The Better2Know Blog

We wish all our patients, clinic partners, blog readers, staff and everyone else we work in the UK a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Jenny Dalrymple, Glasgow Caledonian University

One consequence of our ageing population is that people are now sexually active later in life. Combined with a high rate of older adults divorcing and changing partners, this has created a conducive environment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among those in middle age and beyond.

A recent YouGov survey released by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society found that over half (51%) of British adults are diagnosing themselves when they feel unwell or are experiencing symptoms of illness. The internet is where most people (about 78%) go to find information about their condition whilst around 10% will use a health app on their phone, tablet or desk-top. Of even greater concern is the finding that over 40% of people have taken medication prescribed for someone else in an effort to treat their symptoms.

Today, 1 December 2016, is World AIDS Day.  We are supporting the Terrence Higgins Trust for the last two weeks, donating to them for every HIV test booked through us.  There are other ways to support World AIDS Day.

This seemingly simple question was recently debated at IDWeek 2016 held in New Orleans. Compelling evidence was presented on both sides of the argument along with significant statistical data supporting the argument that condoms are not necessary. For example, a study conducted in Uganda of 400 serodiscordant couples (one being HIV positive and the other negative) found no cases of HIV transmission when viral load was below 1500 copies/ml. Further, a Canadian meta-analysis of six cohort studies of over 7000 serodiscordant couples again found no new HIV cases when the HIV positive partner had a confirmed undetectable viral load. So, with such compelling evidence why not just stop wearing condoms?

Today is mid-way through  National and European HIV Testing Week 2016.  It has been a busy week this year.  We have helped lots of people to get tested for HIV all over the UK, Ireland and Spain.  We have also been donating to the Terrence Higgins Trust for every HIV test that we have sold on its own or as part of a screen.

World AIDS Day has been held on December 1st every year since 1988. The day was first conceived by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a way of raising awareness of HIV and AIDS and of recognising and remembering the millions of people around the world who have died from this infection. In the period from 1981 to 2012, over 36 million people have died from this disease and a further 35 million or more people are currently living with HIV around the world.

There has been renewed interest this week in drug-resistant gonorrhoea.  Jeremy Vine has been discussing the emergence of the super bug (click here for the podcast) which we have been discussing for years.  There are marked differences across the UK where people are diagnosed with gonorrhoea.  The average number of diagnosed cases of gonorrhoea across England is 70.7 per 100,000 people.  In London, this increases to three times the national average.

The number of newly diagnosed adults with HIV in the North West which includes Manchester and Liverpool shows some variation within the region.  The region is lower than the average across the UK, where there are 12.1 new cases per 100,000 of the population.  Across the North West it is 6.8.  The lowest area is Cumbria (0.7).  The highest area is Manchester (20.2 new cases per 100,000 of the population every year).

Public Health England has published the number of cases of Chlamydia per 100,000 people (aged 15 to 24) living in each borough in London. The lowest rates were in Harrow (1,065 cases per 100,000 people) and the highest is in Lewisham (5,434 cases). The London average is 2,200 Chlamydia cases per 100,000 people in the population.  

In 2015, there were 88,769 people in the UK who were HIV positive and accessing treatment according to Public Health England.  Around 70% of these are men.  This is a significantly larger number than in 2006, which shows the improvement made in HIV treatment in the last ten years.  The average age of people accessing treatment has increased from 39 to 45 in the last ten years.

The latest report from Public Health England shows that the number of people accessing HIV treatment in England is growing.  While there has been over 6,000 new diagnoses in England in 2015, the growing numbers accessing treatment show that the infection is no longer the threat to life it once was.

With most of our summer holidays fast becoming only distant memories, its worth reflecting on just what we got up to during our last summer break. A recent study of over 12,000 British men and women ranging in ages from 16 to 74 has revealed some shocking statistics. The study found that almost 1 in 10 men and 1 in 20 women reported having a sexual relationship with a new partner whilst they were overseas. Furthermore, well over half of the new sexual partners for those in the survey were not residents in the UK. To be clear, this means that when we Brits go overseas on our holidays, a very large proportion of us have sex with one or more people who are not from Britain whilst we are away.

The strain of drug-resistant Gonorrhoea continues to spread in the UK.  As we have reported before, the STI has been drug resistant for some time for some strains, with the drug-resistant strain first showing in the UK last year.  It is being found in heterosexuals and MSM in London, Leeds, the West Midlands and Southern England.

This week (12 to 18 September 2016) is Sexual Health Testing week.  The week aims to encourage more people to get tested across the UK and to prevent the spread of STIs.  The week also aims to let people know about the range of testing options available to them.

London has a high number of sexually active people. With more people having more sex with more partners, STIs like Chlamydia are more common. Chlamydia often has no symptoms, which is one of the reasons why it is so common, as people do not realise they have it. However, a long term Chlamydia infection can cause serious health and fertility issues for both men and women.
Choosing to have a Chlamydia Test can be the hardest decision for many Londoners. There is a lot of information about Chlamydia, and there are all manner of different ways to get tested. Whatever you choose, getting tested is the most important thing.

Better2Know can help you to have an anonymous and confidential HIV Test in Jersey. We do not need to know your real name at any stage of the process. We will get you your test results quickly and anonymously.
We do three HIV tests in Jersey :

Northern Ireland is the first place in the UK which is making the HPV vaccine available to men as well as women. The vaccine will be offered to men who sleep with men who are aged under 45 at Sexual Health Clinics across Northern Ireland.

Scientists in Canada, have been researching a vaccine against Chlamydia. The vaccine decreases the speed at which the infection replicates in the body.  The vaccine is not likely to be tested in humans for some years. Chlamydia can cause long term damage to the reproductive system and lead to infertility if not treated.

Better2Know is now offering instant STI Testing in Glasgow.  At our Glasgow clinic, our friendly clinicians will help you to get the fastest possible STI tests.  Results are available in just 20 minutes while you wait.

If you have had unprotected sexual intercourse, then you are at risk of all STIs including Chlamydia. Chlamydia often has no symptoms. The only way to know if you have Chlamydia is to get tested.
Better2Know offers you a choice of Chlamydia testing:

Our Sheffield Sexual Health Clinics are open seven days a week. We can help you to get tested for all STIs , including HIV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Simply call the booking team or book your appointment online.

Better2Know can help you to get your <em>HIV Test in Liverpool</em>.   If you are worried about your HIV Status, or think that you have recently contracted HIV from a potential recent exposure.  Better2Know are here to help you.  We have <em> Sexual Health Clinics across Liverpool </em> where you can receive an HIV or STI test.

One of the busiest times of the year for us is the period immediately before and immediately after the summer holidays. Londoners want to get tested for STIs before they go away, and again when they come back. This gives them the peace of mind to enjoy their summer holidays and all this entails. London has a higher percentage of single people than the UK average, and private STI testing is very popular.

It’s Glastonbury time!  The start of the summer holidays and with plenty more festivals to come, the Better2Know team are looking forward to the music and parties.  With the excitement, new people, party atmosphere, booze and more, it is lose track of your normal self and engage in new activities.  When it comes to sex, most festival organisers recommend people bring condoms with them.  

A number of calls to our booking team come from patients who are worried they may have been exposed to an STI in a recent incident.  They tell us that their exposure was just the night or a couple of days before their call. They can be disapointed when we explain they should wait for a couple of weeks. That is because there is not a single right answer for when to be tested for recent exposure to STIs. Each type of infection develops at a different rate in everybody.

The short answer is yes. It is possible to catch an STI from a vibrator and other sex toys. Most STIs cannot survive outside the body for long. However, you should never assume that if you leave it long enough, they will disappear. Infections such as Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Herpes and HPV can certainly be transferred by sharing sex toys. Do not share any sex toy that may draw blood from the skin, because this type of sex toy can pass on bloodborne infections.

Better2Know brings you private, confidential and accurate STI testing with fast results in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. We will arrange your anonymous appointment with one of our trained clinicians who will answer any questions that you have. We provide fast results and can even give you your results while you wait in clinic.

Better2Know is the UKs leading private provider of STI and STD testing services.  We have a choice of sexual health clinics across Edinburgh.  They are open seven days a week, including some bank holidays.  We can help you to get fast and accurate results if you are worried you have an STI.

We can help you to get your HIV test in London today.  All our appointments are confidential.  Our HIV testing service has fast results.  We have clinics across London for your HIV test.