The Better2Know Blog

New figures from the Health Protection Agency show that one in five people offered an HIV test refuse to have the test.

It is estimated that 96,500 people are HIV+ in the UK in 2010, with a quarter of them unaware of their status and most likely to infect their partners.

Only 4% of the population were tested in 2010, many of these pregnant women who are offered the test as a routine part of their pregnancy care.

The most accurate HIV tests are a simple blood test with results available from Better2Know within 2-3 working days. The test is nothing to worry about, but carrying the virus without knowing it is a far more serious problem.

*Press Release*

IT IS BETTER2KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS: TEST TODAY AND RAISE FUNDS TO HELP THE TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST

London, United Kingdom, 23 November 2011

26% of people in the UK who are HIV positive, do not know that they are carrying the virus. If you are worried that you could be one of them, then you could be risking your own and your partner’s health. Better2Know is the UK’s leading sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV testing provider and can get you tested anonymously and with same day or next day results. For every test booked between now and World AIDS Day on Thursday 1 December 2011, Better2Know will donate £5.00 to the Terrence Higgins Trust to help support people living with HIV.

According to the Better2Know 2011 Survey, over two-thirds (69.4%) of respondents said that they had not always practiced safe sex. With nearly half (47.6%) saying that they had been unfaithful, most more than once, to their partner. It is more important than ever to ensure that you have regular testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections so that you can protect your long term health and fertility, and avoid spreading infections to your partners.

Better2Know is supporting the Terrence Higgins Trust in its mission to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs in the UK, by supporting people to look after their sexual health and regularly access their local sexual health services. Better2Know is making a donation to Terrence Higgins Trust for every HIV test booked individually, or as part of a full STI screen, to raise funds to support people diagnosed with HIV to maximise their health and wellbeing and ensuring they have the best possible HIV treatment and care services.

“We are delighted to support Terrence Higgins Trust,” said Better2Know CEO Mike Asher, “they provide invaluable support for those who are worried that they may have an STI, including HIV, both before and after testing. We provide confidential and anonymous appointments for our patients at any one of our many clinics around the UK. Our patients can see a doctor, and get the tests they need to safeguard their health. Our tests are of the highest quality available and we ensure that results are given to our patients quickly and discreetly.”

Clinical Director of the Terrence Higgins Trust Jason Warriner said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Better2Know this World AIDS Day. It’s a great opportunity to both encourage people to come forward for an HIV test and raise vital funds to support people who have been diagnosed. There are still very high numbers of people living with HIV without knowing they have it, which is life threatening for themselves and their partners, so it’s crucial people who have the infection find out and get onto treatment as soon as possible.”

References: http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/factsandstatistics/uk/

The Better2Know 2011 survey was carried out between 4 and 23 August 2011, 184 UK residents were asked to respond to the survey which was completely anonymous.

About Better2Know

Better2Know is the United Kingdom’s largest private provider of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) testing services. It has over 50 partner clinics throughout the UK, including 11 in London. Better2Know empowers its customers by giving them the choice of which tests to have and where and when to attend an appointment convenient for them. All tests are completely anonymous, names do not have to be given when booking and results are confidential between the clinic and customer. All tests are performed in accredited laboratories quickly and accurately, whilst maintaining absolute patient confidentiality.

To book your appointment phone us on the number above or visit our website www.better2know.co.uk

About the Terrence Higgins Trust

Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We’re here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups. We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination, and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all.

Visit www.myhiv.org.uk, our new site for everyone living with HIV in the UK, for accredited information, self management tools, interactive web services and community forums. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, or to find out about everything that we do visit www.tht.org.uk

Most people know that left untreated, STDs can continue to cause itching, discharge, unpleasant odours and can lead to both male and female infertility. Some STDs can also cause cancer.

New Research published today shows that it is not just the HPV (associated with Genital Warts) that can cause cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, penis, head and neck (see our blog on the 18 November 2011), but Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can also cause liver cancer. Having Hepatitis B can make you one hundred times more likely to develop liver cancer than someone who does not.

The viruses are spread through shared bodily fluids so you do not even have to have penetrative sex to transmit the infection. Sharing needles can also transmit the virus.

Help is at hand, as if you know you have Hepatitis B and/or C there are drugs available to help keep them under control and prevent liver cancer. The only way to be sure is to be tested. Better2Know can provide you with a confidential STD test starting from just ten days after your exposure (our Early Detection Screen for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV). You do not have to give your real name, and your results will not go on your medical record.

A new United Nations report has found that AIDS / HIV related deaths are falling across the globe with advances in treatment of the condition. The number of people living with HIV is increasing and is now affecting 34 million people around the world, half of whom are women.

In Western Europe and North America where there is very high availability of antiretroviral drugs, the rates of new infections has not fallen as hoped, possibly because people are no longer worried about the virus as it no longer considered fatal.

Practising safer sex and STD testing are needed to help prevent spreading the disease.

Many people know that the genital human papillomavirus (HPV) can be sexually transmitted and can cause genital warts and cervical cancer. New studies are showing that HPV also has been associated with other types of cancers, including vaginal, vulva, penile, anal, and some head and neck cancers which affect both men and women.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that every year more than 17,300 HPV-associated cancers occur in women, and up to 7,600 HPV-associated cancers occur in men. The most common HPV-related cancer in women is cervical cancer, while the most common HPV-related cancer in men is head and neck.

There are over 100 different types of HPV, and Better2Know can test for all of them. Book your confidential appointment today at anyone of our 60 nationwide clinics. You do not have to give your real name and the test and the result will not appear on your medical record.

Many countries require an HIV Certificate as part of their entry requirements for visas. This is normally for a work visa and is will be needed when you are applying for your visa. Better2Know can provide the certificate you need after your HIV Test.

If you have been advised that you need an HIV Certificate for your visa, then we can provide the HIV Certificate you need at all of our clinics.

If you choose to have an instant HIV test, then the certificate will be ready on the same day. We have centres in London where instant tests are available which will be convenient if you are going to the embassy yourself. Otherwise your HIV Certificate will be available when your results are known: within two to three working days of your test.

Countries where an HIV Certificate can be required as part of the visa application include: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and most other former Soviet states, Saudi Arabia, China, Brunei and Singapore. The list of countries is increasing all the time, so please check your entry requirements.

In addition, many people need an HIV certificate for professional reasons: gas, oil and off shore workers, security personnel and some sports including boxing. We are able to provide HIV tests and certificates for all these occupations. If you have any questions please contact our booking team who will be happy to help.

If you need an HIV Certificate, please let our booking team know when you book, so that your HIV Certificate will be ready as soon as possible. Please contact us today on the number above lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can arrange corporate billing for more than 10 patients.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) strikes anyone – young and old, the rich or poor, the famous and unknowns. The nameless victims who get infected go unnoticed, but celebrities who do always get the world’s attention. This is a list of the top 10 celebrities who are known to have or to have had the virus known as HIV, including those who have died (whether from AIDS or another cause).

1. Rock Hudson – Iconic Hollywood leading man, the first major American celebrity whose AIDS diagnosis was made public. Unquestionably, he was one of the most popular and well-known movie stars of his time. The public got a double shock when it was revealed he had AIDS and was gay. In 1985, Hudson died at the age of 59.

2. Freddie Mercury – Queen’s lead singer noted for his vocal abilities and his charisma. His death led to The Mercury Phoenix Trust anti-AIDS charity and the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness. Died in 1991 at the age of 45 and was inducted into Rock and Roll’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

3. Liberace – Flamboyant Las Vegas singer and piano player known for candelabras, lavish costumes, exotic cars and kitchy homes. In the ’70s and 80s, Liberace was a major box office attraction in Las Vegas. In 1987, he died due to complications from AIDS.

4. Arthur Ashe – one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Was the first African-American to win a Grand Slam and he went on to collect three. Ashe transcended tennis to become a social activist who led public protests against apartheid in South Africa; became infected with HIV via transfusion during heart surgery. This Tennis Hall of Famer died in 1993 at the age of 49.

5. Isaac Asimov – famous science fiction writer and biochemist. Two of his works were turned into highly successful films – I, Robot and Bicentennial Man. Asimov, who was also popular for his science books, became infected by transfused blood during heart surgery.

6. Earvin “Magic” Johnson – One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Johnson is widely considered as the best point guard ever to play the game. Since publicly announcing he had been infected with the virus HIV, Johnson continues to be an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safe sex.

7. Greg Louganis – Olympic gold medalist in diving. Was the most outstanding amateur athlete in 1984 and went on to win back-to-back Olympic golds in both the 3m and 10m diving events. Following the announcement of his HIV status in 1995, Louganis was dropped by majority of his corporate sponsors. Since retiring from diving, Louganis has ventured into acting mostly in off-Broadway plays.

8. Tommy Morrison – world champion boxer better known for his role as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. In 1996 it was revealed he was HIV-positive which automatically retired him from boxing as a competitor. Currently, he is pursuing a career in Mixed Martial Arts and is trying to mount a comeback in boxing.

9. Ryan White – expelled from high school because of his infection which he got from contaminated blood during treatment. White, who was a hemophiliac, became a poster child for HIV/AIDS at a time when the public knew very little about the disease. White made many celebrity friends including Michael Jackson whose song “Gone Too Soon” was a tribute to the teenage AIDS victim. White died in 1990 at a young age of 18.

10. Esteban De Jesus – a world lightweight champion boxer from Puerto Rico. Famous for his trilogy with Roberto Duran, “Vita” had a life full of controversy, problems and scandals. Sentenced to life in jail for murder, he became a preacher and started to turn his life around. De Jesus acquired HIV and succumbed to full-blown AIDS in 1989.

When you think about the celebrities on this list, appreciate the importance of practicing safer sex. It is an effective way to prevent yourself or your partner from getting the HIV virus or other STDs. Click here to learn more about HIV/AIDS.

To book your HIV Test phone the number above now lines open 24 hours a day 7 days a week or visit the Better2Know website to find your nearest clinic.

HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is today launching its new World AIDS Day campaign, Stand Up, Stand Out, and asking people nationwide to ‘show us their undies’ to support people living with HIV.

Almost 20 people are still being diagnosed with HIV every day in the UK and it is an incurable and life threatening condition. With close to 100,000 people now living with the infection and numbers increasing every year, Terrence Higgins Trust is asking people to Stand Up, Stand Out to raise greater awareness of HIV and vital funds for HIV prevention services and support for people living with the virus.

It’s easy to get involved with the campaign and people can take part in a variety of different ways:

Stand Out in red underwear and donate £2 to Terrence Higgins Trust. Be as loud and proud as you like, showing just a hint of red over your jeans or a full ‘underwear as outerwear’ look. Get work colleagues, friends and family in on the act to raise vital funds for people living with HIV.

Get well ‘red’ about HIV: Separate the myths from the facts and find out more information about HIV to protect yourself and your partner- Terrence Higgins Trust’s Stand Up, Stand Out HIV Fastfacts are available on: www.tht.org.uk/fastfacts

Wear your red ribbon with pride: Wear yours in the lead up to December to remember those who have died with AIDS. You can also sell them to friends, family and colleagues to raise funds to support Terrence Higgins Trust and people living with HIV. Phone: 020 7812 1671 to order your free box of red ribbons.

Write to your local MP: Stand Up and be counted by joining Terrence Higgins Trust’s online campaigning community to encourage your MP to support HIV prevention and keep HIV on the local and national agenda. Click here to write to your local MP: www.tht.org.uk/mp

THT’s Executive Director of Fundraising, Genevieve Edwards, said: “For nearly 30 years Terrence Higgins Trust has been at the very heart of the HIV epidemic, supporting people living with, or at risk of, the virus. With your support this December we can reach out to even more people who need us.

“Please Stand Up, Stand Out to increase awareness about HIV, including how to protect yourself and your partner from the infection, and raise vital funds for Terrence Higgins Trust’s prevention services and support for people living with the virus. HIV is still on the increase and we need to act now to prevent further infections.”

A press release from the Terrence Higgins Trust today:

Some of the nation’s best loved agony aunts – Gill Cox, Tracey Cox, Jenni Trent-Hughes, Emma Marlin, Susan Quilliam, Denise Robertson, Deidre Sanders, Dr Pam Spurr and Zelda West-Meads – have come together to support sexual health charities Brook, FPA (Family Planning Association), Terrence Higgins Trust, and MedFASH in their call to protect vital sexual health services.

The agony aunts and charities are calling for the Government and decision-makers to maintain their commitment to the nation’s sexual health to prevent it going into a sharp decline.

Despite considerable progress, the UK still has a worrying sexual health record with some of the worst sexually transmitted infection rates in Western Europe. There’s been a steady increase between 2008 and 2010 in Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and herpes diagnoses and HIV is still one of the fastest growing serious health conditions in the UK.

Charities Brook, FPA, Terrence Higgins Trust, and MedFASH support the sexual health needs of thousands of people in the UK, every day, with wide-ranging, personalised services focused on contraception, pregnancy choices and sexually transmitted infection prevention and testing as well as information, care and support.

All of these charities have recently lost services integral to local communities’ needs, including Brook’s young people’s sexual health services in Stockton, Terrence Higgins Trust’s HIV prevention services in Wales and the FPA Speakeasy parenting, sex and relationships education programme in England. Other charitable and NHS services are facing an uncertain future.

In light of these cuts, the coalition of agony aunts and charities are calling for sexual health services to be improved and expanded rather than cut or reduced. A statement from the group says: “During economic uncertainty, sexual health services are often seen as easy targets – they’re more likely to go first or lose more of their funding compared to others. Good sexual health is essential to physical and mental health as well as positive relationships, self-esteem and self-identity and personal responsibility. We’re here to remind decision makers that sexual health services must be protected.

To see the full article, please click here.

A new report says that the cost of keeping people in the developing world on drugs to help them fight the HIV virus is less than the increase in productivity they bring to the economy.

Read the full article here.

The Consultant Thoracic Specialist, Prof Margaret Johnson, discusses the prevalence, symptoms and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the UK today.

As you may be aware, 26% of people living with HIV in the UK do not know that they are infected. However, with treatment here being superior to countries such as the USA, 90% of UK-based patients had an undetectable viral load only one year after starting therapy.

Prof Margaret Johnson is encouraging doctors in the UK to consider HIV infection in general practice, as well as secondary care, in order to prevent late diagnosis. She proposes that it is essential that all healthcare professionals should offer HIV antibody testing routinely to their patients, particularly those who are in a high prevalence group.

About our Medical Expert

Professor Margaret Johnson is one of the most pre-eminent experts in the treatment of HIV. She set up the first and largest open-access HIV clinic in the UK at the Royal Free NHS Trust where she is currently Clinical Director of HIV services.

One in four people (26.1%) responding to the Better2Know 2011 survey have worried that they might have infected a partner with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). In addition, nearly half of respondents (47.6%) admit to being unfaithful to their partner and over two-thirds of these people (69.9%) have done so more than once.

According to the Health Protection (HPA) 418,598 people were diagnosed with a STD in 2010. Many STDs have no symptoms but can lead to infertility in women, and both men and women can pass the infection on to partners. In most cases a short course of antibiotics will cure the problem.

“Over 6,700 new cases of HIV were diagnosed in the UK during 2010. With advances in HIV treatment, the disease is now widely considered a chronic condition which can be managed effectively over the patients’ normal lifespan” said Better2Know Chairman Mike Asher.

He continued: “There is, however, strong evidence that up to 25% of the HIV-positive population is undiagnosed, which contributes to rising treatment costs and a high rate of new infections. Early diagnosis is fundamental to increasing life expectancy, and to reducing levels of new infections. Regular testing for HIV and other STDs is the only way to identify the infection, and treatment can then either cure or manage the conditions. The HPA estimates that by 2012 there will be over 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK and one in five of these patients will be over the age of 50.”

The Better2Know 2011 survey showed that half of respondents (50.0%) thought that NHS provision was insufficient, with concerns about anonymity, attending a drop – in service and length of time for results the main reasons for saying it was inadequate.

“Private STD clinics can offer much faster testing results than the NHS” said Better2Know Director Anthea Morris. “When you are worried about whether you have an STD it can be all consuming: affecting your relationships, social and work life. Some patients have reported waiting up to three weeks for results on the NHS, after having to wait for a 90 day incubation period for HIV. Better2Know can provide instant HIV tests after the 90 day incubation period, and can also provide HIV tests from 10 days after the potential exposure to the virus. All Better2Know STD test results are delivered within one to five working days depending on the test.”

A government backed survey of 18-24 year olds shows a lack of awareness of sexual health and what to look for when seeking information on websites.

Better2Know is the leading UK provider of private sexual health testing, we only use UK accredited pathology services to do all our testing, and we are supported by the Terrence Higgins Trust as an approved provider.

The House of Lords select committee on HIV & AIDS in the UK, has said that increasing HIV testing in critical to preventing the spread of AIDS. The committee was chaired by Lord Fowler, has recommended a new HIV awareness campaign, 25 years after the hard hitting “Don’t die of ignorance” campaign.

Home tests are currently banned in the UK as they are not regulated or of sufficient quality, the committee wants to see this ban lifted, and Better2Know will be one of the first organisations to offer a quality assured home test.

To see the full article from the HIV & AIDS committee, please click here.

*Press Release*

SOME PARTNERS LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION, WHAT DID YOURS LEAVE YOU? CONFIDENTIAL FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENTS FOR STD TESTING

London, United Kingdom, 31 August 2011

Better2Know, the country’s leading provider of private STD tests, is officially launching its new extended hours service in London on 1 September 2011.

Following demand from customers to be more responsive to their busy lives, Better2Know has launched a new service for Londoners. No longer do they need to specify an appointment time for their STD test; customers can now book to attend a private clinic and then arrive at any time on the given day between 7:00am and 7:00pm Monday to Fridays and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays. Customers will be seen within fifteen minutes by a fully qualified nurse, to have their tests (blood and/or urine samples depending on the test). The results will be available within two to five days depending on the tests chosen by the customer. An appointment with a doctor can be arranged to discuss the results if required by the customer.

“This is an exciting new service for our customers who need more flexibility to fit their appointment around their busy work and social life” said Better2Know Chairman Mike Asher, he continued “Better2Know puts healthcare in the hands of the customer by allowing them to choose which tests to have, and provides fast results from our highest quality, CPA (Clinical Pathology Accredited) Laboratory”.

For those who want to see a doctor before they get their results, Better2Know is expanding its national clinical coverage and has appointments available in 50 clinics nationwide during the day, and has appointments available on evenings, Saturdays and Sundays in London, as well as evenings and Saturdays in Manchester and Edinburgh.

Better2Know provides complete discretion and confidentiality for your STD test. Customers are given a unique reference which is all they need to give when they arrive at the clinic. Better2Know provides accurate results quickly, reducing the stress of waiting for results.

Hepatitis is an injury to the liver indicated by the presence of inflammatory cells in its tissue. This disease might be self-limiting, heal on its own, or might advance to a point where it causes liver scarring. It is considered chronic if it lasts longer than six months and acute if it lasts less than six months.

Hepatitis has two categories, namely viral and non-viral hepatitis. Viral hepatitis can be categorised as acute if the condition occurs swiftly with relentless symptoms but only lasts for a short time. Non-viral hepatitis is a condition that slowly creeps in and may or may not have any manifestations, but lasts far longer.

Most cases of liver damage in the world are caused by a group of viruses, known as the hepatitis viruses. However, some cases are caused by toxins (like alcohol), other infections, or by an autoimmune process.

There are different types of hepatitis, depending on the viruses triggering the symptoms. Tests to determine which kind of hepatitis is present in an individual’s body will help in designing the appropriate treatment plan for them. Depending on the type of virus found in the body, a patient might undergo more than one or two tests to make sure that the diagnosis is correct and to determine what other infections are inside the body’s systems.

The five types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Non-viral hepatitis, on the other hand, has two main types which are called toxic/drug-induced hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis. In addition, there are two less common types of non-viral hepatitis called autoimmune hepatitis and granulomatous hepatitis.

Based on the 2010 statistics, around 63% of people suffer from some form of sexually transmitted disease at any one time. Some people who are suffering from STDs prefer to administer self-medication being uncomfortable with the idea of seeking professional help because of the embarrassment associated with an examination. Some STDs are asymptomatic (no apparent symptoms) and the condition of the person who is infected has already worsened before they are properly diagnosed.

Many STD/HIV testing clinics are available in London. The clinics offer services that ensure strict confidentiality relating to a patient’s case. At some clinics patients who need to undergo certain tests need not give their real names. These clinics do not give an update or any report to a government database so the patients can really be assured of complete privacy. Clinics are located in many parts of London, they are usually well maintained and offer fast results for patients that present there.

At present STD and HIV testing clinics are available in Victoria, Paddington, Notting Hill, Peckham, Canary Wharf; Bank, Mansion House, the West End, Oxford Street, and Baker Street. There are several other clinics dotted around the capital.

It is advised that anyone who has unprotected sex with multiple partners should have regular STD tests (every 6 months), and anyone who has any symptoms or feels that they may have an infection should get tested straight away.

It can be an incredibly challenging and emotional experience when disclosing an HIV positive status to close family, friends or a partner. Likewise, the challenges continue when telling other acquaintances such as an employer and work colleagues. There is likely to be a great deal of anxiety about how each person will react and, chances are, each person will react differently. Of course, with regards to your partner, disclosure is incredibly important as that person has also been at risk of infection and should be tested as soon as possible.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, aka PID, is an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus and other reproductive organs. It is a common complication that results from some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia. Left untreated, PID may result in serious consequences, which include: ectopic pregnancy, in which the foetus is in the fallopian tube or somewhere else outside the womb; infertility; chronic pelvic pain; and formation of abscesses.

Genital herpes is a common STD which is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two strains – HSV I and HSV II. Both can affect the genitals and anal area and can cause cold sores in the mouth and nose.

Genital herpes is transmitted through cracked skin or in moist areas such as the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, rectum and urethra. It is impossible to get herpes from hugging or sharing towels, clothing or cups and plates.

This STD can lie dormant for long periods and during this time it is not infectious. Some people with no symptoms of genital herpes can still shed the virus from their skin or mucous membranes. This is called viral shedding. However, the risk of passing or catching the infection this way is very low.

Many people who have genital herpes do not have any symptoms. If symptoms do appear, it can be weeks, months or years after the date of infection. Symptoms can include flu-like illness such as fever and aching and also stinging and tingling in the genital area. Fluid-filled blisters can appear at the infected sites. These can burst after a day or two which can be very painful.

Treatment is usually prescribed for the first episode of genital herpes to relieve pain and discomfort and to prevent the infection from spreading. However, recurring episodes are usually milder and may clear up faster without the need for medication. If no treatment is given, a flare up of genital herpes will clear up by itself. Cold sore medication will not treat genital herpes.

It is important to use a condom to prevent the virus being spread between sexual partners.

If you are worried about STD’s or feel that you may have contracted one, it is vital that you get tested straight away. Better2know has private STD testing clinics all over the UK, offering 100% confidential results quickly and effectively; results can usually be given on the same day or within 48 hours, which is a lot faster than a local GP clinic that could take up to 2 weeks.

STD testing at a Better2know clinic is 100% anonymous and confidential and you do not even have to give us your real name. We do not keep any medical records on you and do not share your results with any third party.

With over 350 STD and HIV testing clinics throughout the UK including, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Better2know can give you that peace of mind fast and efficiently, meaning that you can carry on with your life quicker.

New figures released by local health bosses in England have shown that the Chlamydia screening program has failed to reach its target of testing 17% of 15–24 year olds. Chlamydia is now the UK’s most common sexually transmitted disease (STD), with over 120,000 new cases diagnosed last year.

The government’s target for Chlamydia screening is 17%, but in some areas as little as 5% of young people were tested; this is far below the 35% many health experts predict is needed to prevent the disease from spreading.

This is the second year in a row that local health trusts have failed to meet the 17% target, and it is now estimated that up to one in ten 15-24 year olds has the disease, double that of a decade ago.

Simon Blake from the sexual health charity Brook said that the new screening figures were unsatisfactory, stating that: “We’re really worried about Chlamydia, if you only test 14% of young people, even if they are treated, the chances are there will be re-infection throughout the population. So we have to get 35% tested to get it under control.”

Anyone who has any symptoms of Chlamydia or feels that they may have contracted the disease is urged to take a STD test straight away.

A recent study conducted in America has concluded that people who use condoms are 30% less likely to contract Genital Herpes. The infection is caused by the Herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) virus and can lead to infections or complications during pregnancy.

The study combined data from 6 separate studies on the rate of HSV infections and condom use that included a total of 5,384 people. All of the participants were free from the infection at the start of the studies and during the follow-up, a year later 415 individuals had contracted the virus.

Individuals who reported that they always used a condom were 30% less likely to contract the virus, while the risk of infection increased with the number of unprotected sex acts. The study concluded that condoms are only partially effective in preventing the virus, as it can be spread by skin-to-skin contact and even when there are no visible sign of infection.

Even though condoms do give some protection against the virus, experts still maintain that if you are worried about the virus or have regular unprotected sex, then you should have a STD test.

A recent report by the Health Protection Agency has shown that the number of STD cases in the UK is still rising. It showed that the rate of Chlamydia rose from 121,791 (2007) to over 123,000 last year; this is 10,000 more than in 2006.

This latest news came despite a nationwide campaign to prevent the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The report also shows that the number of diagnosed cases of genital herpes and genital warts continue to increase. Genital wart cases rose by nearly 3% (92,525), with the rate of genital herpes infections up by 10% to 2,524.

There was some good news in the report, as syphilis cases showed a 4% fall and the number of new gonorrhoea cases dropped by 11%.

Young people aged between 16 and 24 are still considered to be a high risk of catching an STD, with Dr Gwenda Hughes stating: “Our data clearly show that considerable numbers of people, especially those under 25, are getting infected with an STI.”

Adding that, “Early detection is vital for both men and women. Without treatment Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to complications and permanent damage such as infertility.”

A recent study conducted by the Health Protection Agency has reported that diagnosed cases of syphilis in the UK have risen ten-fold throughout the last decade; mainly affecting gay men.

Syphilis had became a rare sexually transmitted disease in the UK by the late 90’s through a combination of new antibiotics and syphilis awareness campaigns, with diagnosed cases of just 301 in 1997. This figure has jumped ten-fold with 3762 Syphilis cases diagnosed in 2007.

Of all of the syphilis cases diagnosed over the last decade, 73% of the cases (approximately 9560) affected gay men, with a third of them also infected with HIV. However in 2007, 68% of new syphilis cases were diagnosed in heterosexuals, with the rate of congenital syphilis also rising from 136 in 1999 to 448 in 2007.

Up to 6,000 patients may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis C, following the arrest of a medical technician. Kirsten Diane Parker, 26, is accused of swapping her dirty needles for new ones filled with painkillers, which were meant for patients.

Parker, who was addicted to painkillers, tested positive for Hepatitis C and worked at the Rose Medical Centre in Denver and the Colorado Springs Audubon Ambulatory Surgery between October of last year and June 2009. 6,000 patients who had surgery at the medical centres during that time have been urged to get tested for hepatitis C, with 10 cases already been linked to former Rose patients.

Parker told detectives that she carried used syringes filled with saline in her pocket and swapped them for syringes filled with Fentanyl from operating tables. Fentanyl is a narcotic that is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

A 20 year US law that has banned HIV positive people from visiting American is to be removed thanks to a HIV positive Briton, who accused the US government of discrimination during a major health conference.

Paul Thorn, who campaigns for access to treatment for HIV sufferers, should have spoken at the Pacific health summit in the US last month, but was refused a visa after stating that he had HIV on his visa application.

Instead of attending, Mr Thorn sent a statement that was read out in his place, accusing the US of discrimination and having a HIV policy rooted in fear. The statement went on to say that the US had no right of calling itself the world leader in the fight to eradicate the disease.

Politicians took up Mr Thorn’s case, lobbying the US government to rethink its HIV policy and last week the government decided to bring the ban to an end, stating that it was time to: “remove HIV as a communicable disease of public health significance”.

The removal of the ban is likely to be in place before the end of the year.

Somerset’s local NHS service has been giving its residents free STD tests at the Glastonbury Festival. Any festival-goers who lived in the county were given the Chlamydia screening tests for free, while people from other areas were given information and advice about their local screening program.

Chlamydia is the most common and fastest growing sexually transmitted disease in the world, and with the Glastonbury Festival attracting over 200,000 people during the week, Somerset NHS used it to promote awareness about the infection.

Sarah Dove, the screening service manager for Somerset NHS said that the disease was particularly dangerous because: “Unfortunately the disease has no symptoms in 70 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men, so they may not even know they have it, and, if left untreated, Chlamydia can cause major infertility problems.”

Adding that, “We want to reach as many young people from Somerset as possible to inform them of the risks of Chlamydia.”

Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 were eligible for the test, which is free and totally confidential. People can also choose how they want to receive their results, either by text or email, by phone or through a letter.

Yesterday, drug manufacturers were locked in discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration to allow males be vaccinated against HPV in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. The drug manufacturers argued that the HPV vaccine was not only highly beneficial to females, but would be effective and safe for males to use, as well as helping to prevent the disease from spreading.

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in both the US and the UK and is the single biggest cause of cervical cancer in women. Recent surveys conducted in the US found the HPV, which also causes genital warts, was accountable for 70% of cervical cancer cases.

It is estimated that up to 25% of females aged between 9 and 26 in the US have already received the vaccine, which prevents types 16 and 18 HPV (most common cause of cervical cancer) and 2 types of HPB that cause genital warts.

Medical professionals are welcoming the news, with many of them believing that the vaccine should be given to both sexes. The side effects of giving the vaccine to males are said to be minimal, and will mostly be confined to soreness at the injection site.

Carolyn Moore from Planned Parenthood said that: “There are women who aren’t going to get it so if we can prevent men from spreading it, that would help a lot in preventing cervical cancer”.

Adding that, “Men and boys would receive the direct benefit of preventing genital warts for themselves as well”.

A new study released yesterday has shown that the infection rate of HIV in South Africa has levelled off at 10.9% for individuals aged two and over. The study also seems to suggest that the rate of new HIV cases in children and teenagers is falling.

The study, which was conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council warned that although the figure were looking promising, the overall outlook remained dire, as South Africa has the biggest HIV-positive population in the world, at 5.5 million.

Women are still most affected by the HIV virus in South Africa, with 33% of 20 – 34 year olds carrying the infection.

Olive Shisana, who led the study, which tested over 20,000 people, said that the results were, “promising findings of a changing pattern of HIV infection among children and youth”.

Adding that, “The good news is that the change in HIV prevalence in children is most likely attributable to the successful implementation of several HIV-prevention interventions”.

The study showed that HIV prevalence had fallen in children aged between 2 and 14 from 5.6% in 2002 to 2.5% last year, and that there was also a fall in new HIV cases amongst 15 – 19 year olds.

The use of condoms has also dramatically increased, with 87% of men between 15 and 24 saying that they used a condom during their last sexual encounter, up from 57% in 2002. The percentage of women using condoms for the same age group also rose from 46% in 2002 to 73% in 2008.