4 STD palette (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrheae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis) (PCR)

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Chlamydia infection can often be asymptomatic, especially in its early stages. It infects both men and women and can affect various parts of the body, including the genitals, rectum and throat. In the absence of symptoms, untreated chlamydia infection can lead to serious complications such as infertility, chronic infections and Reiter's syndrome. The first symptoms appear within 1-3 weeks after infection. Women experience abnormal vaginal discharge, pain when urinating, bleeding between menstrual periods and pain during sexual intercourse. Men develop abnormal penile discharge, pain on urination, testicular pain and swelling.  Regular screening and prompt treatment are essential to avoid complications and reduce the risk of infecting others.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae - gonorrhoea is a widespread infection contracted through oral, vaginal or anal sex. Symptoms usually appear 1-14 days after sexual contact with an infected person. Most women do not develop symptoms, but may experience bleeding between periods or during intercourse, pain or burning when urinating. If undetected, untreated or inadequately treated, the infection can spread to the upper genital tract and develop into a complicated gonococcal infection that causes pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility in women, and penile oedema and epididymitis in men.

Mycoplasma genitalium - this bacterium most commonly infects the urethra and cervix, and can be asymptomatic. If left untreated, the infection can in some cases lead to more serious complications, such as inflammation of the urethra or cervix and infertility.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted pathogen worldwide. T. vaginalis can cause abnormal vaginal secretions (trichomoniasis) in women, and in men it is responsible for 10~12% of all cases of non-gonococcal urethritis. Infection may be asymptomatic in at least 50% of women and 70~80% of men.