The Better2Know Blog

This Monday marks the start of the 2018 Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. The event runs until Sunday 28^th January and aims to raise awareness surrounding cervical cancer and highlight ways in which this dreadful disease can be prevented. This year’s theme is: Reduce Your Risk, and there are plenty of ways in which you can get involved, including hosting fundraising events, sharing your story through blogging or social media, or by joining the #SmearForSmear campaign alongside Better2Know.

This Sunday marks the 2018 National STI Testing Day, encouraging people around the country to take control of their sexual health by getting tested. The event takes place on the 14^th of January each year, referencing the two-week period of incubation that many STI tests stipulate as a minimum requirement prior to testing.

Happy New Year from all of us at Better2Know. Following the recent festivities and seasonal overindulgence, it is understandable that carefulness may have been overlooked when it comes to sexual encounters. As we embark on another new year, if you are concerned about your sexual health, it is important to remember that you are not alone.

According to the latest Government statistics, just 18 travel-associated cases of Zika have been diagnosed in the UK this year. The report marks an astonishing 93.6% reduction in travel-associated cases compared with 2016. Whilst these figures highlight the huge successes in combatting the Zika virus, there is still work to be done if we are to completely eradicate this harmful infection from our shores.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can lead to serious complications if left untreated. They can occur anywhere in the urinary system, and could prove particularly harmful if one or both kidneys are affected. Better2Know’s Urine for Microscopy and Culture test will identify the presence of yeast or bacteria in the urine, which may be the cause of a UTI. The test is available across the UK, and does not require a minimum period of incubation.

Ureaplasma is a lesser known, but extremely common sexually transmitted infection. One of the smallest free-living organisms, Ureaplasma Urealyticum can be contracted through unprotected penile, vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact. The bacterium can also be found in regular, healthy genital tracts, so a colony of Ureaplasma can overgrow and cause irritation without the occurrence of any risky or disingenuous behaviour.

Across the UK, Better2Know offers a comprehensive array of STI tests and screens, giving you complete peace of mind regarding a host of harmful infections, including Ureaplasma. Visit our testing pages to find out more.

Today is World AIDS Day, and whilst we should celebrate the enormous strides that have been made in HIV testing and treatment, Dr Michael Brady tells Better2Know that there’s still more to be done.

Dr Brady is a Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV at the King’s College Hospital in London. He is also the Medical Director at the Terrence Higgins Trust.

World AIDS Day is an important time for us to both reflect and celebrate. We remember those we’ve lost to HIV and AIDS, but also mark the incredible successes that have been achieved since the beginning of the epidemic. It’s a time to not only show our support for those living with and affected by HIV, but also to highlight the work that is still to be done.

In 2012, an estimated 2,000 people in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, were living with HIV. More alarmingly perhaps, approximately 20% of those individuals had undiagnosed conditions, and were therefore far more likely to transmit the virus without knowing it. Just one year later, more than 10% of the 15-24-year-olds that received testing in Swindon were diagnosed with Chlamydia, which remains the city’s most prominent sexually transmitted infection.

This Saturday signals the start of the 2017 National and European HIV Testing Week (HIVTW). The week runs until Friday 24^th November and aims to raise awareness surrounding HIV, and the importance of regular testing.

The event is co-ordinated by HIV Prevention England, with support and participation from public, statutory and private sector bodies. Hundreds of organisations took part in last year’s highly successful HIVTW, promoting HIV related services and highlighting the benefits of regular testing and treatment for both individuals and the wider community.

In 2016, Public Health England revealed that Manchester had the country’s highest prevalence of HIV outside of London and the South East. And it’s not just HIV – in 2014 alone, almost 1.5% of the city’s inhabitants were diagnosed with an STI. As Manchester’s cosmopolitan community continues to increase, so too does the threat of sexually transmitted infections.

According to the latest Government figures, an estimated 60,000 people in London have been infected with Hepatitis C. To put that into context, that’s roughly the same amount that flood into the Emirates Stadium every Saturday afternoon. The report, published last month, sited the city’s ‘high rate’ of confirmed diagnoses when compared with other areas in the UK. The statistics for Hepatitis B showed no improvement either, with an incidence rate twice that of the national average. Though perhaps most alarmingly of all, the statistics showed that, globally, fewer than 1% of people with chronic Hepatitis infections are actually receiving treatment.

In 2015 there were more than 5,000 STIs diagnosed in Liverpool – that’s over 1% of the city’s population – with Chlamydia diagnoses accounting for around half of those infections. The report, published by the Liverpool Echo in July of last year, also warned that the city was particularly susceptible to an outbreak of ‘Super Gonorrhoea‘, due to elevated levels of antibiotic prescriptions. In short, Liverpool’s STI infection rate is amongst the highest in the country, thus increasing the importance of regular testing.

In 2014, Health Protection Scotland revealed that the number of males diagnosed with Gonorrhoea in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region was twice that of the national average. The figures for STIs like Genital Herpes weren’t much better either. Meanwhile, according to HIV Scotland’s regional statistics, over 1600 people in the same area are currently living with HIV, and 16.5% of those infected are not receiving specialist treatment. Whilst this data makes for concerning reading, an STI test with Better2Know would alleviate any doubts you may have regarding the status of your sexual health. What’s more, we can get you an appointment in Glasgow on the very same day that you book your test with us.

At Better2Know, we understand that getting a sexual health test can be a worrisome time. You want discreet and efficient results, fast – that’s why we offer same or next day results for a comprehensive array of STI tests and screens.

Over 100,000 people in the UK are currently living with HIV. And despite nationwide access to HIV testing and treatment, around 13% of those people are unaware of their positive HIV status. Public Health England, meanwhile, estimates that approximately 160,000 people are living with Hepatitis C in England alone, and in 2015, the World Health Organization revealed that, globally, around 650,000 people die as a result of Chronic Hepatitis B every single year.

At Better2Know, we believe in the normalisation of HIV, Hepatitis and STI testing. Our aim is to remove any associated stigmas and improve the health of our patients in the UK & around the world. The sooner a Hepatitis or HIV infection is successfully diagnosed and treated, the less chance there is of that individual transmitting their infection to someone else – hence the importance of regular testing and early intervention.

Despite the nationwide accessibility of HIV testing and treatment, it is estimated that 13,500 people in the UK remain unaware that they are HIV positive. Better2Know has several testing options for HIV, depending on both your personal preference and how long ago you may have been exposed to the infection. Please see below for a description of the different types of HIV test we offer.

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea has been named as one of London’s poorest performing areas for sexual health. According to Public Health England (PHE), the borough – alongside the larger districts of Lambeth and Southwark – experienced the greatest prevalence of new STIs in 2016.

Chlamydia is England’s most common bacterial STI, accounting for almost half of all STIs diagnosed in 2015. Though Chlamydia is a national issue, there is a significant geographical variation in its distribution, and its prevalence in the North West of England is something of a concern.

Better2Know is the largest provider of private sexual health testing services in the UK. As well as testing for a host of STIs, including HIV, we provide HIV certificates to those who require them for reasons such as travel or industry. Our comprehensive HIV tests and screens are available nationwide. To receive a certificate following your Better2Know test, simply notify our friendly Patient Services team upon booking your appointment.

Concerned about your sexual health? Worried that you may have a sexually transmitted infection or disease? You need answers, fast.

With Better2Know, you can access an appointment at a private clinic in London on the very same day that you book an appointment. With hundreds of clinics in the UK and around the world, Better2Know is a global provider of private STI testing services. All our CE marked tests and screens are regularly reviewed by a panel of specialists, and have been designed to meet your specific requirements.

Here at Better2Know, we understand that getting tested for a sexually transmitted infection can be a somewhat disconcerting experience. That’s why we strive to make your journey with us as simple and stress-free as possible. Each one of our anonymous STI tests can be carried out individually, or as part of a combination of tests, known as a screen. All of our tests and screens have been meticulously put together by a panel of medical specialists, and are designed to meet your personal requirements.

Better2Know is the global leader in private sexual health testing services. We offer tests and screens for a range of sexually transmitted infections, including HPV. There are over 100 strains of HPV, some of which are responsible for Genital Warts, as well as multiple forms of cancer, including Cervical Cancer.

With more and more reported cases of drug-resistant Gonorrhoea, scientists are growing evermore concerned that the infection is becoming impervious to all standards of treatment.

Coinciding with a gradual decline in condom use, oral sex transmission has been singled out as the driving force behind the recent outbreak of ‘super Gonorrhoea’. Owing to low levels of bacteria and a generally poor response to medication, oral STIs are notoriously difficult to treat. The type of bacteria specific to cases of oral Gonorrhoea gains its resistance to antibiotics directly from the billions of other bacteria housed in the throat. Following an initial throat infection, Gonorrhoea can spread to the genitals, potentially resulting in infertility and/or other long-term health problems. As the condition is often symptomless, infection can spread without the person’s knowledge – hence the significance of regular testing.

Better2Know is the world’s leading private provider of sexual health testing services. With stress-free tests and screens specially designed by our panel of medical experts, STI testing in the UK is now easier than ever before. As well as individual testing for a wide range of infections, Better2Know offers a variety of full STI screening options to give you complete peace of mind.

A South African child infected with HIV at birth has spent most of their life without any need for treatment, it has been revealed.

The nine-year-old, who was diagnosed at just a few weeks old, has been in remission for eight-and-a-half years with no signs or symptoms of the virus being active. Though HIV is still detectable in the child’s immune cells, scientists believe that understanding exactly how he/she developed protection could lead to newer drugs, or even an anti-HIV vaccine.

Better2Know has Instant STI testing available throughout the UK. We offer rapid results for six of the most common sexually transmitted infections and diseases, including HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. With results available just 20 minutes after giving a sample, Better2Know provides STI test results while you wait in the clinic. Our Instant testing can be carried out individually or as part of a combination of tests, known as a screen. Our most popular Instant screens include:

A standard Meningitis B vaccine may hold the key to halting the spread of a drug-resistant, Gonorrhoea ‘superbug’. The World Health Organization recently warned that vaccinations were the “only sustainable way to achieve control” of this dangerous STI. So far, all experimental vaccinations have failed but, remarkably, a pre-existing, licenced vaccine is now providing fresh optimism.

Vitamin D regulates the levels of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc that the human body absorbs from food. Most of our Vitamin D is generated by our own bodies through exposure to sunlight, though it also exists in some foods, including milk, egg yolks and fatty fish.

The Zika Virus and Better2Know

Better2Know offers Zika testing at hundreds of locations across the UK. We are global leaders in private sexual health testing services. All our confidential tests and screens have been specially designed by a panel of medical experts, and are built to suit your needs. With Better2Know, you will receive your results quickly and efficiently, without having to use your real name. There’s more information on Zika, and the other STI tests we offer, available on our website.
 

Better2Know’s Instant STI Testing is available across London, providing rapid results for six of the most common sexually transmitted infections: HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.