The Better2Know Blog

Chlamydia was found in 3 out of every 100 young people aged 15 to 24 in the free Chlamydia national screening programme, and was highest (up to 9 out of every 100) outside London.

Of all the Valentines day suggestions out there, I suspect not many of you are buying your partner and yourself a sexual health test.

If you are worried that you have an STD or STI one option is to go to your GP.  However most GPs will not offer tests on site and will direct you to a GUM (Genito Urinary Medicine) clinic for testing (and there is only one reason why you will go there).

A new study (in primary care) has shown that more patients with symptoms similar to glandular fever should be offered HIV tests to increase the detection of HIV, and so that positive people can start getting treatment.

There have been new calls this week for the HPV Vaccine to be extended to everyone.  Currently the vaccine (in the UK) is only offered to girls at school.  So far only Australia is offering the vaccine to boys and girls.

Trichomonas Vaginalis is the most prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infection amongst sexually active women. Many women will mistake a Trichomonas infection for a yeast or other infection because the symptoms are very similar. A Trichomonas infection can cause discharge and a strong odour as well as itching and irritation.The only way to be sure what infection you might have if you have any of these symptoms is to get tested. Better2Know offers Trichomonas testing at all of our 80 plus clinics across the UK.

Men can also catch Trichomonas and can infect women with the organism. In men, however, there are often no symptoms so it is very important that men who are sexually active get tested regularly to ensure they are not infecting their partners.

Trichomonas can lead to infertility in women and men so it is particularly important that everyone be tested regularly to prevent infection and re-infection, putting people’s fertility in jeopardy.

A recent study in the United States of over 4300 men found that almost 4% were infected with Trichomonas. Interestingly, the prevalence of Trichomonas infection was highest in men between the ages of 40 and 49. The study also found that almost 10% of the men who were infected with Trichomonas were also infected with Chlamydia, another common STI that can also damage both male and female fertility.

These statistics point to a very real need for both men and women who are sexually active to test for Trichomonas and Chlamydia  on a regular basis. Only by testing will you know what infections you have and the right treatment can then be given to protect you, your partner and the fertility of both of you.

Better2Know works with the UK’s leading pathology laboratories to make sure that your STD test is turned round quickly, and that you get your results as fast as possible.

As with many STDs and STIs, many people infected with trichomonas do not have any signs or symptoms. When trichomonas does cause symptoms (in about 30% of cases), they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people with symptoms get them within 5 to 28 days after being infected, but others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go and will reoccur if left untreated.

Men with trichomonas may feel itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from the penis.

Women with trichomonas may notice itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge with an unusual smell that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish.

These symptoms are common to many STIs and STDs so it is important to understand what you have been tested for, so that you can get the right treatment if you have a positive STD test result.

Having trichomonas can make it feel unpleasant to have sex. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.

Trichomonas can increase the risk of getting or spreading  most other STIs. For example, trichomonas can cause genital inflammation that makes it easier to get infected with the HIV virus, or to pass any other infections you have including  the HIV virus on to a new partner.

Pregnant women with trichomonas are more likely to have their babies early and with a low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), which can have cumulative effects on the baby’s health.

Trichomonas is easy to treat and cure with antibiotics.

Better2Know can test for Trichomonas at any of its STD Testing clinics across the UK.

The trichomonas parasite is passed from an infected person to an uninfected person during sexual intercourse.

In women, the most commonly infected part of the body is the lower genital tract (vulva, vagina, or urethra), and in men, the most commonly infected body part is the inside of the penis (urethra).

During sex, the parasite is usually transmitted from a penis to a vagina, or from a vagina to a penis, but it can also be passed from a vagina to another vagina. It is uncommon for the parasite to infect other body parts, like the hands, mouth, or anus.

Like many STIs, it is unclear why some people with the infection get symptoms while others do not, but this probably depends on factors like the person’s age and overall health. Infected people without symptoms can still pass the infection on to others.

Better2Know can test for Trichomonas at any of its clinics across the UK.

Genital herpes is caused by Herpes Type II, and can cause painful genital sores in many adults and can be much more severe if you have a suppressed immune systems. If a person with genital herpes touches their sores or the fluids from the sores, they may be able to transfer their herpes infection to another part of their or someone else’s body. This can be particularly problematic if it is a sensitive location such as the eyes. Transmission of herpes can be avoided by not touching the sores or fluids. If you do touch them, then immediately and thoroughly wash your hands as this will reduce the chances of a transmission.

Cases bought by one partner against former lovers are continuing to come to court both in the UK and the US.  The person who receives herpes from their lover is often claiming damages or in some cases in the UK looking for a prison sentence for knowingly transmitting this incurable STI.

Better2Know has been blogging about Gonorrhoea becoming resistant to antibiotics regularly.  In this new research in Medical News Today, there is further evidence that this STI is becoming untreatable.

Pubic lice (or crabs) – similar to head lice, except living in the pubic hair of men and women – are not as common as they used to be.  They are small insects that breed rapidly to cause itching and in some cases infection.  They are passed on by contact – literally walking from pubic hair to the next  when two pubic regions rub together, so it can be a sexually transmitted infestation, not a classic STD or STI!  Infection rates used to be as high as 10%, but the pubic louse has a new enemy: bikini waxing.

If you do not think chlamydia testing and infertility applies to you, then we suggest you read this real life story in the Daily Telegraph. It reports on one 31 year old’s battle with infertility following unprotected sex in her teenage years, in which she caught chlamydia, did not get tested and subsequently became infertile.

The Number 10 Policy unit has made suggestions including lowering the age of consent to 14 and allowing public nudity as changes to personal freedoms, but these have been dismissed by Prime Minister David Cameron as not yet suitable for the UK, and this has been agreed by Nick Clegg, whose spokesperson said that it had had no political input into it.

A recent piece of research has been conducted to help better understand the thoughts and feelings of ethnic minority men who have sex with men in regards to visiting NHS GUM Clinics for STD testing. The research surveyed a large sample of Ethnic Minority men from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African and Caribbean, Chinese and other Asian backgrounds and found that they were more likely to be highly anxious and worried about attending a public NHS GUM clinic than a similar sample of white British men. The surveyed group of Ethnic Minorities said that they were worried about someone overhearing their conversations with the GUM clinic reception staff, that they were unhappy sitting in a public waiting area and that they were also worried that others from their community would find out that they were having sex with other men.

You do not have to tell anyone your HIV status.  If you have recently had a positive HIV test, we would suggest telling: your GP, future partners and your close friends and family.  Anyone who will support you and help you.

There are lots of organisations and people urging you to have an HIV test to find out your HIV status (and we are no exception – after all, it is Better2Know), the suggestion being that you will either be HIV negative or HIV positive once you know, but there is a new status of HIV neutral that we came across on the twitter-sphere, and thought we would like to know more about it.

We have noticed an increase in the number of people asking for Herpes tests at Better2Know over the last few months, so we did a little digging to find out why.

Better2Know has three different HIV tests, and this blog post is to help you work out which is the best one for you:

Test 1: Laboratory test from 28 days after any incident you are worried about

This test is for anyone who is worried about HIV and wants the most accurate test available.  The test is done in our CPA accredited laboratory with the results available the same day that the sample is received in the lab.  You need to wait at least 28 days from any incident you are worried about.  The test looks for HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies as well as the p24 antigen which is an early indicator of HIV infection is why this test can be used from just 28 days (the traditional 90 day HIV tests do not look for this antigen).  This test is called a fourth generation HIV test.

This is the HIV test in our platinum and full screens.

Test 2: Rapid HIV Test from 26 days after any incident you are worried about

This test gives results while you wait.  It only needs a finger prick, so it suitable for anyone who is scared of needles, who doesn’t want to wait for the laboratory tests, or who needs their HIV results in a hurry.  Some countries and jobs need you to have an HIV test before issuing a visa or letting you start work, and this can mean that you want the fastest possible results.  Not all our clinics do rapid HIV testing, so please ring us to check. This test is also a fourth generation test and looks for the HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies as well as the p24 antigen.

Test 3: Early Detection from 10 days after any incident you are concerned about

This test is takes a sample of blood and then uses a technique called PCR (polymerised chain reaction) to increase any viruses found in the blood so that it can be detected.  This test looks for the actual virus itself rather than the markers of the virus (antibodies and antigens).  It is a very accurate test, and takes just three days from when the sample is received in the laboratory.

This is the HIV test in our Early Detection Screen and Early Platinum Screen.

If you are worried about HIV, please phone us to book your HIV test and answer any questions you might have.  Better2Know tests for HIV in all of its nationwide STD clinics.

I am sorry you have never had sex then.

We get calls from people, and when we ask them which tests they want to book for, they say “oh I don’t think I need HIV”.  Well to be honest, if you are phoning to book an STD test there is a very high chance you have had sex, and probably without a condom, and so there is a possibility you could have HIV and that if you do not know you could pass the virus on and infect other people.  Almost half of new infections in the UK come from people who do not know that they have the HIV virus.

Here are the top 10 places for having a Better2Know STD test in the UK in 2012:

We would like to wish all our blog readers and patients a very Happy New Year 2013.

It is really important if you have an STI to tell your current and former partners, to encourage them to get tested, and to avoid passing the infection around to others. But speaking up about a STI, especially to an ex, can be difficult.

A controversial website hit headlines in early December, claiming to offer students money to cover their University tuition fee, in exchange for sex.

Two thirds of over-65s polled think it’s important to have a romantic companion*