The Better2Know Blog

Today, virtually everyone has heard of or had some kind of encounter with STIs or sexually transmitted infections. But, few people know the origins of these infections and how they got their present names.

Some STIs, like gonorrhoea, are commonly referred to by colloquial names like “the clap.” Others, like chlamydia and syphilis, have foreign-sounding names. In reality, all three of these STIs got their names, both proper and slang, from history.

Originally, all STIs were known as “venereal diseases.” This is an ancient name derived from the Roman god of love, Venus. However, over time, various prominent STIs all got their own names. This article dives into how gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydia got their names and how they changed through the ages.

Whether it’s due to the prioritisation of one’s health and fitness, there’s been an apparent shift in perspective regarding sexual activity and its benefits surrounding weight loss and muscle building.

Funny enough, while sex is traditionally an intimate act aimed at one purpose which is to conceive, it’s now being used as a means of fitness, and rightfully so! With that said, while there’s certainly merit behind sex and its many physical benefits, it should never take priority over the intimacy that comes with it.

Kissing can be a very intimate way of showing your loved ones you care about them. Whether two people are sharing a French kiss, or you are simply greeting an old friend with a kiss on the cheek, a kiss tends to be a symbol of love and admiration.

With international kissing day on July 6, it is important to celebrate the day with those you care about. However, there are a few things you should consider before giving your friends and family a big, carefree smooch. Here, we will be discussing the possible repercussions of kissing and how you can deal with them.

The early symptoms of HIV can be confusing. In fact, most people aren’t at first aware that they have been infected with the virus. It’s common for early symptoms to become apparent within two to six weeks after infection. That’s because this is the stage at which your immune system starts fighting the virus.

If you’re wondering about the early symptoms of HIV in males or need to know when the early symptoms of HIV start, then you’ve arrived exactly where you need to be.

Knowing the early symptoms of an HIV infection can be very helpful. However, HIV testing is the only way to be sure that you know what you’re dealing with. Getting tested is very important because if you start antiviral drug treatment early, it can make the virus undetectable, which can help prevent transmission to others.

HIV spreads through certain fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids, and blood. These are among the most likely ways to become infected with HIV. Most people know that HIV is transmitted via vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner. The chances of transmitting HIV through oral sex are very low. Nonetheless, there is a risk that HIV can be transmitted through oral sex.

The good news is that there are some things that you can do to reduce the risk.

A virus called Monkeypox has been making the news recently as several outbreaks are occurring across the world in countries not usually associated with the infection.  Largely restricted to the continent of Africa in the past, cases have suddenly been reported across the globe from Australia to the United States and significantly in several major European countries including Spain, Portugal and the UK.

Order a Monkeypox Self Test Kit Now!

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK. Many people do not display symptoms of chlamydia when infected during the early stages, meaning they continue with their sexual activity, unknowingly spreading the infection even further.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been around for a long time. According to Wikipedia, historical documentation of STIs dates back to at least the Ebers Papyrus around 1550 BC and the Old Testament. The Papyrus is a 110-page Egyptian scroll about herbal knowledge kept in the library at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

April 2022 is Bowel Cancer awareness month and Bowel Cancer UK is campaigning for early diagnoses and treatment. Every 15 minutes a person is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK which is approximately 43,000 people each year. This year Bowel Cancer UK´s message is, “together we can raise more awareness and support for people affected by the disease. Together we are strong. Together we can save more lives”.

Better2Know tests for a wide range of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), however there are some infections that are not commonly associated with being an STI but can still be transmittable by sexual contact. 

A report published by Wiley online library on 30 January 2022 examines the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on HIV testing in Brighton and Hove. The report used data on HIV tests performed in Brighton and Hove from January 2016 to June 2021 to compare the monthly number of tests and diagnoses before and during the pandemic across different services.

According to the World Health Organization more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day globally, the majority of which are asymptomatic. Each year there are an estimated 374 million new infections with 1 of 4 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. All these infections are currently curable.

Here is an overview of the key pre-travel testing requirements for UK citizens travelling to popular destinations as of 17 March, 2022. You should always stay in contact with your travel provider when travelling abroad from the UK.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and is usually curable with early detection. Every woman aged 25 years and above should routinely undergo screening to help prevent cervical cancer. Recent headlines in the media have sparked debate about recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee on cervical cancer screening.

An ongoing debate has raged over the origins of Syphilis. The English called it the “French disease”. Academics in Bucharest in 2014 unearthed its linguistic history and found the French called it a Neapolitan disease.

2022 is fast approaching and it is time to make those New Year resolutions and hopefully keep them. According to a YouGov survey, the top three resolutions made in 2020 interestingly were health related.

Herpes simplex virus is a common infection with as many as 7 in 10 people in the UK population having HSV-1 and approximately 1 in 10 people having HSV-2, according to Nuffield Health.

Getting tested for STIs is an important part of protecting your sexual health and it is recommended that anyone who is sexually active is tested at least once annually. However, visiting a GUM clinic can be daunting, especially if it your first time.  In contrast, Better2Know’s private clinics aim to make the experience of getting tested easy, prioritising your comfort and needs.

Covid-19 travel testing rules are changing on 4 October 2021 for travel into England from abroad.  The traffic light system is being scrapped, leaving just a red list of countries and ‘the rest of the world’, meaning the Covid tests you need to take will be more dependent on your vaccination status.  Here we take a look at some of the key changes.

The most popular and commonly accessible condom is the male (external) condom. However, female condoms are also available, yet they are not as widely recognised as male condoms. How effective are female condoms, and what are the benefits?

Finding out you have HIV is never going to be easy. You then have to decide who to tell about your HIV status. In this blog, we discuss the different people who you may decide to tell and how to approach this difficult dilemma.

The traditional daily grind has changed for good in the eyes of many workers, particularly during the pandemic, and employees are thinking more towards the life side of the ‘work/life balance’.  During the last 18 months of a Covid filled world, philosophies have changed when it comes to ‘giving all’ to a company and many employees are now valuing their health and wellbeing above their long-term employment commitments.

While condoms do provide protection against most sexually transmitted infections (STIs), some infections can be passed through skin-on-skin contact alone. It is important to get clued up on which STIs you may be at risk of.

World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) is on Saturday 4^th September and is an annual event organized by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) designed to promote education, awareness, and best practices in sexual health.

With an NHS shortage of the test tubes required for taking blood samples, leading testing provider Better2Know is showing how the private sector can fill the testing void.  First, let us look at the issue in more depth, and the reasons behind it:

There are lots of things to consider when having sex for the first time. You might be curious about how it feels and how to deal with the concerns that may come with it. These thoughts are entirely natural in any case. The best thing you can do to overcome your concerns and enjoy the moment is to be prepared.

Many teens ponder who they are as they grow up. Questioning your sexual orientation is an important aspect of figuring out who you are. You may question whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or part of another LGBTQ+ community. Only through this process can you discover your true self.

There is a lot of misinformation and stigma about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which can make the topic difficult and uncomfortable to discuss. However, STIs are common and can affect men and women of all ages. Globally, over 1 million people acquire an STI every day [1], therefore it is vital to understand what you should do if you receive a positive test result.

Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Gardnerella and Trichomonas. What do you know about these STIs? With over 70% of men and 85% of women having had unsafe sex in the past year [1], it is more important than ever to be aware of lesser-known infections which could be harmful if left untreated.

Dr Mark Bloch has been working in the field of HIV medicine since 1983 and is now the director of Clinical Research at Holdsworth House in Sydney. We asked Dr Bloch some questions about HIV to gain a deeper insight into his thoughts and experience with HIV-positive patients.