Over-70s still sexually active…But STIs are on the rise

The majority us probably think that people tend to lose all trace of a sex life as they get older, and certainly the thought of our grandparents being intimate would be the last thing on our mind…but it seems more and more people into their 70s, 80s and beyond, are maintaining fairly active sex lives.

The findings of a recent study suggest that adults over the age of 70 are having sex at least twice each month. In addition to this, rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis and genital warts seem to be spiralling amongst older people.

Reporting in ‘The Conversation’, Sharron Hinchliff, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, argues that sex amongst older adults should be more openly discussed, given the statistics.

She says: “A report published earlier this year found that those with a sexual partner tended to rate their quality of life as higher than those without one, although some studies have placed greater emphasis on relationship status and social engagement. When I interviewed a number of over-50s about their (heterosexual) sex lives for a qualitative study, I found that many who were still in sexual relationships rated them as very or extremely important.

The reasons for the participants’ emphasis on sex included strengthening their relationship with their partners but also pleasure. For some women, sex had improved with age, which they related to feeling more relaxed because they had more sexual experience and no longer feared becoming pregnant.”

Sharron also argues that sexual health campaigns tend to primarily focus on the younger demographic, as these are the ones at risk from not only sexually transmitted infections, but unplanned pregnancies following the failure to use condoms.

Between the years 2009 and 2013, STI rates within the the over-45s increased across different diseases, with an 11% rise in genital warts amongst men aged 45-64, and a staggering 500% rise in syphilis cases for women over the age of 65. According to Sharron, “The majority of diagnoses of all STIs in the older age groups were in men, but gonorrhoea and syphilis were highest among heterosexual women and men who have sex with men.”

She continued: “As a result, some sexual health campaigns are now being aimed at older people.
This year’s Sexual Health Week in the UK is focused on sexual pleasure and well-being – and one of the campaign’s five strands is aimed at educating professionals and the public about the sexual well-being of older people.

Campaigns that promote sexual pleasure are new, even though the idea of incorporating pleasure into sexual health materials is not.

Young people in the UK are only just seeing such messages so it’s great that the sexual pleasure of older people is now being recognised too. But infectious disease is only one factor that can affect pleasure and well-being.

Long-term conditions and some sexual difficulties are more likely to be diagnosed in our 50s or later.
These include erectile dysfunction, which affects around 30 per cent of men aged 65-74, and uncomfortable vaginal dryness, experienced by 20 per cent of women in the same age group.”

Previously, it could be assumed that the older generation may struggle to meet prospective new partners for sex, particularly after experiencing poor health or becoming widowed, but Sharron sheds light on this.

“There is evidence that some older people are embracing technology and going online to meet potential partners for a sexual relationship. One survey found that 38% of people aged 50-59 and 37% of those aged 60-69 had met their partners online.

We should perhaps also reconsider what we think about as sexual activity when it comes to older people. For one thing, many older people engage in masturbation for sexual pleasure, countering the notion that it is a sexual act pursued only by the young. But there is also evidence that ideas about what activities count as sexual become broader as we age. For some, actions such as playing footsie under the breakfast table can give the intimacy that sexual activity previously had.

While research into the sexual well-being of older people is growing, there are gaps that wait to be filled, particularly the ways that ageing intersects with gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, disability and ethnic group. Exploring these areas will develop our understanding of sexual pleasure in older age, and better inform services for those to whom sex is important.”

Risky Holiday Sex Habits Uncovered by Medical Specialists® Pharmacy Survey

Despite the fact that British weather is generally OK around June to August, this is still the peek time for holidaymakers to venture abroad and bask in the glorious sunshine in popular destinations such as Ibiza, Majorca, Benidorm and many more.

Relaxing on the beach sipping sangria or beer and forgetting about worries at home can feel like heaven, but it can risk making people feel a little too relaxed. This carefree spirit that often goes hand-in-hand with holidays abroad can lead to a slightly reckless attitude in regards to safe sex and sexual health – especially when alcohol is involved.

Booze can lead to a complete loss of inhibitions and then engaging in risky sexual liaisons with strangers…something perhaps people might have thought twice about back at home. Getting too drunk and ‘caught up in the moment’ is a worrying trend and this poor attitude is being shown by thousands – especially those in their late teens and early 20s – and is something Medical Specialists® Pharmacy wanted to learn more about.

These attitudes were explored in the journal Tourism Management, and then discussed on 23rd July in the Daily Mail Online.

Therefore, Medical Specialists® thought this would be the perfect time to discuss more findings on the subject matter, coming from a survey carried out at the beginning of the month to mark the start of summer.

With an extensive sexual health product range like that spans from the Clamelle chlamydia testing kit, to antibiotics for chlamydia and gonorrhoea and female contraceptive pills, Medical Specialists® are strong advocates for the improving of sexual health and sexual health services…even giving away 1,000s of free condoms over the last few years during Sexual Health Week and for World AIDS Day.

Therefore, with summer beginning at the start of July, Medical Specialists® decided to quiz patients about their attitudes to sex – in particularly looking at behaviours when overseas during a summer holiday. In total, 2,235 single people aged between 18 and 30 decided to take part in the survey, which provided some interesting, and perhaps worrying findings.

Although more than 60% said they always carried condoms whilst on holiday, nearly 40% admitted to only occasionally packing condoms, or never bothering to at all. The survey found that 22% were too embarrassed to talk about contraception when having sex with a new partner.

A staggering 78% said they had previously had sex with a fellow holidaymaker, with 40% of the respondents claiming they had even slept with a local. At the extreme end of the scale, 4% of those surveyed said that had more than 10 sexual partners on their last holiday.

Shockingly, more than a third (34%) confessed they had cheated on a partner whilst on holiday, but just 5% of those had been found out by their partner.

Questions were also asked about any possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs) people may have brought back from holiday along with their luggage, tans and hangovers. A statistic that Medical Specialists® finds alarming, nearly half (47%) said they had never been tested for a sexually transmitted infection.

Moreover, 20% of those surveyed said they had been diagnosed with an STI after returning from a holiday overseas, with chlamydia (46%) being by far the most commonly diagnosed infection, followed by genital warts(22%) and genital herpes rounding off the top three at 19%.

It is vital to remember that within certain countries compared to the UK, STIs can be extremely common and obviously this places people at an even greater risk. In addition, with the most common STI (chlamydia), around seven in 10 women and half of men infected with chlamydia don’t show up with any signs or symptoms.

However, symptoms of STIs can include:

• Unusual discharge from your penis, vagina or anus.
• Itching, blisters, sores or lumps on or around the genitals.
• Pain or tenderness in the testicles.
• Pain or a burning feeling when passing urine.
• Darker urine.
• For women, bleeding between periods and/or after sex.

For those that have engaged in unprotected sex (and not just whilst on holiday) or believe they may have contracted an STI, it is vital to see a GP or visit a sexual health clinic to get tested as soon as possible. If the infection isn’t treated, this could lead to more serious health problems such as infertility.

Alternatively, Medically Specialists® Pharmacy offer the Clamelle chlamydia test kit for just £24.85 which can be used in the privacy and comfort of your own home to prevent an embarrassing visit to the GP or GUM clinic and there is no need to take any time off work

Male contraceptive injection ‘Vasalgel’ could arrive by 2017

Men could be able to benefit from a new type contraception within three years, and it doesn’t involve condoms.

The non-profit organisation Parsemus Foundation, who are involved in the production of low-cost medical treatment options, are using baboons to conduct clinical trials on a pioneering male birth control injection that will apparently cost ‘less than a flat screen TV’.

The contraceptive injection is currently named Vasalgel, and the makers hope it will be cheap, long-lasting and most importantly, reversible. It involves a health professional injecting a ‘polymer’ into the vas deferens – a thick, muscular tube that connects the testes to the urethra and where sperm travel through to get to the penis.

So far, clinical trials have involved three male baboons being injected with the drug. Each male was then left to share living space with 10-15 female baboons for six months. Remarkably, none of the females became impregnated after the six months.

The drug makers say after a year they will be able to have more information about Vasalgel’s efficacy, with the hope for human clinical trials to start in 2015.

Should the man and his partner change their mind about children, the man can have the procedure reversed with another polymer gel that is injected to get rid of the Vasalgel that is working to block the sperm. The only downside about an injection contraceptive is that unlike condoms, they will not provide any protection against a whole range of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, and many more.

Vasalgel’s official website says the contraceptive is a “long-acting, nonhormonal contraceptive similar to vasectomy but with one significant advantage: it is likely to be more reversible. The procedure is similar to a no-scalpel vasectomy, except a gel is injected into the vas deferens (the tube the sperm swim through) rather than cutting the vas (as is done in vasectomy). If a man wishes to restore flow of sperm, whether after months or years, the polymer is flushed out of the vas with another injection.”

The idea of Vasalgel partly came about from a different male contraceptive also in the works, tentatively named RISUG. Both block the vas deferens through the use of a gel, but RISUG and Vasalgel are formulated differently.

It is yet unclear for what time span the Vasalgel injection would be effective for as a contraceptive means, but the RISUG injection has been said to last for around 10 years.

A Parsemus Foundation spokesperson said: “We want to get Vasalgel on the market as soon as possible, but all the proper efficacy and safety testing needs to be completed. Vasalgel is currently in animal testing, with human trials expected to start in early 2015 and 2015-2016 (larger trials). If everything goes well and with enough public support, we hope to get Vasalgel on the market in 2016-2017.”

The company are now requesting public donations to aid the human clinical trials set to begin next year.

Revolutionary ‘VivaGel’ condom that kills HIV could be available in months

An Australian company have made ground-breaking progress in the fight to combat the worldwide problem of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), after gaining approval for their revolutionary new type of condom.

Australian bio-tech firm Starpharma have crafted a condom lubricated with antiviral ‘VivaGel’ which is able to destroy sexually transmitted infections, and the condom has now been given the green light by Australian Regulators.

The condom has been issued with a receipt of Conformity of Assessment Certification by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – like the CE mark certificates in Europe – and this could now lead to a huge mass production of the product.

Starpharma are now joining forces with Australian condom maker Ansell – the company that own an estimated 70% of Australia’s condom market – to produce the prophylactics, which are currently being analysed by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a potential future release in the US.

For those who are unfamiliar with VivaGel, it is a nanotech antiviral compound that contains 0.5% astodrimer sodium – a non-antibiotic, antimicrobial drug that is made purposely to combat a wide range of sexual infections such as HIV, herpes and human papilloma virus.

Dr Jackie Fairley, the chief executive of the company which created VivaGel, said: “Condoms are not 100 per cent effective in preventing either pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections and so anything that you can do to reduce the number of virus particles by inactivating them with a substance like VivaGel would reduce overall viral load.”

The condom’s TGA approval was given after the product was thoroughly tested in accordance with certain requirements relating safety and performance, and its release cannot come quick enough for Australians.

Genital herpes, caused by the herpes simplex virus, is caught by a staggering one in eight Australians aged 25 and over. A good proportion of these people are probably completely unaware they even have the virus unfortunately as symptoms don’t always rear their ugly head. And worryingly, without sufficient chlamydia treatment, the person can be eventually left infertile.

Statistics show that by the end of 2012, newly diagnosed HIV infections in Australia had increased 10% over the previous 12 months, representing the largest increase for two decades.

Peter Carroll, Ansell president and general manager of the sexual wellness global business unit, claimed that the “ground-breaking new sexual health” product may be on the shelves sooner rather than later.

“Ansell looks forward to rolling out its marketing and sales campaign to support the launch of LifeStyles Dual Protect over the coming months with the first product expected to be available on shelves soon,” he said.

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.”

Bill Gates offers $1.1million for a ‘next generation’ condom

Microsoft founder and multi-billionaire Bill Gates has offered an incredible $1.1million to any person(s) who can devise the ‘next generation’ of condoms which could help to banish some of the stigma attached to both purchasing and wearing one; ultimately leading to more safe sex and less risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

There will be an initial $100,000 (£66,000) grant for whoever can create a better condom than the latex ones commonly used today, with a further million dollar funding to help develop the best creation.

Gates, the world’s second richest man with a fortune of $67billion (£44billion), has offered the generous sum  as part of his ‘The Grand Challenge’ intuitive from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – a Seattle-based revolutionary global charity founded by Bill Gates and his wife that aims to provide funds into research for better treatments for a wide range of deadly diseases such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis, in addition to tackling the massive problem of hunger and poverty in developing nations.

The foundation released a statement, speaking of their aims behind the quest for a new condom, saying: “Condoms have been in use for about 400 years yet they have undergone very little technological improvement in the past 50 years. Material science and our understanding of neurobiology has undergone revolutionary transformation in the last decade, yet that knowledge has not been applied to improve the product attributes of one of the most ubiquitous and potentially underutilised products on earth.”

It added: “The one major drawback to more universal use of male condoms is the lack of perceived incentive for consistent use. The primary drawback from the male perspective is that condoms decrease pleasure as compared to no condom, creating a trade-off that many men find unacceptable. Is it possible to develop a product without this stigma, or better, one that is felt to enhance pleasure? If so, would such a product lead to substantial benefits for global health?” The foundation stated that they were in particularly seeking a design of condom that “significantly preserves or enhances pleasure, in order to improve uptake and regular use.”

Current annual production of condoms stands at 15 billion, with an estimated 750 million users worldwide. However, there are still many millions of men who are reluctant to buy or use condoms which is perplexing especially when fantastic ranges such as those from Durex or Skins are inexpensive, do not require a prescription, easy to transport around, and offer a highly effective method of protection against unwanted pregnancies and common STIs such as chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhoea.

Hair removal could increase risk of skin infections

Waxing, shaving and other methods of hair removal around the pubic area could result in ‘micro-trauma’ and be linked to the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) seen in recent years, according to the findings of a new French study.

The researchers who carried out the study focused their attentions to 30 patients who had visited a private skin clinic in Nice, France, between January 2011 and March 2012. All were determined to be suffering from a poxvirus called molluscum contagiosum – a common and highly contagious viral infection of the skin that causes red, itchy spots on the skin.

It can be transmitted from contact of the skin or through contact of a contaminated object such as a flannel or towel. ‘At risk’ groups include young children, those with many sexual partners and people who have a diminished immune system because of HIV or AIDS.

‘Contact of the skin’ is usually through sex and the researchers realised that the number of STIs increases almost annually, with conditions such as chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhoea are rife – partly because of a careless failure to use condoms.

From the 30 patients who had molluscum contagiosum during the fourteen month time period, 24 were men, with an average age of 29.5 for the whole group.

There were other connected skin problems in ten instances which included warts, ingrown hairs and folliculitis – an inflammation in one or more hair follicles, cysts and scars.

Interestingly, in all cases except just two, the patients had undergone pubic hair removal. There were 20 instances of shaving, five were clipped and three waxed. In addition, the warts had managed to spread to the abdomen region in four cases and to the thighs in one case.

Writing in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, they warned: “Hair removal (especially shaving) could favour its acquisition, propagation and transmission by micro-traumatisms.”

They also added that it was ‘unclear’ for the exact reasons behind a surge in preference for pubic hair removal but suggested it could be ‘linked to internet-based pornography’.

The authors continued: “Another reason cited is an increased sexual sensation. There may also be psychological reasons, as an unconscious desire to simulate an infantile look or a desire to distance ourselves from our animal nature.”

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.

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.

Health experts predict rise in stomach bugs and STIs during the Olympics

With the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games set to begin in just over three weeks, the capital is bracing itself for thousands of people descending into the city to catch a glimpse of the action. With this is mind, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have begun steps to ensure people stay safe from such conditions as sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and stomach problems. The HPA is an organisation set-up by the UK government back in 2003 and they aim to reduce the dangers to health from infections, chemicals and radiation hazards as set out in the HPA Act.

The HPA spoke on Tuesday and said they were ‘Games ready’ in their attempts to control any infections and limit their impact on the event itself. They are expecting a slight increased risk of stomach bugs and chest infections and some reports suggested that the capital could be ‘flooded with prostitutes’.

Justin McCracken, chief executive of the HPA, said in a statement, “We want everyone to enjoy the Games safely and by taking practical steps like ensuring good hand hygiene, being up-to-date with routine vaccinations and practising safe sex, it will help to ensure everyone stays healthy during this worldwide spectacle.”

The core of the HPA’s actions include three systems; rapid laboratory testing, enhanced syndromic surveillance and undiagnosed serious infections illness surveillance. They aim to diagnose infections such as Salmonella in just 24 hours whereas usually it would take 48. Symptom patterns will be analysed from anybody unwell who contacts the NHS direct, goes to an NHS walk-in centre, or simply visits their own GP. In addition, doctors have been informed they must make aware any emerging infections or symptoms of any exotic diseases.

Dr Brian McCloskey the HPA Olympics lead and director for London, explained how the organisation are prepared for the Games, “In preparation for London 2012 we have put in place world class systems to monitor and respond rapidly to any outbreaks of infectious diseases or environmental hazards. These new and enhanced systems will provide the first indication of emerging infections in the community and hospitals if they are to occur. Our experts will analyse surveillance data daily to identify issues of public health significance that could have implications for the Games.”

The HPA have stressed the importance of always carrying with you any medications for existing conditions (such as asthma) and having enough of the medication to span the duration of the Games.  If you do unfortunately suffer from any stomach or bowel problems now, during the Games, or anytime after – Medical Specialists Pharmacy can help you. Visit our brand new ‘stomach and bowel’ section of the website to browse through the huge range of products we have recently added. These include Mebeverine, Buscopan IBS relief, Doxycyline and many more!

We also note that the HPA advise to practice safe sex during the games? We argue you should be doing this all the time anyway! Sexually transmitted infections have shown to be on the increase due to alarming careless behaviour in both teens and even the ‘baby boomers’.

Men should ideally always wear a condom when engaging in sexual intercourse. If you do suspect you may have chlamydia, we now 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 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 Valtrex which helps to slow the spread of the herpes virus, and many more medications such as asthma inhalers cheaper than the NHS.

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.

New figures show rise in STIs in the over 50s

Dr Sean Cummings a Harley Street clinic that specialises in Sexual Health, has claimed that sexually transmitted infections in the over 50 year olds are now more common than first realised.

He has described the story of a mother of three in her late 50s who visited his clinic after having been a divorcee of 5 years, had been active on the dating scene. She had been involved with a “friend of a friend” and also a gentleman she had met through a dating website. Both relationships were sexually active. Dr Cummings explains more about the situation “She had started experiencing discomfort – discharge, and pain on urinating, which is why she had come to see me. They had never used condoms as, she explained “I never did with my husband. I was on the pill then, and I went through the menopause years ago – I thought there was no reason to”.”

Dr Cummings then ran some tests and had to deliver the unfortunate news to her that she was actually suffering from gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). “She was upset, embarrassed, but also shocked. At her age she didn’t really think she had anything to worry about”. Many of Dr Cummings patients are respectable men and women in their 50s and 60s, recently single for the first time in potentially several years. He also notes that a typical patient is a newly sixty something woman who has returned from holiday where she has had an affair and contracted an STI, or middle aged men who have picked up an infection from an extramarital affair.

In addition, the Health Protection Agency has been warning about the rapidly increase in STIs among the slightly older generation. Latest figures published show that gonorrhoea is up 8% in a single year and 14% since 2001, and genital herpes has risen by 15% in the last year and an incredible 142% in ten years. Chlamydia infections have also increased by 9% in the past year, and by 138% in the past ten years.

If you are suffering from the common STI, herpes, Medical Specialists can help you.  We now offer the antiviral medication “Valtrex”, which can help in reducing the risk of spreading genital herpes. However, you must also use safe sex practices. This includes always wearing a condom made of latex and avoiding sexual contact when you have an outbreak or think you are about to get an outbreak.  Valtrex will not cure herpes, but will lessen the symptoms. It helps to slow the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection.