviewed by our partner clinic. A free doctor consultation is included with every kit purchase, so if you have any questions about your results, you could get in touch with our doctor through the tele-consultation service. Our products and services are provided in partnership with iDOC Clinic.

How would I get my screening results?

Results will be delivered to you with full privacy. Once your results are ready, our partner clinic will reach out to deliver them to you. Your results will be between you and the doctors.

Why do I need to schedule an online consultation before receiving my home-based screening kit?

The mandatory online consultation is for our doctor to check in with you on your health history and answer any questions you may have regarding the self-sampling process.

How to mail-in my self-collected sample?

You can schedule sample pick up through our schedule link or WhatsApp. The self-collected sample should be returned within 24 hours after collection to ensure better quality results.

What is STI?

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection transmitted through sexual contact.

Why should I care about STIs?

While many STIs can be cured or treated with medication, the consequences of untreated STIs can include: infertility, pregnancy complications, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, congenital disabilities, and a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of HIV transmission. The only 100% effective way to prevent the transmission of STIs is abstinence. For sexually active persons, correct and consistent use of condoms is highly effective in preventing many STIs.

What are the common STI in Singapore?

Based on Singspore's Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control, in 2018 the most common STIs in Singapore are as follows:

1. Chlamydia
2. Gonorrhea
3. Syphilis
4. Genital Warts
5. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

What are the STI symptoms?

Rashes, sores, and ulcers are common symptoms of STIs, but what else should you be watching for? Common STI symptoms for women may include:

• An unusual vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery and green or yellow in color
• Pain or a burning sensation when passing urine
• Bleeding between periods, heavier periods, and bleeding after sex

How would I know if I have STI?

Some STIs have symptoms, and you could refer to our STI symptoms checklist to identify some unusual itchiness or pain. However, many STIs may only show subtle or not show any symptoms at all. Some symptoms may also appear after a long incubation period. STIs, including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomoniasis, Hepatitis B&C, or even HIV, may not show any symptoms for a very long time. So the only way to know if you have contracted STIs is to get tested regularly.

What do I do if I have STI?

There are 3 different types of STIs: bacterial, viral, and parasitic.

• Bacterial STIs can generally be cured with antibiotics. However, if left untreated, they can lead to further complications. Common bacterial STIs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis.

Why should I screen for STI?

STIs usually don’t show symptoms right away, but they can lead to serious health conditions if left undetected and untreated. There are many chances you could contract STIs, from unprotected sex to even just skin-to-skin contact. The only way to know if one has contracted STIs is to get tested, so it’s critical to get screened regularly to protect your own health.

How do I get Gonorrhea and Chlamydia?

Both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are bacterial infections. The bacteria are usually spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids (semen or vaginal fluid). You can get Gonorrhea and Chlamydia through:

• Unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex

What are the consequences if STIs are left untreated?

While many STDs can be cured or treated with medication, the consequences of untreated STDs can include: infertility, pregnancy complications, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, congenital disabilities, and a 3- to 5-fold increased risk of HIV transmission. The only 100% effective way to prevent the transmission of STDs is abstinence. For sexually active persons, correct and consistent use of male latex condoms effectively prevents many STDs. This is why it's important to get tested and treated as soon as possible if you think you might have STIs.

What is yeast infection?

Vaginal yeast infections, also called vaginal candidiasis, are prevalent in women. It is estimated that 75% of women will have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that causes irritation, discharge, and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva — the tissues at the vaginal opening. Although it is very common to treat yeast infections, the symptoms of yeast infections are similar to other, more serious conditions, including sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis (bacterial overgrowth in the vagina). Therefore an accurate diagnosis is important before you use any over-the-counter treatment products.

What is urinary tract infections or UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It is one of the most common infections in humans. Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. Women’s urethra (the opening to your urinary tract) is shorter than men’s and is located near the rectum. A simple UTI can be treated with a short course of antibiotic meds, but a UTI complication can lead to more serious consequences. The most common UTIs occur mainly in women and affect the bladder and urethra:

• Infection of the bladder (cystitis) is usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, sometimes other bacteria are responsible. Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to develop it. All women are at risk of cystitis because of their anatomy — specifically, the short distance from the urethra to the anus and the urethral opening to the bladder.

What is bacterial vaginosis or BV?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina that happens when there are too many certain bacteria in the vagina. This changes the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. A type of bacteria called lactobacillus keeps your vagina slightly acidic, so bad bacteria don't grow well. If your lactobacillus levels drop, more bad bacteria move in, and you get BV. Women in their reproductive years are most likely to get bacterial vaginosis, but it can affect women of any age. The cause isn't completely understood, but certain activities, such as unprotected sex or frequent douching, increase your risk. About half of the time, women with BV have no symptoms. But if a symptom develops, it can be:

• Burning feeling when you pee

What other common GYN exams I should to know about?

During a gynecologist visit, a doctor might ask questions related to private topics, such as sex, birth control, pregnancy, and problems related to menopause. Common exams may include thyroid gland check, breast examination, and a pelvic examination. The pelvic examination includes the following:

• External reproductive organs

If I have a yeast infection, can I still have sex?

It is best to clear off any infection before engaging in sexual intercourse, in particular vaginal sex, receiving oral sex, or putting anything into the vagina (e.g sex toys, fingers).

• With an ongoing infection, the external genitalia may be extra sensitive or even itchy, sore and painful. Friction during sexual intercourse during such circumstances may cause a lot of discomforts, or even cause more skin irritation and aggravate symptoms further.
• New microorganisms may be introduced, (yes you can have more than 1 organism causing infection at any given time), making the infection more severe or harder to treat.
• In addition, some medications used to treat vaginal infections may contain properties that can weaken condoms and make them more likely to break during intercourse, thereby putting you at risk of pregnancy.

• There is also a possibility that yeast infection can be passed on to your partner if it has not been fully treated.

If I perform oral sex on someone who’s wearing a condom, will I get STDs?

There is little to no risk of contracting HIV from oral sex,. However STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and HPV can be transmitted via oral intercourse. Using condoms during oral sex can significantly reduce the risk of contracting these STDs. It is very important to ensure condoms are used correctly and should always be placed completely covering the penis. They should also be discarded after each use and even when changing between oral sex and penetrative sex. One thing to note is HPV is spread through intercourse or close contact skin-to-skin touching during sexual activity. Thus, despite condoms, it can still be passed between partners as the virus may be present on skin areas that areare not covered by condoms.

How often should I get checked for STDs?

The recommended STD screening frequency would differ among individuals based on lifestyle and sexual practices. It would be dependent on the following factors.

• number of partners
• types of relationship, e.g., open relationship or polyamory, whether your partner has other partners
• types of intercourse engaged in
• any casual partners or contact with commercial sex workers
• whether any barrier protection is used regularly
• any “accidents,” e.g., condom breakage/ slip-off

What types of STDs should I be looking out for?

The following diseases can be transmitted through sexual intercourse due to the exchange of body fluid, blood, or close skin contact.

• HIV
• Hepatitis
• Syphilis
• Herpes
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
• Trichomonas
• Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma
• Genital warts (due to HPV)

I’m lesbian and have never had sex with a boy. Will I still get STDs?

As mentioned earlier, STDs such as HPV and resultant genital warts can be transmitted through close skin to skin contact. Other STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis can also be spread since body fluid involvement when couples engage in manual stimulation, oral sex, genital-to-genital touching, and sharing of sex toys. When either party is having their menses, the presence of blood also makes the risk of STD transmission during such periods higher. Lesbian couples can reduce the risk of acquiring infections through the following methods:

• Using dental dams - a thin, flexible piece of latex placed over the genital region for oral sex, it acts as a physical barrier, similar to what a condom does

Should I tell my current and previous sexual partners if I tested positive?

It's important to tell your current and previous sexual partners as their health could also be at risk. It's natural to feel worried, embarrassed, and even scared. But to protect yourself and your partner, it's a conversation you need to have. If you tested positive, we could help you anonymously message your sexual partners in the past few months to notify them that they may have been exposed to an STD. This is at your request, we will not send anything on your behalf unless you give consent.