It is estimated that more than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide.
Sexual Health Week is dedicated to promoting and highlighting the importance of sexual health. Sexual Health Week 2024: Are You Feeling It? advocates for easily accessible information for all regarding access to contraception, testing, and treatment to foster informed decision-making. It aims to reduce stigmas around the subject while championing the importance of knowledge, resources, support, consent, regular check-ups, and HIV and STI testing.
Getting Tested
In England, 2023, there were 401,800 diagnoses of new STIs, an increase of 4.7% since 2022 (383,789). Chlamydia diagnoses (all ages) remained stable with 194,970 diagnoses in 2023 compared to 194,244 diagnoses in 2022. In contrast, both gonorrhoea (7.5%) and infectious syphilis (9.4%) diagnoses increased in 2023 in comparison to 2022.
NHS sexual health clinics, often referred to as genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or sexual health services, are available throughout the UK.
Fortress Diagnostics aim to make testing and diagnosis as direct and easily accessible as possible, manufacturing tests for Chlamydia, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Herpes, Hep B and HIV.
Informing Choices NI
For Sexual Health Awareness Week 2024, Fortress Diagnostics spoke with Ruairi Rowan, director of advocacy and policy for Informing Choices NI.
Informing Choices is a sexual reproductive health charity whose vision is a society where individuals have the right and freedom to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. Underpinning all of their work is the belief that all individuals should have access to information, education and sexual and reproductive health services free from prejudice or discrimination.
How can someone seek help if they think they may have contracted an STI?
STIs are passed from one person to another through unprotected vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex. They can also be contracted via genital contact or by sharing sex toys. Some symptoms of STIs may include, irregular bleeding, pain during sex, pain while urinating and unusual discharge. If you have any of these symptoms, please contact a local GUM clinic. If you don’t have any symptoms, but feel you may have contracted an STI, you can order a free home test kit from online sexual health specialists SH:24.
Are there online resources to provide information and support to those who have contracted an STI?
Informing Choices have the digital license for patient information leaflets on sexual, and reproductive health, these include various leaflets on STIs. These leaflets are up-to-date and medically accurate. They are peer-reviewed, easy to access on mobile phones and can be viewed discreetly. You can view them by accessing our website at www.informingchoicesni.org/leafletsor you can also contact us and we can provide hard copies of these information leaflets for free.
What are the most common STIs?
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea are the most commonly diagnosed STIs in Northern Ireland. They can be easily treated with antibiotics however, if they are not treated early these can cause serious health complications in the future. Other types of STIs include; genital warts, genital herpes, syphilis and HIV. If you feel you have contracted HIV, you should contact your local GUM clinic or the emergency department within 72 hours as they may be able to offer you medication to prevent HIV developing. You can also access HIV testing through Positive Life and The Rainbow Project.
How can STIs be prevented?
The best way to prevent contracting an STI is to always use a condom when having vaginal, anal or oral sex. We would also encourage you to test regularly and also to have open and honest conversations with any potential partners regarding your sexual history. Don’t be afraid to reach out for information, advice and support. If you have any questions regarding STIs you can call our sexual health helpline on 028 90 316 100.
What should someone do if they have had unprotected sex?
You can use emergency contraception to prevent becoming pregnant if you have had unprotected sex or feel that contraception may have failed. You can access emergency contraception for free in participating pharmacies across Northern Ireland through the Pharmacy First scheme. It is also available free to access in your local sexual reproductive health clinics.
Where can you get contraception for free?
There are many different forms of contraception and different methods will suit different people. Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics provided by your local Health Trust will provide a full range of contraception including long-acting, reversible methods such as coils or implants. Online sexual health specialist SH:24 can provide emergency contraception, the progesterone-only pill, the combined pill and repeat self-injectables. Some GP services provide a full range of sexual and reproductive services and if you are under 25, Common Youth can provide information, support and contraception in Northern Ireland.
Chlamydia is 1 of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection typically spread through sex or contact with infected genital fluids. It can be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing unwashed sex toys, or skin-to-skin contact. Most people with chlamydia do not show any symptoms, but some may experience pain when urinating, unusual discharge, or, in women, abdominal pain and bleeding.
Testing & Treatment
Testing for chlamydia can be done using a urine or swab test, and usually does not require a physical examination. It can be easily treated with antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin. Individuals under 25 should have another test 3 to 6 months after treatment, as they are at increased risk of getting infected again.
Gonorrhoea is caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoea bacteria and is mainly transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Symptoms include a thick discharge, pain when urinating, and bleeding between periods. If pregnant, it's important to get tested and treated to prevent new-born blindness.
Testing & Treatment
Testing for gonorrhoea is crucial, as untreated gonorrhoea can lead to serious long-term health problems. Gonorrhoea can be diagnosed through a discharge or urine test. Treatment involves a single antibiotic injection, with symptoms improving within days. Follow-up testing is recommended a week or two after treatment. It's important to avoid sex until cleared of the infection, and previous treatment does not create immunity to gonorrhoea.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection. It can be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or from mother to baby during pregnancy. Symptoms include painless sores, rash, warty growths, and flu-like symptoms. If untreated, it can lead to serious health issues.
Testing & Treatment
Syphilis can be tested through a GP visit, GUM clinic, or a self-test kit at home. It is treated with antibiotics (injections, tablets, or capsules) and retesting is required 6-12 weeks after starting treatment.
Genital herpes is a highly contagious STI transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, even without visible sores. Symptoms include small blisters, red sores, tingling, burning, itching, pain whilst urinating, and unusual discharge.
Testing & Treatment
The doctor or nurse will ask about symptoms and sexual partners and may take a sample for testing. There is no cure for genital herpes, but antiviral medicine can help manage the symptoms. Recurrent outbreaks are usually milder and can be managed with long-term antiviral medicine. If outbreaks persist, a specialist may be necessary.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) weakens the immune system and can be found in body fluids like semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood, and breast milk. It is commonly transmitted through unprotected sex or sharing needles. Ways to reduce the risk of HIV include condom use, post-exposure prophylaxis, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV treatment. If the viral load is undetectable for 6 months or more, the virus cannot be transmitted through sex (known as undetectable=untransmittable). Symptoms may include a short flu-like illness, but many infected individuals may not show symptoms for years. Testing is crucial for anyone who suspects they may have HIV.
Testing & Treatment
Testing for HIV can be done at GP surgeries, sexual health clinics, and charity-run clinics. It involves testing blood or saliva for signs of the infection. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent infection if started within 72 hours of possible exposure to the virus. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve virus control and reduce transmission risk.
HIV tests may need to be repeated 1 to 3 months after potential exposure. Antiretroviral medicines, taken daily, help stop the virus from replicating and prevent further damage to achieve an undetectable viral load.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection spread through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. It can be transmitted through unprotected sex, sharing needles, and from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, itchy skin, and jaundice. A vaccine is available for high-risk individuals or travellers to high-risk areas.
Testing & Treatment
Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B. In the UK, babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine. Babies born to mothers with hepatitis B receive additional vaccinations at birth, 4 weeks, and 1 year to reduce the risk of infection. Hepatitis B usually clears up on its own without treatment. Medication may be offered to help with symptoms such as pain relief or anti-nausea medications. If hepatitis B lasts for over 6 months, it is called long-term (chronic) hepatitis B. It is usually treated with antivirals and medication to relieve symptoms such as itchiness, pain, and sickness. Patients should have regular check-ups with a liver specialist.
Please see below a selection of the range of testing products offered by Fortress Diagnostics.
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