Shocking figures show children as young as 13 are being treated for STIs

Our nation’s schoolchildren may need much better and effective sex education, following the findings of a new study that show 1,000s of children as young as 13 are contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

According to the Daily Star Sunday a new Public Health England study has shown that in particularly, new cases of teenage chlamydia are on the rise, with 178,845 cases in youngsters under the age of 19 and 2,938 discovered in teenagers aged 13 or 14, in the last 5 years alone.

The alarming figures also show how over 2 teenagers under the legal age of consent (16-years-old) are getting STIs such as genital herpes each day.

Moreover, an estimated 18,085 people under the age of 18 have contracted gonorrhoea during the previous 5 years, in addition to 20,842 cases of herpes, whilst syphilis, which can be fatal, was contracted 442 times.

The statistics are almost certain to concern parents and doctors, and force the government to put extra effort into boosting the country’s sex education classes.

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We still have much to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and the rates of STIs in those most at risk.

“Young people are disproportionately affected by STIs. One of the reasons for this is that we still don’t provide every young person with comprehensive and appropriate Sex and Relationships Education (SRE).

“A reduction in STIs must be a public health priority and as a fundamental part of this, the Government needs to ensure every young person has access to effective SRE that gives them the knowledge and skills to enjoy healthy and safe sex lives.”

Jules Hillier, head of the sexual health charity Brook, commented: “Too many young people aren’t getting the information they need about sex and relationships from their schools, while sexual health clinics are under threat due to cuts.

“We need to invest in education and services for young people to help them stay safe and healthy.”
It isn’t just the younger generation where STIs are on the rise though…Cases of STIs are going up across all age groups. From 2010 to 2014, the number of people being diagnosed with gonorrhoea has more than doubled, leaping from 16,843 to 34,958.

Meanwhile, syphilis cases have shot up from 2,647 in 2010 to 4,317in 2014 and herpes has increased from 29,698 to 31,777 in the same time period.

Surprisingly perhaps, chlamydia cases have dropped from 207,797 in 2012 to 206,774 by 2014.
Public Health England say that over the past 10 years the number of cases of STIs such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital warts and genital herpes have gone up – notably amongst males.
In England, young heterosexual people aged 16 to 24 account for:

• 63% of chlamydia cases.
• 55% of gonorrhoea cases.
• 52% of genital warts cases.
• 42% of herpes cases.

STIs increasing among gay men, according to PHE report

New statistics show that sexually transmitted infection rates amongst gay and bisexual men are spiralling across England.

A report published by Public Health England on 23 June gave a startling insight into the nation’s carefree/careless attitudes towards sex it seems, with to quote: “high levels of condomless sex” in general and “rapid” transmission of infections in HIV-positive men.

The report was compiled using the annual data for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and national chlamydia screening programme (NCSP), which has been released for 2014.

Although across all groups in England, the number of sexually transmitted infections actually fell by 0.3% from the previous year, to 439,243 new cases, public health officials are becoming deeply concerned about the rise in STI cases among men who have sex with other men.

“We are particularly concerned about the large rise in diagnoses among gay men. Health promotion and education to increase risk awareness and encourage safer sexual behaviour remain the cornerstones of STI prevention,” commented Dr. Gwenda Hughes of the PHE, in a statement.

“Ensuring easy access to sexual health services and STI screening is a vital component in the control of STIs,” Hughes added, stating that STI control and the reduction in the STI infection should be made the first public health priority in the UK.

The problem of STIs is unsurprisingly rife across young people aged 25 or under and gay men (gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men).

The Figures for last year depict a shocking 46% rise in syphilis infections, 32% increase for gonorrhoea and 26% in chlamydia.

Broken down into various STIs, the PHE report found:

• Syphilis infections increased from 2,375 to 3,477
• Gonorrhoea increased from 13,629 to 18,029
• Chlamydia diagnoses increased from 9,118 to 11,468
• Genital warts increased by 10% from 3,156 to 3,456

There remains a major worry regarding gonorrhoea due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of the infection, making it tricky to treat.

Gay men are usually recommended to go for a HIV and STI test every year, or every three months if they are engaging in sex without a condom or with casual sexual partners.

Moreover, PHE advise that all sexually active under-25-year-olds should have a chlamydia test each year and also when they have a new sexual partner.

Dr Michael Brady, the medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The continued rise in both syphilis and gonorrhoea is a worry and evidence that we still have much to do to address the nation’s poor sexual health and rates of STIs in those most at risk.

“We should make better use of new technologies and approaches – local awareness raising through targeted social media based on the geographical breakdown of the data we are seeing today and an offer online testing – to reach those who are not accessing ‘traditional’ services.”

Tenth of British men admit paying for sex

A new study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections has given further insight into the sexual habits of British men, finding over one in ten men has previously paid for sex.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of the 11% of men in the study that had admitted paying for sex had done so at notorious sex tourism hotspots for such activity – 60% of those that had paid for the services had done this outside of the UK, particularly in Amsterdam and Bangkok.

“It could be down to opportunistic reasons such as a lads’ weekend away, paid-for sex is available, it’s something they wouldn’t necessarily do at home, but in that situation it happens, but there are other reasons as well,” said Dr Cath Mercer, lead researcher of the study.

“What we do in the UK won’t stop men paying for sex, we may push them abroad even more.”
Dr Mercer added that she believed sexual health clinics should begin to view paying for sex as a red flag for other risky behaviour for spreading infections, such as having multiple sexual partners.
The report described how the act of parting with money for sex can be closely tied to other such “hedonistic and risky behaviours” like binge drinking and drug use.

Those who admitted to heavily drinking on at least one day per week or had took hard drugs within the last year were more probably going to pay for sex, with 6 and 14% (respectively) doing so in the previous five years.

Overall, 3.6% of the 6,108 men surveyed said they had frequented prostitutes at some point within the previous five years and 1.1% in the previous 12 months. Those quizzed varied in age from 17 all the way to 74, and answered questions on the computer in a self-interview.

The self-interviews were part of the “National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles” study that was carried out between 2010 and 2012 by researchers based at UCL, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and NatCen Social Research.

The men most likely to pay for sex appeared to be 25 to 34-year-old single males in managerial or professional positions, or those that have had a high number of partners; 16% with five or more in the past five years said they had paid for sex.

More findings to come from the study include the fact that men who paid for sex had an average total of 31.6 sexual partners during their lifetime (18% of these were paid for), compared to the male average of just 13.6.

Despite adjusting for their high tally, those men that had paid for sex during the previous five years were found to be more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhoea, or syphilis.

Sexual health charity FPA’s director of health and wellbeing Natika Halil said: “This study shows that men who have paid for sex are disproportionately affected by STIs, and it’s vital we reinforce ‘prevention over cure’ sexual health messages.

“We heard from many men over the years that had paid for sex abroad and returned to Britain in a panic because they didn’t know if they had an STI.

“The best way to avoid this is to keep a supply of condoms with you, and if you do have sex make sure you use them. If you know you have taken a risk, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible.”

Smartphone apps like Grindr linked to increased STI risk

Gay and bisexual men using smartphone apps to seek out potential partners for casual sex are putting themselves at a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to the findings of a new study.

Those accessing and using the apps to meet other men were found to be more likely to later diagnosed with gonorrhoea and Chlamydia compared to men who found potential partners in other ways, such as in nightclubs or online, researchers say.

The study was carried out by the Los Angeles LGBT Center, a non-profit organisation in Los Angeles, California and published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. It involved an analysis of the STI testing results of 7,184 men between 2011 and 2013, in addition to the answers the provided to a questionnaire about their sex lives and recreational drug use.

It was found that 34% of the men who participated in the study had found sexual partners through in-person social networking only, 30% had met their partners through a mix of both the Internet and in-person social networking, whilst the remaining 36% met partners using a combination of all the three methods.

Contrasted against men who had met their sexual partners online first or in person, those using the social apps were found to be 25% more likely of contracting gonorrhoea and at a 37% higher risk of being infected with chlamydia. The study discovered there did not appear to be any major difference between the groups with regards to syphilis or HIV.

“As technology has benefits, it also has certain risks,” said Matt Beymer, the lead researcher and an epidemiologist at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “We want to educate gay and bisexual men about the potential risks that they may face with these apps.”

Beymer’s study also found the social app users were usually either white or Asian, well-educated and under the age of 40. The primary focus of the study was not meant to be about drug use, but those using social apps were probably more likely to use recreational drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy.
“Our ultimate goal is not to stigmatize these apps or stigmatize in general,” Beymer says. “We just really want gay and bisexual men to love carefully and love safely.”

Social apps such the hugely popular Grindr and SCRUFF utilise the GPS (global positioning system) technology of smartphones to help users find people nearby who are also using the app. Grindr in particularly has become immensely popular amongst the gay and bisexual community since its launch in 2009, boasting more than 10 million user downloads, Whilst the apps can be used for a variety of purposes, the majority of people use them to seek out potential sexual partners.

Commenting on the study findings, Justin Harbottle, a health promotion specialist at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “However good the sex is, it’s not worth contracting a long-term condition. Gay men today have more opportunities to meet for sex than ever before. Part of the problem is that communication on dating apps can be brief, making it easy to cut corners on important discussions like safe sex."

He added that condoms are still the best method of protecting yourself against sexually transmitted infections.

However, Grindr defended their service and spoke to the BBC, saying: “Grindr is highly committed to promoting safe sex within the community and strongly encourages our users to engage in safe sex practices, get tested and know their HIV status.”

Teenager with HIV blasts school sex education

A HIV-positive teenager has hit out at sex education in schools, claiming he learned nothing about the disease whilst at high school and if he had, he might have been more equipped to understand the main risks involved with contracting it.

Luke Alexander, 19, appeared on ITV’s This Morning programme, speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, called for more awareness about HIV – one year on after being given the devastating diagnosis.

Mr Alexander feels so strongly about the subject he has written an open letter to health secretary Michael Gove, arguing that it should be made compulsory in schools for lessons to be conducted on the virus. The letter was posted online as a petition on the Change.org website, where he claimed that the ‘vast majority of young people today have little or no common knowledge’, of the virus.

He says: “When they diagnosed me last year, my first reaction was “Oh my God, I’m going to die”. I knew it existed but I didn’t know a lot about treatment.”

Mr Alexander added he came out as gay at the tender age of 13 and then was sexually active from the age of 15. After losing his job at 18, his life spiralled out of control as he became dependant on alcohol and drugs, admitting he ‘went off the rails’ during this point.

He became more careless in his sex life yet says he can ‘count on one hand’ the times he has had sex without using a condom – showing it only takes just one occasion of unsafe sex for any sexually transmitted infection to pass from one person to the next.

However, Mr Alexander has criticised the lack of focus on HIV at school and explained the sex education lessons he received mainly focused on the risk of becoming pregnant and contracting chlamydia. He added there should have been more explanation about the importance of wearing condoms to safeguard against the disease as well as other STIs such as genital herpes and gonorrhoea.
“We did talk about condoms,” he said. “But it was more in the context of getting pregnant and bacterial infections. We never really went into anything else. I have always known it was necessary (to use a condom) but it wasn’t stressed (in the context of HIV).”

During a trip to Manchester in April 2013, Mr Alexander began to show the symptoms of the disease. He says: “All of a sudden I came down with a horrific fever, it was very instant, I had sweats and could not sleep. The next thing I knew I was off my food and very, very fatigued. It was awful.”

Then a month later whilst attending a Birmingham Gay Pride event, he was offered a free sexual test, which he duly accepted and thought nothing of it. However, he started to worry when a phone call informed him there was ‘cause for concern’, leading to an agonising five day wait, when the diagnosis was given – he was HIV positive.

Mr Alexander said he did not ‘get the information I felt I needed at the time’ during his high school years.

“Being gay, HIV is up there on the list of things affecting men across the world. We heard a lot about chlamydia and pregnancy but nothing in much depth, the teachers were embarrassed to talk about it. I felt they were speaking about it because they had to, because the government were telling them to. But it left no impression.”

Dr Ranj Singh, who accompanied Mr Alexander on This Morning, commented that stats released by the National Aids Trust last month showed a ‘shockingly low’ level of knowledge about HIV in young gay men – and even worse in older men. Dr Sing added that around 100,000 people in the UK have the virus, but as many as 20,000 are unaware they have it.

A Department of Education spokesman commented: “Pupils must learn about sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS as part of sex and relationship education.”

Over 5,000 under-16s diagnosed with STIs in 2012

Shocking figures released by Public Health England under the Freedom of Information Act show that children as young as eleven have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
If that isn’t bad enough, over 5,000 youngsters under the legal age of consent have been given diagnoses for a range of sexual infections in the last year alone.

The statistics show that 5,386 youngsters under 16 have required treatment for infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes and various other conditions. Moreover, in the last three years there has been a staggering 16,707 children under 16 that have been diagnosed as having an STI – the equivalent of 15 children receiving a diagnosis each day in the country.

Children under the age of 16 diagnosed with STIs in England last year

(SOURCE: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND)

Age	Boys	Girls
Under 13	16	58
13	23	167
14	124	994
15	491	3,448
Total	654	4,667

* 65 children’s gender was not provided and not included within the above figures.

In just a decade, the number of STIs diagnosed in children has more than doubled. In 2003, the number of reported cases stood at 2,474, so clearly there is major work to do from the government and health care professionals to halt this worrying trend.

In addition, last year there were 90 reported cases of children under the age of 12 being diagnosed with STIs and doctors fear the actual correct figure could be significantly higher than this. Some children may be too terrified or embarrassed about speaking to adults about their embarrassing problem, whereas some STIs can take months for symptoms to even appear.

For instance, genital warts may show up around two to three months after infection, but could take anywhere up to a year to appear, whereas chlamydia may not have any symptoms at all in some people, or could lead to infertility without sufficient chlamydia treatment.

Unsurprisingly, it is older children who have the largest number of STIs. In 2012, 10,318 children aged 16 were treated, whilst there were 17,810 aged 17.

Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at Public Health England (PHE) commented, “Data on infections primarily transmitted through sexual contact are routinely collected, across all age groups, by PHE. Rates remain highest in under 25-year-olds and whilst often these infections can be simple to diagnose and treat, if left untreated they can have serious health consequences. Regardless of age, everyone should use a condom with new and casual sexual partners, which significantly reduces the risk of getting an STI. We also advise young adults to get screened for chlamydia each year.”

She added: “The National Chlamydia Screening Programme is in place in England ensuring access to free testing from a range of convenient locations. With regards to those under 13 years old, the number of infections reported each year is very low. In this age group, using the term ‘sexually transmitted infection’ is problematic as it is very rare for children to be sexually active at this age. Moreover recent research suggests most of the infections reported are not acquired sexually; and of the few that may have been, sexual abuse was implicated. There is national guidance in place for health professionals to follow in these cases.”

U.S. study shows condoms don’t affect the satisfaction of sex!

According to the findings of a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, it doesn’t matter if condoms and/or lubricant are used – sex is still enjoyable regardless!

Dr Debby Herbenick, from the School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, led the nationally representative ‘probability’ study of men and women in the U.S. Dr Herbenick comments: “This may be because men are more likely than women to purchase condoms and to apply condoms. However, it’s important for more women to become familiar with the condoms they use with their partner so that they can make choices that enhance the safety and pleasure of their sexual experiences.”

Therefore, this could hopefully banish one of the feeble reasons for a lack of condom use and subsequently resulting in a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or an unwanted pregnancy.

Some partners – often those in committed long-term relationships- refrain from using condoms. Maybe it could be that the male is relying on his partner to take her birth control pill, there may be some degree of embarrassment involved in actually purchasing them to begin with, or even an assumption on either partner that the use of a condom will detract from the enjoyment/arousal involved in the whole process of foreplay and sex.

However, it would appear that both condoms and lubricants used during ‘safe sex’ do not take anything away from sex and it seems that the majority of women are unsure whether or not a condom is lubricated and what type of material the condom is.

Data analysed in the study came from the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour, which involved an online questionnaire aimed to deduce the habits of 18-59 year olds in regards to sex, condom and lubricant use. The researchers when looking at the data, specifically wanted to know characteristics of condom and lubricant use during the study participants’ most recent sexual event as well as any affiliation between their condom and lubricant use to their judgement of ‘sexual quality’.

It was found that over twice as many women were unable to tell if the condom was lubricated (26.6% vs. 11.4%) or from what material it was made from (23.6% vs. 8.9%). The American study also found that in general, men did not find it difficult to maintain their erections with both condom and lubricant usage.

Dr. Herbenick spoke on the seriousness of promoting sexual health, the danger of sexually transmitted infections such chlamydia and gonorrhoea, saying: “The U.S. continues to grapple with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unintended pregnancies. We need to understand how people make choices about the products they use (or avoid using) and how these products contribute to the safety and pleasurable aspects of their sexual experiences. This is particularly important as the products themselves evolve and become more mainstream in American society. We also need to understand what men and women know, or don’t know, about the products they use so that we can better target public health education messages to individuals and groups.”

Of course the threat of STIs is rife throughout the world and is not an issue that is restricted to the United States. However through using condoms in the correct manner, the threat of contracting one can be minimised. At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we believe that more needs to be done by the government to educate people of all ages about how serious they are, in addition to debunking the myths about STIs.

Due to the recent news that millions of counterfeit/ineffective condoms have been found in the UK,  it must be stressed that male and female contraception should only be purchased from a highly reputable source such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy. Every medication or product dispatched to our patients is 100% genuine and their health and well-being is the primary core of our business practice. We have a wide range of both Durex and Skins condoms at great prices from our chemist shop, including a recently added deal offering an incredible 72 Durex Performa condoms for just £60.00!

Young women carelessly ignore condoms when taking the pill

A U.S. study has found that when women decide to use a hormonal contraceptives, pills, patches etc.; they often tend to stop using condoms. In addition, the same study discovered that years later if they then stop using the hormonal contraceptives, they will not resume any use of condoms. This is quite alarming and puts these women at a high risk of either an unwanted pregnancy, or possibly contracting a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or herpes. Only by using effective condoms such as Durex or Skins condoms can the threat of picking up an STI be kept to an absolute minimum.

Researchers from the Stanford Medical School in the U.S. looked at information obtained from almost 1,200 sexually active women. All women were aged 15 to 24 years of age and were visiting Planned Parenthood clinics. They were just beginning to use contraceptive pills, injections, patches or vaginal rings and not planning to fall pregnant in the forthcoming twelve months. When the study first got underway, it was determined that 36% of the study subjects used condoms consistently.
After three months study authors conducted a follow-up and found that the using of condoms had dramatically decreased by a shocking 27%. After a year, many of the women had stopped using any kind of hormonal contraception and worryingly; over half of these particular women did not then resume using condoms with sexual partners.

Those involved in the study advise that the most effective method of protecting against both an unwanted pregnancy and STIs is to adhere to the ‘dual method use’.  This could be described as a ‘belts and braces’ safety measure and is the use of condoms along with other contraception, such as the popular female oral contraception Dianette.

Lead researcher Dr. Rachel Goldstein offered her thoughts on the apparent dwindling number of women who are carelessly not bothering to use condoms, indicating the blame lies at the feet of the male. She says, “It appears that her partner’s feelings may be more important than her perceived risk of a sexually transmitted infection or her own beliefs about dual method use. Although a woman feels like she is at risk for an STI, she may not be able to advocate for herself and successfully negotiate condom use with her partner.”

For those unaware about the previously mentioned Dianette, they are contraceptive pills taken by women everyday for 21 days of their menstrual cycle, followed by a 7 day break when no pills are taken at all (also known as ‘cyclic treatment’). During this one week time period, women are still protected against unwanted pregnancies. In the 7 day rest period, hormone levels in the blood begin to decrease and women will experience a withdrawal bleed that is just like a normal period.
Dianette is available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, working out costing just £9.99 per month! In the next few weeks we will have other oral birth controls for women such as Yasmin and Marvelon. Similar to Dianette, both are also used in the treatment of acne. Keep checking the Medical Specialists website about these medications and many more which we are continuously adding to our product base.

Get aware and protected for Sexual Health Week

You may not be aware of it but this week as well as being National Cholesterol Week, is also Sexual Health Week. Pioneered by The Family Planning Association (FPA) and proudly supported by Medical Specialists Pharmacy, the aim of this week is to promote awareness of a wide variety of sexual health issues. Each year the FPA focus on a different subject in a bid to get people aware and looking after their sexual health. Back in 2009 the main topic of this week was looking at sex and alcohol, in 2010 it was sexual health in the over-50’s, in 2011 it was ‘The Facts of Life, how and when to talk to your children about puberty, relationships and sex’, and now this year in 2012 the FPA and Brook are working together on the ‘XES We can’t go backwards’ campaign.

For those not in-the-know about this new national campaign and its aims, it is a campaign urging people to join in against fighting budget cuts, policy changes, and more specifically; the lack of easy access to contraception due to closures of sexual health centres or alterations to their opening hours. Basically the main premise of the campaign is to protect contraceptive rights and choice.

Both leading sexual health charities FPA and Brook, say that they are receiving an ever-growing number of calls from worried and unhappy members of the public, being denied basic access to the advice, products and services that they require.

FPA Chief Executive, Julie Bentley, commented: “We are seeing the beginnings of a crisis in this critical women’s health issue. Modern contraception is effective in stopping unplanned pregnancy and is also highly cost effective. But it is simply useless if women are stopped from accessing and using it. A woman’s reproductive years span over half of her lifetime and every reproductive choice she makes carries social, economic, and personal consequences. There’s a genuine risk that we’re slipping back to the dark ages. We cannot stand by and wait for the crisis to happen – we’ve got to act now.”

Adding to Julie Bentley’s comments was Brook Chief Executive, Simon Blake, who said: “A blend of different circumstances in sexual health are forming into a toxic mix. Services are being cut, and budgets reduced, the national sexual health and teenage pregnancy strategies have ended, the NHS is being radically reformed and there are attempts by a small vociferous minority to undermine women’s reproductive rights. By working with the public to understand the true scale of the problem, this campaign will help to protect the improvements made in recent years so everyone can access the contraception and advice they are entitled to. We simply cannot and must not go backwards.”

The FPA and Brook are now urging people in the UK to embrace the scheme and also to discuss and rate their own personal experiences of contraception services, both good and bad. This can be done via the interactive online sexual health map at www.wecantgobackwards.org.uk.

However it is not only the UK who is involved in promoting sexual health this week. Australia are also doing their bit for Sexual Health Week, with many public health experts speaking out and encouraging everyone to ask their doctor for regular sex health check-ups as well as to continue with safe-sex practices such as making sure to wear a condom.

Health authorities over in Australia have initiated a scheme called ‘Check it Out’, aimed at targeting the high spreading of the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia, which also happens to be the most common STI in the UK too. The decision to focus the majority of their efforts on chlamydia may have something to do with the recent publication of figures that show that chlamydia rates are continuing to increase by an average of 15% every year among 16 – 25 year olds in the South Eastern Sydney region of Australia.

Director of Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Dr Anna McNulty, commented that though increased rates of diagnosis may be due to more testing for the STI, notification rates continued to remain high amongst gay men. She said, “This is largely due to increased testing for Chlamydia, but also due to increased Chlamydia notification rates, which are unfortunately still high amongst gay men, and more so, men who have sex with men. Many people who have an STI do not have any obvious symptoms or signs, particularly with Chlamydia, which often has no symptoms. Chlamydia is easy to test for with a urine test and, like many STIs, is easily treated with a simple dose of antibiotics.  But it is better to have never had it at all. Chlamydia is easily prevented by using condoms. We encourage young people who are sexually active to use condoms and to see their GP, local sexual health clinic or youth health service to check out their sexual health and regularly test for STIs, in particular Chlamydia.”

If you do suspect you may have chlamydia, Medical Specialists Pharmacy can provide the Clamelle chlamydia test kit from just £24.85, which can be used in the privacy of your own home to avoid an embarrassing trip to the doctor. Or, if you have been confirmed as having this or gonorrhoea, the antibiotic Azithromycin can prevent the spread of the bacteria so that your body’s natural defences can fight back and remove the infection from your system. We also have the antiviral prescription medication Valtrex which helps to slow the spread of the herpes virus.

To minimise the risk of catching and spreading an STI, men must always wear condoms, and this is where we come in. We have a massive selection of condoms at fantastic prices such as the highly sought after Durex Performax Intense. This particular condom benefits both partners. It contains a lubricant – benzocaine 5%, which will prolong his climax, whilst the outside of the condom is ribbed and dotted to heighten her orgasm. On top of this we have a huge range of different condoms in our expanding chemist shop such as Durex Play Vibrations, which can be used in conjunction with a condom to add to the pleasure!

Busting 5 of the common myths about sexually transmitted infections

We at Medical Specialists Pharmacy are strong advocates for the promotion of good sexual health and awareness. In fact, in 2010 we teamed up with Skins Condoms to raise awareness for World AIDS day by giving away free condoms for a whole week to any men who obtained erectile dysfunction medication. We also did the same the following year, this time joining forces with Mates Condoms.

You may have heard whisperings or jokes about the subject matter, but what is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and who can get them? The answer is anyone can. They are diseases passed from one person to another from the result of unprotected sex, i.e. the failure to use a condom. In particularly, it is the under-25s who most commonly succumb to STIs but the stark truth is that anybody who is sexually active is at risk of them, without the necessary precautions.

The most common STI in the UK remains as chlamydia, closely followed by genital warts. It is believed that approximately seven in 10 infected women and half of infected men will not show any clear symptoms of having chlamydia, and the clear message remains that you should always practice safe sex and attend regular health checks if you are concerned.

Some of the problems for the increasing number of cases of STIs in Britain could be attributed to the lack of understanding about the dangerous health risks involved in unprotected sex, especially when with multiple partners. We believe more needs to be done at school-level to properly educate children about the risks involved. For some parents though, it is a sensitive subject and one that many shy away from. Currently in England and Wales, sex education is not a compulsory learning subject and parents can forbid their children from being involved in such lessons. In evidence that supports Medical Specialists’ belief that the government needs to improve on this area urgently, a 2008 study from YouGov for Channel 4, found that around three in ten teenagers complained of requiring more sex and relationship education.

To help educate people on STIs, we will analyse some of the most common preconceptions about STIs and the truth about them:

. You cannot get an STI from oral sex

MYTH! Perhaps worryingly, during oral sex both you and the other person engaging in the sexual activity are both at risk from catching the other person’s infection, if either of you have one. A common problem in this regard is if your partner has a cold sore (oral herpes) and then performs oral sex on you, you are at high risk of herpes in your genital area (genital herpes).

. You can get an STI from a toilet seat

MYTH! STIs are generally not passed on through coming into contact with a toilet seat, and the organisms do not survive for very long outside of the body. However, pubic lice can survive away from the body for roughly 24 hours, so sitting on a contaminated toilet seat puts you at a slight risk of that, but it is still quite unlikely.

. If there are no symptoms, there is no STI

MYTH! You might be alarmed to learn that a great number of STIs are ‘silent’ and have no obvious symptoms at all. On other occasions they are relatively mild to the point whereby more urgent problems requiring attention could be mistaken for something less serious. For instance, there are still a lot of people who wrongly think they are suffering from a bladder infection, when it is actually gonorrhoea they have.

. You cannot contract an STI if your partner is a virgin

MYTH! The aforementioned claim depends entirely on what the person’s definition of virgin is. If this means they have engaged in absolutely no sexual activity at all, then yes the statement is valid. However, maybe a person hasn’t had vaginal sex but they still may have had oral sex, and thus putting themselves at risk of getting an STI. The best thing to do is speak to your partner beforehand. It is worth remembering also that infections such as herpes can be passed from skin-to-skin contact and no penetration has to occur.

. Oral contraceptive pills protect against STIs

MYTH! The purpose of oral contraception pills are in the name; Contraception. Their primary purpose is to stop the woman from becoming pregnant. However, they are still many young girls in the UK who hold onto the belief that these pills can miraculously help to stop them from contracting an STI. Unfortunately, they are sorely mistaken. Condoms remain as being the most effective tool for a barrier against picking up infection.

Summer holidays lead to more unprotected sex and high STI risk

Additional information has been revealed that sheds more light on the growing number of young women who are adopting a thoughtless and irresponsible approach in respect to their sexual habits, which is unsurprisingly usually connected to a high alcohol intake.

Although you probably wouldn’t realise it from the rainy and gloomy weather we are currently experiencing, we are still officially within the summer season in the UK. Because of this typical miserable British weather, many young adults will be travelling abroad to warmer climates this month and to destinations where it does actually feel like ‘summer!’

With this in mind, the Dr Fox website decided to offer an online questionnaire to women, to understand more about their thinking when it came to holiday romances and ‘how far’ they are prepared to go with the opposite sex whilst on their jolly’s.

In total, there were around 2,000 women who decided to fill out the questionnaire on the website founded by Dr Tony Steele. The poll determined that approximately every one in five women who are going on holiday this summer will be willingly engaging in unprotected sex.

The statistic worried Dr Steele, who voiced his fears about the alarming results, saying, “It’s concerning that many women are not practising safe sex. What is more concerning is that people are actually planning on having sex without a condom whilst on holiday. People you meet on holiday are complete strangers so you know virtually nothing about them – having sex without contraception is a sure fire way of increasing your chances of contracting an STI. Whether on home soil or thousands of miles away women whether they are 18 or 55 need to be practicing safe sex and using condoms.”
However, there were plenty of other concerning results to come from the study, such as:

. 13% of women in their 30s plan to have sex without a condom on their holiday.
. 18% of single women said they are simply sometimes too drunk to use contraception.
. 8% just do not like using condoms.
. 10% of women over the age of 30 are embarrassed to raise the subject of contraception with a new partner.
. Interestingly, women aged between 30 to 40-years-old were more likely to be infected by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, and most likely to take the morning after pill.
. Women aged over 30 admit they get worse at using contraception, such as Dianette.
Overall, the majority of women surveyed (regardless of age), were in agreement that the responsibility of contraception is one that should be equally shared amongst both genders. Luckily, Medical Specialists Pharmacy caters for both males and females in regards to contraception and we can help you drastically reduce your chances of catching an STI, or an unwanted pregnancy.

For men we have a wide range of condoms such as the highly popular Durex Performax Intense. This particular condom benefits both partners. It contains a lubricant – benzocaine 5%, which will prolong his climax, whilst the outside of the condom is ribbed and dotted to heighten her orgasm. On top of this we have a huge range of different condoms in our expanding chemist shop such as Durex Play Vibrations, which can be used in conjunction with a condom to add to the pleasure!

For women, Medical Specialists offer the contraceptive pill Dianette, which works out costing just £9.99 per month. Dianette prevents unwanted pregnancy in three ways: by preventing an egg being released from your ovaries; by making the fluid (mucus) in your cervix thicker, which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb; and by preventing the lining of your womb thickening enough for an egg to grow in it. Not only is Dianette a contraceptive, it can also be taken by women for combating acne, hirsutism and for the treatment of female hair loss.

FDA gives the green light for HIV preventive medication

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is one of the world’s most deadly infections. It starts by attacking the body’s immune system (our natural defence against infection and disease). If left untreated, HIV can then develop into AIDS, meaning the sufferer is at a very high risk of catching infections due to the weakened immune system and in particularly the risk of pneumonia or cancer is huge. The disease is primarily transmitted by unprotected sex, contaminated blood transfusions and hypodermic needles, or from an infected mother to baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

In 2010 it was estimated that 34 million people around the world have HIV. It is especially prominent in middle to low income countries, however even in the UK it is believed 86,500 people have HIV and in 2009 there were 6,630 new cases diagnosed. The disease is often described as a ‘pandemic’ and is one of a number of conditions that is a massive global issue for health authorities to try and tackle such as asthma, malaria, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

With all this in mind, a milestone may have been reached on Monday when U.S. health regulators the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave their approval to an existing medication to be used as a preventive measure, which could potentially drastically reduce the risk of contracting HIV. ‘Truvada’ as it is named, is a small blue tablet that is to be taken once daily. It has been manufactured by the Californian pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences since 2004 for those who already have the virus.


Indeed one study conducted back in 2010 showed that Truvada reduced the risk of HIV in healthy gay men by 42% when used with condoms and the men were given counselling as well. Also in a clinical study involving heterosexual couples in Africa, a 75% decrease in transmission rates was evident. For this study, one partner had HIV, whilst the other did not.

Before receiving a prescription for the medication, patients must undergo a HIV test to make sure they do not already have the disease. There are concerns that the virus could develop a resistance to the drug, which those who are currently infected already take together with another drug. One major stumbling block for the average person will obviously be the financial aspect of the medication. Gilead Sciences say that just one year’s supply will set you back a whopping $13,900. Although financial assistance is available for HIV-positive patients, those testing negative will have to shell out for the entire cost.

Despite the promising signs shown in the clinical trials, there are those who are against the FDA’s ruling, fearing it could pave the way for a reckless attitude when it comes to sexual health. Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles, told reporters in a conference call, “Today marks a catastrophe in the fight against HIV in America. If you look back five years from today, you will see this decision by the FDA will cause there to be more infections, not less.”

However, FDA officials have spoken out and counteracted Weinstein’s predictions. Dr Debra Birnkrant, FDA’s director of antiviral products, said, “What we found was that condom use increased over time and sexually transmitted infections either remained at baseline levels or decreased. So in essence, we don’t have any strong evidence that condoms were not used or there was a decrease in condom use.”

As highlighted by Dr Birnkrant’s statement, condom use in men is vital to absolutely minimising the risk of contracting HIV, or many sexually transmitted infections that are currently rife such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes and many more. Medical Specialists Pharmacy made the headlines on Gay UK News last year after we teamed with Mates Condoms to give away free condoms for one week to all men who obtained any erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra. This was to promote World AIDS Day on 1 December, and you can read more about that within the ‘in the press’ section of our website. We also promoted World AIDS Day back in 2010 when we joined forces with Skins Condoms to give away condoms for one week.

If you do suspect you have chlamydia, Medical Specialists Pharmacy offer the Clamelle chlamydia test kit from just £24.85, which can be used in the privacy of your own home to avoid an embarrassing visit to your GP. Or, if you have been confirmed as having this or gonorrhoea, the antibiotic Azithromycin can prevent the spread of the bacteria so that your body’s natural defences can fight back and remove the infection from your system. We also have the medication Valtrex from as little as £3.50 per tablet, which works by slowing the spread of the herpes virus.

Dr Pixie McKenna gives her advice on ten common health problems

The 41-year old Irish medical expert Dr Pixie McKenna, has seen just about every kind of strange bodily problem and ailment during her four years on Embarrassing Illnesses and its sister series, Embarrassing Bodies. The focus of the programs is primarily to speak to people with a wide range of issues that they are uncomfortable discussing with their own GP.

This week Dr McKenna spoke out and explained ten of the most regular problems she gets quizzed about, and her advice on how to try and best tackle them. Here we give a run down on the ten common health issues:

1)      Flatulence

Also known as ‘passing wind’ or ‘farting’. Sometimes linked to a number of stomach and bowel conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, excessive flatulence can be distressful for the sufferer. Some people find medications such as Mebeverine can be effective in treating their symptoms.

Dr Pixie says: “Keep a food diary and correlate your ‘windy episodes’ with your food intake. Foods with sulphides, like eggs, are a big issue for people. You should also try to eat slowly. You can trap a lot of air when you eat and that creates a lot of gas. If your flatulence is really bad, see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.”

2)      Bad breath

This is also known as ‘halitosis’ and it is thought that persistent bad breath affects up to 50% of us. Dentists can usually give good advice on better oral health and may refer you for further tests if the problem persists.

Dr Pixie says: “Everyone should brush their teeth for two minutes a day and floss. Food can get jammed in between your teeth and you need to remove it. If you smell the floss afterwards, it stinks! Also, invest in an electric toothbrush. It’s like using a Dyson versus a broom to clean your mouth.”

3)      Painful sex

Often thought that this just affects women, surprisingly the problem can affect both sexes.  For women, when the pain is located in the vagina, this is most commonly due to sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or genital herpes. Pains deep in the pelvis could be because of pelvic inflammatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome or endometriosis (when womb lining grows outside the womb). Men’s problems are typically due to tight foreskins, inflammation of the prostate gland, or because of sexually transmitted infection.

Dr Pixie says: “There can be other gynaecological reasons for painful sex – it could be down to a fibroid or cervical polyp. Or there could be a ­psychological element. But by not actively exploring your symptoms further you could be missing a significant diagnosis. The other easily treatable common condition is chlamydia, which has no symptoms.”

4)      Snoring

It is estimated that 40% of people in England snore, so the problem is very common. Health professionals usually grade a person’s snoring problems on a scale of 1 to 3. Grade 1 is where snoring is not regular and breathing is unaffected. Grade 2 snoring is usually occasions of more than three days a week with mild breathing difficulties. Grade 3 sufferers are usually diagnosed with ‘obstructive sleep apnoea’, where the airways become partly or completely blocked for about 10 seconds.

Dr Pixie says: “Snoring can be caused by having very large tonsils or a floppy larynx. When you lie down, the muscles that keep your airways open relax and become limp, causing the airways to narrow and vibrate more. Sleep apnoea can be brought on by weight gain but a CPAP machine, a little device you wear at night, which makes the airwaves stay open, can help.”

Nasal blockage or swelling of the nasal passage can lead to snoring, as the person often opens their mouth to try and breathe better, which leads to snoring. Regular use of a nasal spray such as Nasonex and the taking of an anti-histamine tablet such as Loratadine can relieve these symptoms.

5)      Stretch marks

Stretch marks are common and either sex can get them, but are more frequently seen in nearly all women (9/10) during pregnancy. The abdomen, thighs and buttocks and thighs are the areas usually affected.

Dr Pixie says: “Laser treatment is not available on the NHS but your GP can refer you to the Red Cross, which provides a skin camouflage make-up service. They match your skin tone, and your GP can then prescribe that cream on an NHS prescription. Then, when you go on holiday and you want to cover the stretch marks on your body, you have something to camouflage them with.”

6)      Erectile dysfunction

Also known as male impotence, this is a very common problem amongst men and is thought that four in 10 men over the age of 40 years old suffer from it. Erectile dysfunction (ED) can sometimes have a detrimental impact on a man’s self-esteem and cause stress to his health and the relationship with his partner. Erectile Dysfunction therapy is very effective and the three medications available to treat ED are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

Dr Pixie says: “Any man suffering from erectile dysfunction should see their GP and have a blood pressure check and their blood tested for things like diabetes and high cholesterol. If you are on medication, like anti-depressants or blood pressure medication, that may be causing the problem. See a counsellor if stress is the reason.”

7)      Acne

Acne is especially common in teenagers and young adults. Estimates say 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will be affected by acne. Sometimes acne can continue into adult life. About 5% of women and 1% of men over the age of 25 suffer from acne. In severe cases, medication such as Dianette has been shown to help combat the problem.

Dr Pixie says: “Women should go to their GP for antibiotics or the contraceptive pill, or they can see a gynaecologist. Men can also get antibiotics and for adults who have rosacea (a skin condition that causes facial redness and spots), this can be cleared with antibiotic treatment.”

8)      Obesity

To be classified as being ‘obese’, you must have a body mass index of 30 or more. As more people as generally less physically active than years gone by, and we are over indulging on fast foods, the problem has become massive. In 2008 (the last year with available figures), it was found that nearly quarter of adults (over 16 years of age) in England were obese.

Dr Pixie says: “The majority of those overweight are that way because of a combination of lifestyle and lack of exercise. They often say they are too busy to go running or to go to the gym. But I say to them, “If Barack Obama can always find time to go jogging then you certainly can.” We watch 22 hours of television a week on average so there is no excuse.”

9)      Bunions

A bunion is a deformity of the base joint of the big toe, usually appearing as a lump. They can be incredibly painful, and effect a person’s walking. The skin over the lump can become red, blistered or infected. Wearing appropriate shoes and taking painkillers may lessen the symptoms to some degree, but surgery is usually required to correct the problem.

Dr Pixie says: “If you don’t treat bunions as you get older, you can get arthritis in them and run the risk of becoming immobile. So try not to get them in the first place. If they get bad, surgical removal is the only alternative but a podiatrist would be the best person to ask about your options. They would look at your gait, how you walk, advise you on what shoes to wear and also give you a special device to put in your footwear, which takes the pressure off the bunion.”

10)   Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. It is believed to affect more than 50 million people in developed nations. It is particularly a big problem amongst women over the age of 40, with some believing it to be even more common than hay fever. It affects men too though, with products now available such as Tena for Men, which can provide a discreet method of protection with a variety of absorption levels.

Dr Pixie says: “I would definitely go and see your GP. Usually, incontinence is a physical problem and not normally neurological. But you do need to check that it’s not MS or something more serious. I would suggest bringing along a diary to your GP to show how many times a day you pee and how many accidents you have because it is far easier for them to see how it is impacting on daily life. They might suggest pelvic floor muscle training, bladder training or reducing your caffeine intake.”

Medical Specialists always recommend that you talk to your GP about any health problems or issues. It is always advisable to have regular check-ups with your GP and know how to check certain parts of your body yourself. Medical Specialists realise that not everybody is happy taking to their GP about every problem, and that is why we offer a discreet and confidential online consultation service with our Doctors for certain embarrassing conditions like Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, Obesity, Stomach and Bowel (IBS etc), bladder problems (incontinence), Acne, Asthma and many more problems.

You can be assured of a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and sent to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Over a quarter of a million deaths can be averted by contraception

A new study has claimed that the use of effective contraceptive methods could prevent approximately 272,000 maternal deaths from childbirth or dangerous abortions every year. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health used a counterfactual modelling approach to imitate the World Health Organization’s (WHO) maternal mortality estimation method. They then calculated the total maternal deaths that were avoided by contraceptive use across 172 different countries.

The researchers extracted data from the WHO’s database for maternal mortality estimation, survey data for contraceptive use and information on births within females aged between 15 to 49 years of age. They also analysed general fertility rates from the United Nations 2010 World Population Prospects database.

After the mammoth task of studying all of the information, the study authors claim that worldwide use of contraception manages to prevent 272,000 maternal deaths each year. This equates to roughly 38 deaths for every 100,000 women who are using effective contraception, such as Dianette. The estimate is equivalent to a 44% global decline in maternal deaths.

The study has been published as part of a series of articles that are focusing on family planning by The Lancet, who produces medical journals and speciality journals in Oncology, Neurology and Infectious Diseases.

In the report, the researchers comment, “If all women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy use an effective contraceptive method, the number of maternal deaths would fall by a further 30%. Increasing contraceptive use in developing countries has cut the number of maternal deaths by 40% over the past 20 years. In developing countries, the risk of prematurity and low birth weight doubles when conception occurs within six months of a previous birth, and children born within two years of an elder sibling are 60% more likely to die in infancy than are those born more than two years after their sibling.”

Around 355,000 women died in 2008 while giving birth or from illegal or dangerous abortion, according to the study. Other statistics show that during 1995 and 2000 there were an estimated 338 million pregnancies worldwide that were unplanned or unwanted (28% of the total 1.2 billion pregnancies in this timeframe). These pregnancies culminated in close to 700,000 maternal deaths (around one-fifth of maternal deaths during that period).

With so many unplanned pregnancies and tragic unnecessary fatalities each year, it is inexplicable that an alarming number of men and women around the world still act careless in regards to using contraception. There are a wide variety of weird and wonderful Durex and Skins condoms that are available for men to try, and they are not expensive to buy. Not only do they prevent any unwanted pregnancies, condoms can also drastically reduce the risk of catching sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhoea, which seem to be on the rise. In addition there are oral contraceptives for women such as Dianette, which is obtainable from Medical Specialists Pharmacy and works out from as little as just £9.99 per month.

Relationship cheats and teens living in poor regions are more likely to get an STI

Figures have been released in the last week that illustrates the severity of sexually transmitted infections and how more work needs to be done to rectify the issue. A study has been published by The University of Michigan that indicates that serial cheats are more likely to contract a STI in comparison to those who are involved in an open relationship.  Some of the reasons suggested for this include those who cheat on their partner are probably likely to be drunk when doing so and not likely to bother with contraception. In addition, people in open relationships are probably sober when sleeping with somebody else and more aware of what they are doing.

The researchers in the study created an online questionnaire to quiz people about monogamy and if anybody involved in an open relationship actually practiced safe sex. They received over 1,500 replies and 801 people said they have had sex with somebody besides their partner. Of the 801 people, 493 said that this was because of an agreed open relationship. Interestingly, cheats were shown to have used condoms for vaginal and anal sex roughly 27% and 35% less respectively than those in open relationships. Alcohol and drug usage was shown at 64% more in the former group too, which may play some part in their deceptive actions.

Dr Terri Conley is a researcher who was involved in the study, and commented on its findings, “Our research suggests that people who are unfaithful to their monogamous romantic partners pose a greater risk for STIs than those who actively negotiate non-monogamy in their relationship. Monogamy can be an effective method for preventing the spread of STIs, but only if couples test negative for STIs at the start of the relationship and remain faithful while they are together. If people do not find monogamy appealing or feasible, they clearly need to think about the risk this poses to their partner and consider whether an open relationship would suit their needs better, and better protect their relationship partners.’

Of course this study was purely targeted at adults, and Medical Specialists Pharmacy have reported previously how many adults are now careless in regards to their sexual health. However, it now seems the younger generation are falling victim to STIs too, especially those in the poorest areas in England. Figures have been released following an NHS survey last year discovered that 27% of girls were having sex before legally old enough to do so. Latest statistics show over 30,000 teens aged between 13 to 17, were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in 2011. These included things such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and genital warts. Of this total, 5,973 live in poor areas and 2,116 were from wealthier places of the country. It was found that 78% of the 30,000 were girls.

This trend of more STIs prevalent in deprived areas appears to have been developing since 2009. Over the last three years, the number of cases per 100,000 teens aged 13 to 17 has jumped up from 881 to 903, and the figures in comparison for teenagers in wealthier areas has merely increased from 310 to 312 in the same time period.

Overall it seems that people of all ages are not taking enough steps to protect their health, and are displaying a truly alarming approach to sex and their risk of catching an infection. At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we cannot stress enough the massive importance of looking after yourself in this aspect and you should act now to prevent yourself catching an STI, or if you have diagnosed with something, receive the treatment you need to manage your symptoms. If you want to make sure you are OK, there are numerous sexual health clinics you can go to and they can usually provide you with results within one week. We have recently added many more products to our website and now offer a chlamydia Clamelle test kit, which you take in the privacy of your own home and post directly to the laboratory for analysis. You can get your result sent to you in the post and this service is a confidential and convenient way to test and treat for chlamydia.

The most common occurrence of catching an infection stems from the male not wearing a condom, which in the 21^st century is careless as we and many other organisations constantly report on the dangers of this. Genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis are just some of the many diseases that you are at risk of catching. Some can pose serious health problems if left untreated and can even leave you infertile. We offer a massive range of treatments for various sexually transmitted infections so do not delay in seeking help from us.

High numbers of over 40s are being diagnosed with STIs

An increasingly worrying lax attitude in the over 40s to 60s and even beyond, has been blamed for the rising number of STIs in this age group. Although the rates of infection are still highest in adults aged between 18 to 30, STI cases are becoming a lot more prevalent within older people. Now, as we enter the summer months, Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust are trying to urge those who are travelling abroad for their holidays, to show some degree of caution and look after themselves. Jim McVicker, Clinical Director for Liverpool Community Health Sexual Health Services, spoke out on the issue, “At the end of each summer, we see a significant increase in the number of people attending our sexual health clinics with concerns about STIs following a holiday abroad – so we want to encourage everyone to relax and enjoy themselves on holiday, but also to be sensible and stay safe.”

There are a number of factors being blamed for the surprising surge in STIs in the over 40s. For example, many people in this age group will probably have been in long term relationships for a number of years, where issues such as contraception and going for regular sexual health checks, will not have been a major worry. Also as more and more people are finding themselves divorced and single, they may suddenly start to enjoy their new single status and may have multiple sexual partners. McKiver further commented, “Being the wrong side of 40 myself, I can identify with the problems that the older generation may have.” Effective erectile dysfunction treatment such as Viagra, was the focus of a study regarding STIs in the older generation in a story that Medical Specialists Pharmacy first reported about almost two years ago, however this medication is purely to help men suffering with impotence to achieve an erection, and cannot be blamed for the STI rise.

Only two weeks ago we further analysed the attitudes of sexually active adults, and there were some shocking results. In this particular online study, one third of the women questioned stated that they get ‘swept away in the moment’ and forget about using condoms, 18% of single women said they are often too drunk to use contraception and 8% said they ‘just don’t like using condoms’. Some of the familiar STI symptoms to be aware of include abnormal discharge, bleeding after sex or between periods and pain or discomfort when urinating. Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with 186,753 people in England testing positive for this during 2010. Up to 70 per cent of people do not experience any symptoms of infection and it can cause infertility in both men and women. The only way of checking if you have a chlamydia infection is to take a chlamydia test such as the Clamelle test kit, available from just £24.85 at Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

Genital herpes is another common STI, especially seen in people aged between 20 to 24 years. In 2008, it was reported that roughly 29,000 people attended a sexual health clinic in the UK with a first clinical attack of genital herpes. An effective medication for this is Valtrex, which is an antiviral drug that contains valaciclovir. It slows the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection. It is a prescription medication licensed to treat several conditions related to infections with the herpes virus. We have recently lowered the price of Valtrex, and you can now obtain this medication from as little as £3.50 per tablet. The consistent and correct use of male latex condoms can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Popular condoms include the Durex and Skins brand of condoms, which are both available at the Medical Specialists Pharmacy Chemist Shop.

Careless behaviour leads to rise in STIs

Fears are growing regarding the increasing number of adults engaging in unprotected sex and contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The concerns come after the ‘DrFox’ website conducted a survey involving roughly 2,000 women between the ages of 18 to 40. The survey asked them detailed questions regarding their sex lives and their attitudes to sex. The results were alarming to say the least. Seven out of ten single women claimed that they regularly engaged in unsafe sex, with one third admitting that they simple ‘get swept away in the moment’ and forget to use a condom.

In addition, 18% of single women said they are sometimes too drunk to use contraception and 8% simply said they do not like using them. One in five said that they had trust in their partner not to give them an STI. Dr Tony Steele is co-founder of the website that carried out the poll and commented on the findings, “Unsafe sex on holiday is a major concern, particularly where women plan ahead to have sex with new partners without using condoms. Women meet men on holiday who are complete strangers. They may know almost nothing about the men they meet, and having sex without contraception is a sure-fire way to increase the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection.”

Even in the slightly older age group, women over 30 said they were still embarrassed to discuss the topic of contraception with prospective new sexual partners. Interestingly, the women aged between 30 to 40 were found to be the age group most likely to have contracted an STI. In the same age group, one in five said they had unprotected sex in the previous three months and they were more likely to have had the morning-after pill.

This study comes at the same time that new statistics have been published, showing the high numbers of STIs in males under 25 years of age, due to unsafe sex amongst both heterosexual and gay men. The Health Protection Agency said there has been a significant rise in the number of infections, with genital herpes rising to 31,154 cases compared to 29,794 last year. Moreover, syphilis now stands at 2,915 cases in comparison to 2,650 last year and gonorrhoea saw the largest increase in new cases, with the figure rising from 16,835 to a staggering 20,965. Although chlamydia cases appeared to decrease by 4%, this was attributed to fewer young adults actually being screened for it. The HPA have also stressed just how important it is that men always use a condom, either with casual or new sexual partners.

At Medical Specialists Pharmacy we offer a wide range of condoms such as the highly popular Durex Performax Intense. This particular condom benefits both partners. It contains a lubricant – benzocaine 5%, which will prolong his climax, whilst the outside of the condom is ribbed and dotted to heighten her orgasm. On top of this we have a huge range of different condoms in our ever-growing chemist shop such as Durex Play Vibrations, Skins Ultra-Thin and many more, all at fantastic prices. For women, we offer the contraceptive pill Dianette from as little as £9.99 per month, which is capable of preventing you from falling pregnant by working in three ways: by preventing an egg being released from your ovaries; by making the fluid (mucus) in your cervix thicker, which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb; and by preventing the lining of your womb thickening enough for an egg to grow in it. Not only is Dianette a contraceptive, it can also be taken by women for combating acne, hirsutism and for the treatment of female hair loss.