It’s the time of year when we doctors are reminding patients that it’s a good idea to get a jab for flu. Flu can lead to serious disease and last winter around 900 people were admitted to intensive care with flu in the UK. Vaccination with the flu vaccine can protect people from developing this illness. This is also true for other infections. The WHO (World Health Organisation) reports licensed vaccines being available to prevent or contribute to the control of 25 vaccine-preventable infections. They have estimated that vaccination prevents 2.5 million deaths from infection each year.

Vaccination is when a vaccine stimulates an person’s immune system to develop immunity a virus, bacteria or infectious agent. It can prevent infection or reduce the severity of infections. The effectiveness of vaccination has been widely studied and verified; for example, the flu vaccine, the HPV vaccine and the Hepatitis B vaccine. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infectious disease.

Smallpox was probably the first disease people tried to prevent by inoculating themselves and was the first disease for which a vaccine was produced. The smallpox was designed in1796 by the British physician Edward Jenner. Louis Pasteur furthered the concept through his work in microbiology. The immunisation was called vaccination because it was derived from a virus affecting cows (Latin: vacca—cow). Smallpox was a contagious and deadly disease, causing the deaths of 20–60% of infected adults and over 80% of infected children.

In common speech, ‘vaccination’ and ‘immunisation’ have a similar meaning.

However, with vaccination, generally the vaccine may be made of inactivated (non-infective) or attenuated (with reduced infectivity) forms of the virus/bacteria, or purified parts of the pathogen.

This distinguishes it from inoculation, which uses unweakened live pathogens.

We offer vaccines for prevention of infection with HPV and Hepatitis B.

Both of these infections can be sexually transmitted. Hepatitis B has also be spread by blood-blood contact and via infected organ donation/blood transfusion.

Research has shown that these vaccines are very good at protecting against these infections.

As both HPV and Hepatitis B infections can lead to serious illnesses, then vaccination has large health benefits.

The origin of HIV appears to have been traced to the 1920s in the city of Kinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to scientists.

An international team of scientists say sex and travel probably allowed HIV to spread. Viral archaeology was used to find the pandemic’s origin, and data reported in the journal ‘Science’.

The scientists used archived samples of HIV’s genetic code to trace its original source, and evidence points to this being 1920s Kinshasa. The report says a roaring sex trade, rapid population growth and un-sterilised needles used in health clinics probably spread the virus.

HIV is a virus that can lead to AIDS if untreated. Most people infected do not know they have the virus to begin with, as it can have very few or no symptoms early on. When detected early, HIV can be treated and people with infections are then expected to have a near-normal life expectancy.

HIV is more common in Africa, Asia and developing countries. It is also more common in men that have sex with men, drug-users and prostitutes. It is also seen in the heterosexual population.If you think you may have been at risk of being infected, we recommend you seek medical advice and a HIV test as soon as possible.

Our rapid HIV test has results return overnight and cost from £99.

We use the UK and European Professionally recommended tests.

In 2012, it was estimated that 42% of marriages in England and Wales ended in divorce (i).

Divorce is often down to infidelity. Suddenly, life can be turned upside down when our worst fears and suspicions become a reality.When ‘football training’, ‘aerobics classes’ or ‘working late’, really meant time being unfaithful. A chat with a supportive colleague meant an illicit affair.

The consequences of this are wide ranging. Sadness,anger, despair and uncertainty about our future can be at the forefront of our minds. However, in the midst of our emotional turmoil, we often overlook other things that infidelity brings.

It is a sad fact that an unfaithful partner can unknowingly bring STD’s back to the bedroom.These like lies can linger and lurk for months to years. We can easily miss symptoms they cause. Worse still, many STD’s have NO obvious symptoms and we can harbour them for a long time.

Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Human Papilloma Virus (which cause genital warts), Herpes, Syphilis and HIV can be silent infections or cause very mild changes to your body. Unfortunately, if left undetected they can lead to problems such as pain, infertility and ongoing health problems.

As time passes, emotional wounds heal and future relationships emerge, then these silent ‘visitors’ can be passed on to new lovers. This can be embarrassing and upsetting. There is no way of knowing whether a new partner has a STD from a previous relationship. Anyone who has unprotected sex can get a STD, regardless of their social status, job, wealth or number of previous partners. For example, a divorced professional person who was married for 15 years, subject to infidelity by an ex-spouse, who has had no other partners, owns a Mercedes, big house and has a high powered job, can have a STI from a cheating ex.

Testing for STD’s after infidelity is recommended. Tests are easy to do, accurate, speedy and confidential.

Our doctor-led clinic can give accurate advice, test and treat all STD’s. We are non-judgemental and our priority is to look after your sexual health.

Unlike other companies, our care is professional and personal and led by a Specialist in Sexual Health, not a GP. We provide not just high quality STD / STI tests, but also the most up to date treatment and counselling.

We make sure that we are highly competitive with our prices.

For further confidential enquiries please call: 0845 868 4480 or 0753 119 4797

enquiries@theprivatesticlinic.co.uk

Reference (i)- Office for National Statistics.

Our clinic has been busier as dating websites become more and more popular. They appear to be sometimes responsible for surges in STI’s. Are they a community of singles looking for love?

Well, from some people we hear a very different story. In their experience a new contact with ‘Single’ status ended up having not a very factual profile.

Some of the tales we hear can be guessed from the headings below, see how you do?

‘MarriedandBored.com’ ; ‘FancyaBitonTheSide.com’ ; ‘MidlifeCrisis.com’ ;

‘YouGaveMeChlamydia.com ‘Brokenhearted.com ‘iHaveHerpes.com’.

Not a nice thought. Dating websites can be a great way of meeting people, but we recommend you proceed with caution and if you do have sex, have safe sex

If you have a ‘match’ with any of the headings above, we advise you consider getting a STD test.

Despite lots of campaigns promoting safe sex and the use of condoms, still lots of us don’t use them and have unsafe sex. This increases our risk of getting STD’s.

When was the last time you bought a condom?

These days they are available in a huge range of colours, smells and flavours!

From banana to bubblegum, cherry cola to cool peppermint. No longer that off-white colour only, but yellow, orange, red, black, green, pink and every colour of the rainbow. Then, there are the textures, smooth, ribbed, tight ribbed and raised polka dots! Supersensitive, latex and non-latex.

They are available all over the place these days. Pick them up at the pharmacy,supermarket, corner shops, bars/restaurants and online shops. They are available free at some sexual health clinics.

So, ladies, pick your favourite colour and have it in your handbag ready for action!

Your secret weapon against STD’s.

If you have had unsafe sex you may be at risk of a sexually transmitted infection and we advise you have a STD check.

@durexuk @Pasantecondoms

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause several health problems. It is a sexually transmitted infection. There are more than 100 types of HPV. About 40 different types of HPV are thought to live on the skin surfaces and surfaces of the cervix, anus and are split into two groups, high-risk and low-risk types. Some HPV can cause cancerous changes to the cervix (neck of the womb), anus, vulva and penis. Genital warts are also caused by HPV.

HPV types 6 and 11 are ‘low risk’, meaning they have a low risk of causing cancer. They cause up to 90% of genital warts. High risk types such as HPV 16 and 18 are thought to be linked to developing precancerous changes to the cervix, vulva, anus and penis.

HPV vaccination (Gardasil) is offered to girls of school age 12-13 year old. It is hoped that this will reduce the number of girls being infected with HPV and so reduce these diseases in girls and women.

However, HPV vaccine is not offered to boys in the UK. In Australia, US, Canada and Austria, boys are also vaccinated against HPV. This is done to try and prevent these boys having HPV infections and the diseases associated with them.
In the UK, the NHS will not fund the vaccine for boys.This may be due to restricted finances in the NHS. Campaigners say that vaccinating boys will prevent further disease and save lives.

We are able to provide a private Gardasil vaccine for boys at our clinic.

The price of the vaccine is £150.

If you would like to learn more about vaccination of boys with Gardasil please contact us: 0845 868 4480 or 07531 194797

Email: enquiries@theprivatesticlnic.co.uk

EMERGENCYCONTRACEPTION – WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO I GET IT?
#sexual health

This week is Sexual Health week as presented by the Family Planning Association. The focus is on emergency contraception.

Emergency contraception is required if a woman has sex without a condom whilst not on contraception, if her contraception has been used incorrectly or if another medicine or symptom eg. diarrhoea and vomiting, may mean that it is not working as it should.
Emergency contraception can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
If you think you need emergency contraception, you should seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible.

In brief, emergency contraception comes in the form of pills / tablets or as a IUD, a copper coil fitted into the womb, to prevent fertilisation of an egg.

The earlier that emergency contraception is given, the lower the risk of pregnancy.
Emergency contraception is not a reliable form of preventing pregnancy and should not ideally be used as a main method of contraception.

Emergency contraception tablets can be sought at our clinic, pharmacies, GP’s and sexual health clinics.
Emergency contraception in the form on IUD /the coil, can be provided at some GP’s or sexual health clinics.
For more information you can visit the Family Planning Association (FPA) website.

Our clinic is able to provide emergency contraception tablets and advice for a modest price. Please enquire for details:

Call 07531194797 or 0845 868 4480 or enquiries@theprivatesticlinic.co.uk

‘I have been single for 6 months after my relationship ended. I have now met my dream man and we have been dating for a month. We’d both like to have sex. I’m worried I may give him a STI, as my expartner cheated on me. Is it a good idea to get a STD check before we get into bed?’. This is one of the most common enquiries we have, and a very sensible question to ask. Many people opt to be checked for sexually transmitted diseases before starting a new relationship. We know that some STI’s such as chlamydia, the genital wart virus (HPV), Herpes and other infections sometimes don’t cause symptoms and silently spread between people.

We would recommend that couples newly together get tested for infections. It’s best to test!

Our clinic offers private, confidential STD tests with a Specialist doctor and test results return overnight.