Does Circumcision Make Sex Better or Worse?

Circumcision has a big impact on men’s sexual health and wellness. While some research suggests that the practice of surgically removing the foreskin reduces your risk of STDs, HIV and other infections, circumcision has been suggested to negatively affect your sexual wellbeing; reducing the pleasure you feel during sex. Let’s take a look at some of the questions surrounding circumcision.

 

1. How does circumcision affect the sensitivity of your penis?

According to Men’s Health Physician and Medical Sex Therapist Dr Vijaysarathi Ramanathan, “Circumcision in infants and youngsters (who’ve never experienced having a foreskin) shouldn’t be much of a problem because they’ve programmed their mind and penis to be sensitive without the foreskin. However, if a person has experience having a foreskin and has to lose it later in life, they may feel it’s different and they are not getting the same pleasure as before.” Dr Ramanathan adds that, for the same reason, there’s nothing to suggest that circumcision makes oral sex any different.

 

2. Does circumcision prevent or cause STIs?

‘There is some protection against infections but there is still a big debate on whether it adds more benefit than wearing a condom,’ Dr Ramanathan explains. However, he warns that hygiene is a key concern for men who are not circumcised. Dr Ramanathan advises, ‘if they can retract and clean with water, then it shouldn’t make any difference. Remember, cleaning with water is more than adequate and DO NOT use soap as it alters the pH and can cause some fungal infections.’

 

3. Is there ever a medical reason to get a circumcision?

Dr Ramanthan says that circumcision is only warranted if your foreskin is infected and you’re unable to pass urine, but a routine medical procedure it doesn’t have much value. He adds, ‘The history of circumcision goes long back and one of the key reasons to do circumcision was to discourage boys from masturbating. This was a time when medical professionals were convinced that masturbation is the cause for infections like syphilis and that circumcision is the cure. [This] is now seen as unethical and it breeches the sexual rights of that person. Each individual must be able to make an informed decision whether or not they want to circumcise.’

Categories: circumcision, dr ramanathan, foreskin, Infections, Medical, pleasure, ramanathan, STI

What to Do if You Think You Are at Risk of Having an STI

Are you worried that you have put your sexual health at risk and may have contracted an STI? If you have had unprotected sex with someone who’s medical history you do now know, you have certainly put your wellness and wellbeing at risk.

 

Even if you feel perfectly healthy, the most important thing you should do first of all is to get tested. Many STIs have no symptoms, so don’t fall into the trap of assuming that you haven’t caught anything just because you are not suffering any unpleasant side effects yet. You can catch an STI through vaginal, anal or oral sex. You can also catch an STI from a patient of the same sex to you, as well as from a partner of the opposite sex.

 

Many STIs can be cured with a simple course of the right antibiotics. Other infections, such as HIV, cannot be cured at all, but can be treated in a long term way to avoid them getting any worse.

 

Many people don’t notice the symptoms of an STI, or don’t have symptoms at all, so the things to keep an eye out for include suffering from pain when you pass urine, finding blisters, spots, sores or lumps around the genital region or anus, or finding black powder or small white dots in your underwear (this could be eggs or droppings from pubic lice).

 

Women can also suffer from green or yellow vaginal discharge, and this may have an unpleasant odour. Women may also notice bleeding between their periods or after having sexual intercourse, or lower abdominal pain. Men may notice discharge from the penis or irritation of the urethra.

 

These can also be symptoms of other things, so don’t panic unnecessarily, but it is important to see a doctor to find out what is happening in your body and to get appropriate treatment.

Categories: catch, Disease, nbsp, notice, risk, STD, STI, Symptoms

New Figures Show Which UK City has the Highest STI Rates

Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, are a big problem in the UK. In particular it is a problem for Sheffield, which has recently been given the worrying title of ‘sex infection capital’ of Yorkshire. An online study carried out by HealthExpress has found that the men of Sheffield needed the most advice about the symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, so far in 2013. 101 men sought information, whereas the runner-up city, Leeds, only had 68 enquiries. In the UK in total Sheffield came 9^th however. Though it may cause the most concern for sexual health in Yorkshire, in the UK, Birmingham has proved the most in need of help, with 142.

 

The most common sexually transmitted infection was chlamydia, and the second most common was gonorrhoea. In Sheffield health chiefs and professionals criticised the study, saying that the sample was too small and specific to be truly representative. Sheffield’s Director of Public Health, Dr Jeremy Wight, stated that the majority of people sought help and information from GPs or sexual health clinics and services offered by local hospitals. He criticised the data, whereas some have said that it may show that more people are attempting to seek help and making themselves aware of sexually transmitted infections. The conductors of the study, HealthExpress, are an online clinic offering confidential consultations, and if needed are able to dispatch medication. Wight advised the people of Sheffield against using these kinds of services, and to seek help from established NHS clinics.

 

One of the most important things people can do to prevent the spread of STIs is to make themselves aware of the causes, symptoms and treatments for them. Seeking online information from credible sources, such as the NHS website, can be an important tool for protecting yourself and others from the spread of STIs. Some other, active steps to take is to use condoms and limit the number of sexual partners you have, as well as being open and honest to your past and current sexual partners about any health concerns you have. If you think you have received a sexual infection from someone, or given one to someone else, make sure that all parties involved are made aware and seek treatment immediately.

Categories: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Sexual Infection, STI

The Concerning Rise of Syphilis and How To Tackle It

Syphilis was thought to be near elimination in 1997, yet the rate of incidences have seemingly doubled since then, causing concerns over general sexual health. This sexually transmitted infection, or STI, can be spread through vaginal, oral or anal sex. The greatest increase, 72%, has been found in men under 30 years of age or over 50, who engage in sexual activity with other men. Though this group should be especially aware of the risk of syphilis, experts want the whole population to be educated about this STI.

 

The symptoms of syphilis include sores on the genitals or in the rectum and mouth, as well as rashes on the body, in particular on the soles of feet and palms of the hand. If another person makes contact with the sores or rash, they can contract the infection. Whilst these symptoms can eventually heal themselves, untreated syphilis has some extreme long-term effects, including damage to the brain and heart, and even death. It is also calculated that if you contract syphilis, your risk of also getting HIV is 3 to 5 times higher.

 

If you think you have some of the early symptoms of syphilis, or have reason to believe you have caught the infection, treatment is relatively easy to gain access to. Your local GP or sexual health clinic can take a blood sample and send it off to find out if you have syphilis. If the results come back positive, don’t fret – the treatment simply involves 1 to 3 penicillin injections. Although the impact of this STI can be worrying, it is ultimately curable with antibiotics when targeted early. As with many illnesses and diseases, prevention is preferable to the cure, and there are guidelines to follow which can reduce the spread of syphilis. Being aware of your sexual health and the risks of sexual activity is important. Condoms are highly recommended for preventing transmission of STIs, and limiting the number of sexual partners you have can also reduce risk. In conjunction, tell your partners if you find you have syphilis and make sure to both get treatment.

Categories: sexual health, STI, Syphilis

Sex Toys and Toilet Seats: Which STI Myths are True?

It’s pretty amazing what you can learn these days. With a mere click of a button, you can find out about anything from micro biology to Lady Gaga, so why are we all still stuck in old wives tales and silly myths. It’s astounding to hear how many sexual health misconceptions are still flying around these days, and, by believing them, you could be putting your wellbeing at risk.

For example, some people assert that using two condoms at once is double the protection, but this is actually really unsafe as the friction this causes can cause both condoms to break. Last September, sexual health charities FPS and Brook launched a major awareness campaign We Can’t Go Backwards, warning against the “toxic mix” of circumstances combining to create a looming crisis in unplanned pregnancy, abortion and sexual health.

Unless urgent action is taken, the charities warn that sexual wellness could be at stake, especially when it comes to myths. Cuts and policy changes have meant that vital services which provide advice and information are becoming less and less available. According to FPA, almost one third of women aged 18-49 spend a mere five minutes when deciding which contraceptive method to use, even though there are 15 different types readily available and an estimated 2 million women in the UK are unhappy with the method they are using.

So which sexual health beliefs are true and which are false? Firstly, you cannot catch an STI from sitting on a toilet seat but it is possible to get an STI from oral sex and sex toys. However, using a condom on a penis or toy and a dam (very soft, thin plastic square) on the female genitals can protect against this. STIs don’t often present with symptoms and you won’t always know if you’ve got one. You should always protect yourself by always using a condom, even if both of you have HIV or another infection, and get regular screenings for STIs from your sexual health clinic.

Dr Diana Mansour, head of Sexual Health Services at Newcastle Hospitals Community Health, commented, ‘We need to further educate women about all of their contraception options and clear up any misconceptions so they can make informed decisions that are right for them.’ She added, ‘Women, along with their healthcare providers, should take into account their lifestyles when considering available birth control options.’

Sex Toys and Toilet Seats: Which STI Myths are True?

Categories: health, method, Myths, Sex Toys, sexual, sexual health, STI, Toilet Seats, Women

Study Shows STIs In Teenagers Have Risen In 3 Years

According to a new report, STIs are on the rise in under-age teenagers – 15,000 cases were diagnosed in the past three years alone, which shows a doubled figure in the last 10 years. It’s thought that the rise is attributed to the fact that many boys don’t get tested, which is leading to far more cases than have been noted in the past. Thousands of under-16s were infected with diseases such as chlamydia, genital herpes and gonorrhoea in the last three years, with more than 200 of these aged under 12. Many campaigners have blamed the government for not making sex education in schools compulsory, which they feel would help reduce the number of children having unsafe sex.

Currently, it is up to the individual school as to what is taught with regards to sexual health and education – teachers, it is claimed, understand the needs of the children, but parents and campaigners think this could be too big of a gamble. Not only do children need information about STIs and safe sex practices but they also need relationship and emotional guidance and counselling. Without this guidance, children will continue to make poor choices when it comes to sex which could lead to further cases of STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

It is important that you speak to your children early on in their teen years about sex and relationships, so that they feel comfortable speaking to you about any concerns or issues they have. By creating an open communication with them, they’ll feel easier about discussing these issues. Furthermore, make sure that they are aware of the help and services around them to ensure safe and healthy sexual relationships – this could include regular check-ups at the local sexual health clinic or being aware of places where they can receive free contraception and condoms to reduce the risk of STIs being transmitted. The more children know about sex, the better equipped they’ll be for engaging in safer relationships.

Google+
Study Shows STIs In Teenagers Have Risen In 3 Years

Categories: sexual health, Sexual Relationships, STI

The Truth About This Common STI

You may not have heard of Trichomonas vaginalis (also known as trichomoniasis), but if you have had unprotected sex, the chances are you may have come into contact with it. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and is sometimes shortened to TV. This disease affects the sexual health of thousands of people in the UK, and is caused by a miniscule protozoan parasite.

This sexually-transmitted infection can have a number of unpleasant effects on your wellness, and you are at risk of catching it if you have unprotected sex with someone who is infected with the disease. It is passed from person to person during sex, and the cells then infest the urethra in men and the vagina and urethra in women. It can also be passed on by sharing sex toys.

A pregnant mother with the disease can affect the wellbeing of her baby, as the infection can be passed from mother to baby as the baby passes through the birth canal, in order to be born.

The reason that the disease is so common is that up to half of the women and men affected have no symptoms whatsoever. They then, unknowingly, spread the disease further. When symptoms do occur, they usually manifest as an unusual discharge from the vagina, which may be thin and have an unpleasant odour. They may also feel some pain and inflammation, and have pain when passing urine. Men may also notice an unusual discharge from the penis and feel pain or a burning sensation when passing water. These symptoms can appear up to 21 days after the sexual encounter.

Testing for the disease involves using a swab to collect sample cells and treatment usually comes in the form of oral antibiotics – usually metronidazole, which need to be taken for up to a week.

Google+
The Truth About This Common STI

Categories: STI, trichomoniasis, truth

STI Awareness Month: April is Time for Screening, Says Uni

With the help of the Lord Fairfax Health District, a US university is leading the way in taking care of student sexual health, supporting April as Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness Month. Based in Virginia, Shenandoah University’s Wilkins Wellness Centre offers free and confidential STD testing three or four times a year, but Ron Stickley, director of health services, said that April is the perfect time to spread awareness.

According to Stickley, ‘We try to offer the free screenings throughout the year, usually when school starts and after long holiday breaks. This month gives us just enough time after spring break to reach out to students.’ Through lectures, screenings and emails, Stickley said he does as possible around campus to educate students on the importance of sexual wellbeing. ‘I always tell the students that my biggest concern is their health. STDs can affect someone without them knowing it, and in turn they can pass it on. I hope that if a student enters into a relationship with “the one,” they’ll know that they’re safe,’ he said.

The free and confidential screening is a urine test, usually costing around $150. Stickley explained that not only does this free test appeal to a college student’s budget, but if a disease is detected early on it makes it possible to avoid larger expenses and missed classes. Only the organization doing the testing and the student will know the results, Strickley said. ‘We keep it completely confidential,’ he noted, adding that student convenience is also a high priority. ‘The health department has been such a help, because there will always be students who can’t make it in during the time that we offer the free screenings. They will work with you on setting up an appointment.’

Dr Charles Devine, director of the Health District, commented that recent data shows the number of reported chlamydia cases in the area is on the rise, and so finding people with an STD and treating it before it can be unknowingly spread to someone else is key. ‘For the Health District, I believe it is appropriate and proper to make diagnosis and treatment easily available. We just want folks who are engaging in sexual activity to recognize that there are risks, but there are also solutions on the prevention and treatment side,’ he said.

Google+
STI Awareness Month: April is Time for Screening, Says Uni

Categories: Free Screenings, STI, Student Health

Non-specific Urethritis: What You Need to Know

There are certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that get a lot of publicity. We’ve all heard stories about syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia but there are a number of sexual health problems that don’t get talked about in the same way. Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is one of those conditions – but it is not always an infection.

It is a condition that affects the urethra, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder. NSU causes this tube to become inflamed which can lead to pain, redness and swelling. It is usually caused by an infection but this isn’t always the case. It is sometimes referred to as non-gonoccocal urethritis so as to differentiate it from the similar symptoms of gonorrhoea.

What causes NSU?

NSU is usually caught by having either vaginal, anal or oral sex with a partner who already has the condition. Often a microorganism is ultimately to blame, but there can actually be a large variety of causes which is why the infection is referred to as ‘non-specific’. The most common infection found in NSU is chlamydia which accounts for nearly half the cases in men.

Infection isn’t always the cause. Inflammation of the urethra can sometimes occur due to friction from excessive sex or masturbation or by inserting objects or applying liquids into the tube.

What are the symptoms of NSU?

Not all men who develop inflammation of the urethra will show symptoms – and some are so mild that they are easy to ignore. But some of the more prominent symptoms are difficult to ignore. These include cloudy discharge from the penis, which is usually more noticeable first thing in the morning, and pain or a burning sensation when urinating.

Google+
Non-specific Urethritis: What You Need to Know

Categories: NSU, STI, urethra

What Is An NSU And How Can You Avoid It?

NSU stands for non-specific urethritis and is a sexual health problem caused by having unprotected sex with someone who has a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This can be vaginal, oral or anal sex, and it is usually caused by a micro-organism (but can be caused by other factors, which is why it is referred to as ‘non-specific’).

The most common case of an NSU is an STI called Chlamydia. This may, in fact, account for as many as 50 percent of cases of NSU in men. Trichomonas Vaginalis and Herpes are also causes of NSU, as are Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma Gentialium bacteria.

There are occasions when an NSU is caused by inflammation rather than by a bacteria, and this inflammation can affect the wellbeing by causing pain and difficulty in passing urine. It can be caused by vigorous sex or masturbation or by inserting objects, chemicals or liquids into the urethra.

NSUs are far easier to diagnose in men than in women, due to the nature of the urethra. They are generally passed on through any type of unprotected sex that allows the bacteria to transmit from one person to another. They are not transmitted in any other way, such as sharing towels or toilet seats or by hugging or kissing.

Symptoms vary from person to person, with some people experiencing only mild symptoms and others finding their wellness severely affected by an NSU. Symptoms can include a white or cloudy discharge from the penis, which may indicate infection, or a feeling of needing to go to the toilet more often. It may also cause pain, a burning sensation when passing water or a difficulty in urinating. It can also cause irritation or itching at the opening of the urethra.

Treatment is usually given in the form of antibiotics, and can take some time to clear up altogether.

Google+
What Is An NSU And How Can You Avoid It?

Categories: NSU, sexual, STI

Could Some Women Be Genetically Less Susceptible to STIs?

Sexual wellness experts estimate that, worldwide, an STI newly infects 450 million people every year. However, researchers at the Monash Institute of Medical Research have found that a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as Chlamydia and herpes simplex virus (HSV), is more likely to affect some women’s wellbeing than others.

The study’s scientists, lead researcher Professor Paul Hertzog, Director of MIMR’s Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, and his team including Ka Yee Fung and Niamh Mangan, have discovered that a certain protein in the female reproductive tract protects against STIs. Dubbed Interferon epsilon (IFNe), the protein plays an important part in protecting you against infections, and this finding, published in the journal Science, could lead to physicians being able determine whether you are more or less susceptible to disease such as STIs, to boost your protective immunity, or even treat STIs or other inflammatory diseases.

Professor Hertzog explained, ‘One way this protein is unusual is because of the way it’s produced. Most proteins protecting us against infection are produced only after we’re exposed to a virus or bacteria. But this protein is produced normally and is instead regulated by hormones so its levels change during the oestrous cycle (an animal’s menstrual cycle) and is switched off at implantation in pregnancy and at other times like menopause.’

‘Some of these times when normal IFNe is lowest, correlate with when women are most susceptible to STIs so this might be an important link to new therapeutic opportunities,’ he continued. ‘IFNe follows different rules to normal immuno-modulatory proteins, and therefore this might also be important to vaccines and the way they’re formulated to boost our protective immunity. Since this protein boosts female reproductive tract immune responses, it’s likely, although we haven’t addressed it directly, that this finding will be important for other infectious diseases like HIV and HPV and other diseases,’ he added.

The professor said that STIs are a critical global health and socioeconomic problem, and he hopes to work towards clinical studies within the next five years, to tackle some of these issues. He added that he would like to investigate how the findings could be applied across other diseases including cancer, female reproductive tract related disorders including endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, and other non reproductive tract diseases.

Google+
Could Some Women Be Genetically Less Susceptible to STIs?

Categories: IFNe Protein, Research, STI

U.S. Infant Male Circumcision and Heath Care

Steadily declining rates of U.S. infant male circumcision could add more than $4.4 billion in avoidable health care costs, if rates over the next decade drop to levels now seen in Europe.

The expense stems from new cases and higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and related cancers among uncircumcised men and their female partners. The study is believed to be the first cost analysis to account for increased rates of multiple infectious diseases associated with lower rates of male circumcision, including HIV/AIDS, herpes and genital warts, as well as cervical and penile cancers. Previous research focused mostly on HIV, the single most costly disease whose risk of infection is decreased by male circumcision, a procedure that removes foreskin at the tip of the penis, hindering the buildup of bacteria and viruses in the penis’ skin folds.

Roughly 55 percent of the 2 million males born each year in the United States are circumcised, a decline from a high of 79 percent in the 1970s and ’80s. Rates in Europe average only 10 percent, and in Denmark, only 1.6 percent of infant males undergo the procedure.

Their economic evidence is backing up what their medical evidence has already shown to be perfectly clear.  There are health benefits to infant male circumcision in guarding against illness and disease, and declining male circumcision rates come at a severe price, not just in human suffering, but in billions of health care dollars as well.

The 20-year decline in the number of American males circumcised at birth has already cost the nation upwards of $2 billion (estimate).

On an average, each male circumcision passed over and not performed leads to $313 more in illness-related expenses.  These costs would not have been incurred if these men had undergone the procedure.

State funding cuts in Medicaid, the government medical assistance program for the poor, have substantially reduced numbers of U.S. infant male circumcisions, noting that 18 states have stopped paying for the procedure. The financial and health consequences of these decisions are becoming worse over time, especially if more states continue on this ill-fated path.  State governments need to start recognising the medical benefits as well as the cost savings from providing insurance coverage for infant male circumcision..

The researchers constructed a novel economic model to predict the cost implications of not circumcising a male newborn. Included in their forecasting was information from multiple studies and databases that closely tracked the number of overall infections for each sexually transmitted disease, as well as the numbers of new people infected. Costs were conservatively limited to direct costs for drug treatment, physician visits and hospital care, and did not include indirect costs from work absences and medical travel expenses.

U.S. Infant Male Circumcision and Heath Care

Categories: Cicumcisions, Cost, STI