Gay men std
Danish study finds that STI rates in gay men grow before they commence PrEP, not after
A Danish explore which was fit to chart the annual incidence of the three bacterial STIs, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, in people attending sexual health clinics both before and after they started PrEP has found that they had more than twice as many (115% more) STI diagnoses while on PrEP than they had some time before starting it.
However it also found that much of this raise in diagnoses was due to increased testing. While the average STI testing rate in people some time before starting PrEP was in the region of 50 tests per 100 person years (i.e. a test every two years), it was three to four tests per year in people on PrEP, with tests peaking each three months due to PrEP checkups.
When this was taken into account, the diagnosis rate of any of the bacterial STIs in people on PrEP was only 35% higher than it was before PrEP, and in the case of syphilis there was no significant increase.
Glossary
chlamydia
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection, caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, rectum, or throat. Men
New STI figures show continued increases among gay men
Latest figures published today (5 July 2016) from Widespread Health England (PHE) show there were 434,456 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2015; 54,275 of which were among gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, a 10% increase since 2014. Chlamydia was the most commonly diagnosed STI, accounting for 46% of diagnoses (200,288 cases), followed by genital warts (68,310 cases).
The 2015 statistics represent a small decrease (3%) when compared to 2014. This is primarily due to falls in diagnoses for chlamydia (4%) and genital warts (7%).
However, in the same period there were large increases in diagnoses of gonorrhoea (11%) and syphilis (20%), continuing the rising trends in these infections of the past 5 years. These rises have occurred mostly in queer , bisexual or other men who own sex with men.
The impact of STIs remains greatest in young people under the age of 25 years, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. The huge fall in genital warts seen this year in new women is an expected positive consequence of the national HPV vaccination programme.
Sexual health - Dr Gwenda H
Syphilis: Get the care that fits you
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. Any sexual skin-on-skin contact with someone who has infectious syphilis can outcome in transmission.
The first autograph of infection takes the form of a sore that appears on the body part that came in contact with the infection. Since the sore is usually painless, it can go unnoticed especially if it appears inside the mouth, anus, or vagina. If left untreated, the sore may last for several weeks then eventually disappear. In other instances, a rash may appear on the palms of your hands, bottoms of your feet, torso, or other part of the body.
The symptoms of syphilis will eventually move away, but if it’s left untreated the bacteria remain active in the body and can manage to serious health problems, including blindness, dementia, and damage to the heart.
The average time between infection and symptoms is approximately 21 days, yet symptoms can occur as preliminary as 10 days or as far out as 90 days after infection. It’s possible for someone to have syphilis for years and not comprehend it. The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get tested.
Recently, there has
What is gonorrhoea?
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15-24 years.
How is gonorrhoea spread?
You can get gonorrhoea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhoea. Gonorrhoea is easily spread, protected sex can reduce the risk of sharing gonorrhoea however it can still be spread.
How can I reduce my risk of getting gonorrhoea?
The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to reduce your chances of getting gonorrhoea:
- Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results;
- Using latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.
Am I at risk for gonorrhoea?
Any sexually active person can acquire gonorrhea through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
If you are sexually active, have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for gonorrhea or other STDs. If you are a sexually
Sexual health for same-sex attracted and bisexual men
Having unprotected penetrative sex is the most likely way to pass on a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Using a condom helps safeguard against HIV and lowers the risk of getting many other STIs.
If you’re a man having sex with men (MSM), without condoms and with someone unused, you should have an STI and HIV assess every 3 months, otherwise, it should be at least once a year. This can be done at a sexual health clinic (SHC) or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. This is important, as some STIs do not result in any symptoms.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection that's spread by a virus in poo.
Hepatitis A is uncommon in the UK but you can fetch it through sex, including oral-anal sex ("rimming") and giving oral sex after anal sex. MSM with multiple partners are particularly at risk. You can also get it through contaminated food and drink.
Symptoms of hepatitis A can materialize up to 8 weeks after sex and add tiredness and feeling sick (nausea).
Hepatitis A is not usually life-threatening and most people make a packed recovery within a couple of months.
MSM can evade getting hepatitis A by:
- washing hands after sex (bottom, groin a