How to Spot the Signs and Symptoms of Common STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can pose a serious threat to your sexual health, not to mention your overall wellbeing. But how do you know if an STI has affected your wellness? The Mayo Clinic warns, ‘You could have an STI and be asymptomatic — without any signs or symptoms. In fact, this happens with a lot of STIs. Even though you have no symptoms, you’re still at risk of passing the infection along to your sex partners. That’s why it’s important to use protection, such as a condom, during sex. And visit your doctor on a regular basis for STI screening, so you can identify a potential infection and get treated for it before passing it along to someone else.’ However, some STIs do appear with certain symptoms. So what do you watch out for?

 

1. Chlamydia: According to the Mayo Clinic, ‘Chlamydia is a bacterial infection of your genital tract. Chlamydia may be difficult for you to detect because early-stage infections often cause few or no signs and symptoms. When they do occur, they usually start one to three weeks after you’ve been exposed to chlamydia. Even when signs and symptoms do occur, they’re often mild and passing, making them easy to overlook.’ The signs and symptoms of chlamydia include:

• Painful urination


• Lower abdominal pain


• Vaginal discharge in women


• Discharge from the penis in men


• Pain during sexual intercourse in women


• Testicular pain in men

 

2. Gonorrhoea: ‘Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection of your genital tract,’ the Mayo Clinic explains. ‘The first gonorrhoea symptoms generally appear within two to 10 days after exposure. However, some people may be infected for months before signs or symptoms occur.’ You may have developed gonorrhoea if you experience:

• Thick, cloudy or bloody discharge from the penis or vagina


• Pain or burning sensation when urinating


• Abnormal menstrual bleeding


• Painful, swollen testicles


• Painful bowel movements


• Anal itching

 

3. Trichomoniasis: The Mayo Clinic details, ‘Trichomoniasis is a common STI caused by a microscopic, one-celled parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. This organism spreads during sexual intercourse with someone who already has the infection. The organism usually infects the urinary tract in men, but often causes no symptoms in men. Trichomoniasis typically infects the vagina in women. When trichomoniasis causes symptoms, they may range from mild irritation to severe inflammation.’ Signs and symptoms may include:

• Clear, white, greenish or yellowish vaginal discharge


• Discharge from the penis


• Strong vaginal odour


• Vaginal itching or irritation


• Itching or irritation inside the penis


• Pain during sexual intercourse


• Painful urination

 

4. HIV: ‘HIV is an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus,’ the Mayo Clinic notes. ‘HIV interferes with your body’s ability to effectively fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease, and it can lead to AIDS, a chronic, life-threatening disease. When first infected with HIV, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people develop a flu-like illness, usually two to six weeks after being infected…These early signs and symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for those of another viral infection. During this period, you are very infectious.’ The early HIV signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever


• Headache


• Sore throat


• Swollen lymph glands


• Rash


• Fatigue

 

The Mayo Clinic points out, ‘More persistent or severe symptoms of HIV infection may not appear for 10 years or more after the initial infection. As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms.’ These include:

• Swollen lymph nodes — often one of the first signs of HIV infection


• Diarrhoea


• Weight loss


• Fever


• Cough and shortness of breath

 

The signs and symptoms of later stage HIV infection include:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue


• Soaking night sweats


• Shaking chills or fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C) for several weeks


• Swelling of lymph nodes for more than three months


• Chronic diarrhoea


• Persistent headaches


• Unusual, opportunistic infections

 

Categories: bacterial infection, genital tract, HIV, hiv infection, lymph nodes, mayo clinic, painful urination, sexual intercourse, STIs, swollen lymph, Symptoms, vaginal discharge

New Statement Targets Mandatory HIV Testing – Sign It Now!

While HIV can have an impact on anyone’s wellbeing, the sexually transmitted disease (STD) is particularly associated with those of the LGBT community. However, HIV is a virus that hits the sexual health of people, not sexualities. According to wellness writer Chris Jones, ‘A radical re-think is underway in the area of HIV, its prevention and its treatment. While we are seeing what feels like an ever increasing reduction in support for LGBT across the world, and something of a religious backlash underway in so-called civilised societies, we are also seeing breakthroughs in treatments and therapies for HIV, provided the people who need it are given access to the treatments.’ But how do you ensure that the treatments are given to those who need it?

 

‘A consortium of groups including the European Aids Treatment Group (EATG), Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and the National Aids Manual (NAMS) issued a joint statement on 27/12/2014 to encourage, almost demand the basic human rights of individuals to choose their treatment – especially in terms of preventative treatments,’ says Jones. ‘Their statement calls for the choice to start treatment belonging to the individual concerned, and not the state, doctor or charity. This is so that treatment is seen as a benefit to the individual, and not to aid anyone else or further their agenda. HIV treatment has been proven to increase life expectancy and should be available to anyone who wants or needs it, without social stigma or fear of legal reprisals.’

 

In certain regimes, treatment is indeed available, but not in a way that will actually help. Jones details, ‘Greece in 2012 introduced mandatory testing for some women, in 2013 it was re-introduced and gave the police the right to stop anyone they suspect of being HIV+ and forcibly testing them. Botswana is another country currently considering mandatory testing. Add these to the recent legislative changes in Russia and these measures can only serve to drive HIV underground and prevent those who need treatment from obtaining it. Repressive regimes have shown time and time again that their stance against LGBT is linked to HIV, and as a result the most vulnerable in their societies are denied basic healthcare and endanger the global fight against HIV and its spread. Some of the worst regimes (Russia/Ukraine) have some of the lowest proportion of people on treatment, but the highest mortality rates.’

 

Jones points out, ‘Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has been shown to decrease the chances of passing the disease by 96%, as one of the biggest issues facing someone HIV+ is the risk of passing the disease to someone else. ART has been proven to effectively render the patient non-infectious. This doesn’t negate the need for standard prevention (condoms, etc) but goes a long way towards that day. The recent statement release by this consortium is simply that – a statement that shows the common sense approach on offer there – but one that is constantly under threat from narrow minded legislation that will, inevitably, do more damage than good.’

 

Jones concludes, ‘As the statement says, ART itself will not end the epidemic, but it is an essential component. I am no expert in this field, and more than willing to listen to anyone who is – I grew up alongside this disease, have lost friends and lovers to it and the prospect of it getting hold of newer generations when we have, within our grasp, the tools to help eradicate it, is nonsensical and abhorrent. Go over to the site and add your voice. If you have questions, ask them, get this topic back on the agenda and up for discussion, alongside the erosion of LGBT rights worldwide. But don’t forget, HIV is a virus that hits people, not sexualities! You can see and sign the statement at www.HIVt4p.org.’

Categories: HIV, jones, LGBT, Mandatory Testing, nbsp jones, people, statement, treatment

10 Sexually Transmitted Infections You Need to Spot

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can really take their toll on your sexual health, but how do you know which is which? We’ve rounded up the main STIs that may threaten your wellbeing – could you spot them all if you needed to?

 

1. Chlamydia: This is a bacterial infection that affects the wellness of your genital tract. Award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette notes, ‘Chlamydia in its early stages is often without symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, when symptoms do manifest they appear one to three weeks after infection and include painful urination, vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, discharge from the penis, and painful intercourse…It is transmitted primarily through vaginal intercourse though rarely it can also be transmitted through oral sex and from mother to child.’

 

2. Pubic lice: Also known as crabs, these small parasites can live in your pubic hair, armpits, eyelashes and facial hair. According to Gillette, ‘Anyone can get pubic lice, and sexual contact is not necessarily required. Contact with infested bed sheets and clothing can also spread the parasite. Pubic lice do not usually cause significant health issues though a secondary infection may occur from excessive itching of the area.’

 

3. Gonorrhea: Gillette details, ‘Symptoms generally occur around 10 days after exposure and include discharge from the vagina or penis, burning sensation while urinating, swollen testicles, abnormal menstrual bleeding, anal itching, and painful bowel movements. Symptoms are more common in men than in women.’

 

4. Herpes: ‘It is possible for someone with oral herpes to give a partner genital herpes through oral sex (and vice versa),’ Gillette warns. ‘Although most of the time genital herpes is caused by HSV-2 after anal or vaginal sex. Symptoms are usually mild and can go unrecognized; approximately 90% of people with herpes do not know they have the virus. The most common symptom is the appearance of small sores in the genital area.’

 

5. Hepatitis: Gillette explains, ‘Each hepatitis virus spreads in different manners; however, all forms can be spread through sexual contact…All forms of hepatitis damage the liver, and while many cases offer no major health complications, some can lead to liver failure and death. Symptoms vary and can manifest as innocently as fatigue or progress to serious illness and mental confusion.’

 

6. HIV/AIDS: ‘HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS,’ Gillette comments. ‘This STD can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, sexual secretions and breast milk. Many people do not know they are infected with HIV, as the vast majority only experience mild flu-like symptoms approximately two weeks after infection.’

 

7. HPV: ‘The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the STDs that can cause serious negative health effects down the road,’ says Gillette. ‘It is the leading cause of cervical cancer for women and the virus responsible for genital warts…HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not just through contact with sexual organs or secretions. In some people, HPV never presents symptoms, and those people can go on to infect others unknowingly.’

 

8. Syphilis: Gillette points out, ‘Syphilis is curable, though if left untreated it can cause severe organ damage over time…Symptoms of syphilis vary depending on the stage of infection but include a single sore, a rash of the palms of the hands or on the feet, or white sores around the mouth or genital area.’

 

9. Trichomoniasis: ‘Most men with trich remain asymptomatic, but women can experience painful urination, strong vaginal odor, discharge from the vagina, pain during sex, and itching or irritation of the genital area,’ Gillette asserts. ‘Trich can cause low birth weight in babies and can also make an individual more susceptible to HIV infection.’

 

10. Molluscum contagiosum: Gillette details, ‘It is a benign infection and usually resolves on its own, but symptoms include skin lesions in the genital and rectal area which last from two weeks to four years.’

Categories: area nbsp, genital area, gillette details, Herpes, HIV, infection nbsp, oral sex, painful urination, Pubic Lice, sexual contact, sexually transmitted infections, transmitted infections

10 Sexually Transmitted Infections You Need to Spot

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can really take their toll on your sexual health, but how do you know which is which? We’ve rounded up the main STIs that may threaten your wellbeing – could you spot them all if you needed to?

 

1. Chlamydia: This is a bacterial infection that affects the wellness of your genital tract. Award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette notes, ‘Chlamydia in its early stages is often without symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, when symptoms do manifest they appear one to three weeks after infection and include painful urination, vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, discharge from the penis, and painful intercourse…It is transmitted primarily through vaginal intercourse though rarely it can also be transmitted through oral sex and from mother to child.’

 

2. Pubic lice: Also known as crabs, these small parasites can live in your pubic hair, armpits, eyelashes and facial hair. According to Gillette, ‘Anyone can get pubic lice, and sexual contact is not necessarily required. Contact with infested bed sheets and clothing can also spread the parasite. Pubic lice do not usually cause significant health issues though a secondary infection may occur from excessive itching of the area.’

 

3. Gonorrhea: Gillette details, ‘Symptoms generally occur around 10 days after exposure and include discharge from the vagina or penis, burning sensation while urinating, swollen testicles, abnormal menstrual bleeding, anal itching, and painful bowel movements. Symptoms are more common in men than in women.’

 

4. Herpes: ‘It is possible for someone with oral herpes to give a partner genital herpes through oral sex (and vice versa),’ Gillette warns. ‘Although most of the time genital herpes is caused by HSV-2 after anal or vaginal sex. Symptoms are usually mild and can go unrecognized; approximately 90% of people with herpes do not know they have the virus. The most common symptom is the appearance of small sores in the genital area.’

 

5. Hepatitis: Gillette explains, ‘Each hepatitis virus spreads in different manners; however, all forms can be spread through sexual contact…All forms of hepatitis damage the liver, and while many cases offer no major health complications, some can lead to liver failure and death. Symptoms vary and can manifest as innocently as fatigue or progress to serious illness and mental confusion.’

 

6. HIV/AIDS: ‘HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS,’ Gillette comments. ‘This STD can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, sexual secretions and breast milk. Many people do not know they are infected with HIV, as the vast majority only experience mild flu-like symptoms approximately two weeks after infection.’

 

7. HPV: ‘The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the STDs that can cause serious negative health effects down the road,’ says Gillette. ‘It is the leading cause of cervical cancer for women and the virus responsible for genital warts…HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact, not just through contact with sexual organs or secretions. In some people, HPV never presents symptoms, and those people can go on to infect others unknowingly.’

 

8. Syphilis: Gillette points out, ‘Syphilis is curable, though if left untreated it can cause severe organ damage over time…Symptoms of syphilis vary depending on the stage of infection but include a single sore, a rash of the palms of the hands or on the feet, or white sores around the mouth or genital area.’

 

9. Trichomoniasis: ‘Most men with trich remain asymptomatic, but women can experience painful urination, strong vaginal odor, discharge from the vagina, pain during sex, and itching or irritation of the genital area,’ Gillette asserts. ‘Trich can cause low birth weight in babies and can also make an individual more susceptible to HIV infection.’

 

10. Molluscum contagiosum: Gillette details, ‘It is a benign infection and usually resolves on its own, but symptoms include skin lesions in the genital and rectal area which last from two weeks to four years.’

Categories: area nbsp, genital area, gillette details, Herpes, HIV, infection nbsp, oral sex, painful urination, Pubic Lice, sexual contact, sexually transmitted infections, transmitted infections

HIV Prevention v/s Pain: The Pros and Cons of Circumcision

Over the years, parents have been faced with a sexual health issue right in the early stages of their child’s infancy; circumcision. While proponents tout the wellness benefits of circumcision, opponents argue that the barbaric nature of the procedure does no good to a boy’s wellbeing. Now, the latest to join the fray is an anti-circumcision group in San Francisco, who are pushing for a ban on the practice. Unsurprisingly, those in favour of the procedure disagree with the proposal, citing the procedure’s history as a religious ritual, as well as its sexual health benefits, as some research suggests that circumcision helps prevent the spread of HIV. The debate that rages on is, therefore, “Is circumcision a good idea or not?”

 

We can date the process of circumcision as far back as to the Ancient Egyptians in 2,500BC, but the ritual later became more associated with Jewish people. Reasons for this included marking a boy’s passage into manhood, marking to distinguish those of higher social status, male “menstruation” or sign of the onset of puberty, and a way to discourage masturbation. Now, however, circumcision is not just a Jewish ritual but the most common surgery performed on males in the United States. According to a recent survey by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between the years of 1999 and 2004, 79% of men reported that they were circumcised.

 

The main health reason to be circumcised is that the process is believed to prevent diseases, such as HIV, and some research suggests that circumcision reduces the risk of male-to-female HIV transfer. This is possibly due to the fact that, when you are circumcised, the Langerhans cells in your foreskin are removed, and these cells are more susceptible to HIV infection. Langerhans cells are equipped with special receptors that may allow HIV access into the body. In 2009, three studies published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews – which included data from more than 11,000 men in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya between 2002 and 2006 – showed that circumcised men were 54% less likely to get HIV than their uncircumcised counterparts.

 

However, while HIV prevention is becoming a well-supported argument for circumcision in developing countries, it is not as strong of an argument for the United States or for us here in Britain. A report from the CDC notes, ‘A number of important differences from sub-Saharan African settings where the three male circumcision trials were conducted must be considered in determining the possible role for male circumcision in HIV prevention in the United States.’ It continues, ‘Studies to date have demonstrated efficacy only for penile-vaginal sex, the predominant mode of HIV transmission in Africa, whereas the predominant mode of sexual HIV transmission in the United States is by penile-anal sex among [men who have sex with men].’

 

Still, is that a reason to ban the practise, especially considering the fact that there’s a lack of strong evidence showing negative side effects? Proponents of the San Francisco ban have now delivered more than 12,000 signatures to the Department of Elections, and, if enough signatures are deemed to be valid, this ban will appear on the ballot in the November election. Under the ban, circumcision of any male under the age of 18 would carry a fine of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to one year. Lloyd Schofield, the leader of the proposal, comments that circumcision is ‘excruciatingly painful and permanently damaging surgery that’s forced on men when they’re at their weakest and most vulnerable.’ However, Scott Bryan, a spokesperson for the CDC, argues, ‘Data has shown that with anaesthesia, the majority of infants have no objective pain reaction.’

Categories: ban, circumcision, HIV, HIV prevention, hiv transmission, langerhans cells, male circumcision, predominant mode, research suggests, san francisco, sexual health, united states

How HIV Affects the World, and What We’re Doing About it

While HIV and AIDS are having more of an impact than ever on environmental wellness, the main concern for the diseases still remains for human health and wellbeing. Across the world, AIDS affects the wellness of over 30million people, causing infection, discrimination and death. By the end of 2015, the United Nations hope to achieve certain targets which will help to eliminate this disease from the face of the planet.

 

Target One: To reduce sexual transmission of HIV by 50%.

According to UK research, more and more gay men are getting receptive to the idea of safe sex, and they strongly advocate the use of condoms. This is promising, as is the increasing use of sex education and safe sex awareness programmes in schools, as the majority of HIV-infections occur in young people, sex workers and homosexuals.

 

Target Two: To eliminate vertical transmission of HIV and reduce maternal death by 50%.

To stop mothers passing on HIV to their babies – whether before or after birth – there are more effective antiretroviral medicines being brought out, the practice of caesarean section is being enhanced and HIV-positive women are being educated on the dangers of breastfeeding.

 

Target Three: To completely prevent new HIV infections among drug users.

82 countries have introduced NSPs (Needle and Syringe Programmes), and 70 countries have introduced OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy), to reduce the risk of HIV among drug users.

 

Target Four: To ensure those who can be treated have complete access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing countries with ongoing guidance, tools and support to make ART available for all HIV-positive people who can be treated. This therapy includes three drugs which helps to suppress the spread of HIV.

 

Target Five: To cut TB deaths among HIV sufferers by half.

As WHO and its partners work together to advocate joint TB/HIV prevention, policy development and implementation in various countries, the health organisation recommends 12 different TB/HIV collaborative activities, and provides a number of tools and guidelines for their implementation.

 

Target Six: To reduce discrimination.

Discrimination causes sufferers not to seek help, and can lead to depression and even suicide. Therefore, laws are being released in order to promote the policies which ensure the full realisation of human rights and fundamental freedom.

Categories: drug users, health organisation, HIV, hiv infections, HIV Positive, nbsp, nbsp target, reduction, safe sex, target, Targets, tb hiv

Could HIV Meds Prevent the Spread of the Virus?

New research has suggested that HIV treatments could be used to prevent the spread of disease in healthy people as well as those already infected. In a previous trial, targeting women in the commercial sex trade who are particularly at risk of contracting the virus, interesting information was gathered. The researchers conducting the study found that despite counselling the women on the dangers of unsafe sex practices, providing them with condoms and providing them with regular HIV testing, the women still became infected at a higher risk than most people. With the treatments for HIV as advanced as they could be at the time, there was little that could be done. There was good news to come though. In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new anti-HIV drug known as tenofovir, which had advantages over other drugs on the market for this condition. It offered fewer side effects and was a daily pill. It was believed that it could not only treat HIV but also prevent it – it seems that that belief was well founded. The drugs used to counter the symptoms of HIV have proven to be effective in treating it in healthy people as well.

Many people believed the concept of giving the medication to people who were healthy and uninfected, as well as potentially risking their health in the process. But it has worked, and offers the most valuable theory that researchers have had in the entire fight against the HIV epidemic. The evolution of the HIV epidemic saw a turning point where the thinking behind treatment and prevention sees a vital shift. Researchers believe that they have finally begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the bid to combat AIDs – 30 years after the human immunodeficiency virus was first identified. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV-AIDS, we have now reached record levels for people living with HIV. This is owing in a large part to the great advances in better drugs and treatments, as well as better ways of getting drugs to people who need them most. However, it isn’t possible to treat every infected person, and the potential for the number of infected who act as a reservoir for the disease keeps the disease alive. There are still areas of health care and sexual health risks that remain unresolved. There is still much that needs to be done in the fight against HIV and AIDs, but researchers feel that this news is promising and offers real hope for the hopefully not-too-distant future.

HIV is something that still remains a threat in people who are sexually active – the lack of urgency that has permeated the modern world has taken the edge off the importance, but it remains a serious health concern. If you are sexually active, you should always use protection and get checked for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, regularly. The more of an interest people take in the prevention of HIV, the closer researchers can get to combating the condition and putting an end to the spread of this virus. The plan for routine HIV checks could also work in conjunction with this new prevention method, to help people most at risk to maintain good health. For the first time in its history, researchers could be on the cusp of genuine treatments and methods – this is a promising turn of events that could save millions of people from life-long treatments and health risks.

Categories: drugs, health, Health Risks, healthy people, HIV, hiv epidemic, new study, people, Researchers, sexual health, sexually active, Treatments

Could Early Treatment of HIV Avoid it Being Transmitted?

As well as being one of the biggest threats to sexual wellbeing, HIV is one of the most serious threats to the emotional and psychological wellness of those affected.

 

This is because once you have become infected, you not only have to live with the condition for the rest of your life, and the worry that it is going to cause the premature ending of your life, but you also have to become aware as a carrier that you are at risk of passing on the disease to others.

 

A large, randomised trial was recently carried out which involved over 1,700 heterosexual couples where one person in the couple had HIV and the other did not. The results of this trial were astounding, and seemed to indicate that early treatment of HIV could avoid it being transmitted sexually.

 

The results showed that the people who took the anti-HIV drugs reduced the risk of transmitted the disease to their partner by a whopping 96% when compared directly to those who did not receive the drugs early.

 

These results were so staggering that lead scientists Dr. Anthony Fauci decided to release the results of the study a good four years before it was scheduled to end, as he felt that the potential benefit of what they had discovered was enormous. All of the participants in the study are now offered the antiretroviral therapy.

 

Another trial was also recently carried out which seemed to indicate that using antiretroviral drugs could possibly be used as a preventative measure against contracting HIV. This trial involved 2,500 HIV negative males in countries where they were at high risk of contracting the disease. Those who took the anti-HIV drugs were found to be between 44 percent and 73 percent less likely to get HIV.

Categories: anti hiv, Disease, drugs, early treatment, HIV, hiv drugs, nbsp, results, treatment, trial

Six STIs that Gay Men Need to Get Screened For Regularly

Although sexual health and wellness awareness campaigns are more prolific than ever, there are still more gay men living with HIV than there has ever been. Having unprotected penetrative sex is the easiest way to pass on a sexually transmitted infection (STI), especially considering how many gay men are contract STIs at some point in their lives. All it takes is using a condom to significantly reduce your risk of STIs, and which is still important even if you already have HIV. Aside from not passing the disease onto your partners, you need to prevent other STIs as these are more difficult to treat if you’ve got HIV.

 

According to Gary Williams from Birmingham’s Healthy Gay Life project, some STIs, such as syphilis, may even accelerate the progression of your HIV. ‘We’re also seeing a rise in cases of hepatitis C, particularly in men who have HIV,’ Williams adds. ‘Hepatitis C is treatable in some cases but it’s a long and drawn-out process. So to prevent its spread, use a condom.’ There isn’t routine screening for hepatitis C, so it’s essential that you consult your GP if you think you’re at risk or have been exposed. Williams notes, ‘Gay men should have a check-up at least every six months at a sexual health clinic, because for some infections you will not see any symptoms.’ Let’s take a closer look at the STIs you may be exposed to:

 

1. Gonorrhoea: Also known as the Clap, this bacterial infection has symptoms such as a stinging sensation when you pee, and the need to “go” but finding you can’t urinate once you try. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics.

 

2. Non-specific urethritis (NSU): Bacteria causes inflammation in your urethra, and often causes similar symptoms to gonorrhoea. You can develop this infection through frequent sex and masturbation, but the NSU can usually be treated using antibiotics.

 

3. Chlamydia: This bacterial infection can occur in your urethra, rectum or throat. You may find you experience discharge and pain when passing urine or pain in your testicles. However, chlamydia can be symptom-free so it’s important to get regular screenings. Again, it can be transmitted through sex with an infected person and is treated with antibiotics.

 

4. Genital herpes: Some men have no symptoms of this viral infection, but your wellbeing may be affected by painful blisters and ulcers on or around your penis or anus. You can catch genital herpes through oral sex if your partner has a cold sore on or in their mouth. Plus, you can catch the infection through close genital contact with someone who has genital herpes.  Your GP can provide anti-viral tablets or cream, which should help the healing process and shorten the length of the episode.

 

5. Syphilis: If you have a painless ulcer, especially in the genital area, you may have contracted this bacterial infection. This ulcer is likely to go away on its own, but may leave behind other symptoms, such as a rash and swollen glands. Syphilis is very infectious in its early stages, and can be passed on by close skin contact during sex. There are treatment options available; antibiotic injections or tablets.

 

6. Genital warts: If you have sex with an infected person, genital warts may appear a few weeks or even months later. This common infection causes pinhead-sized growths, mostly on or around the head of your penis but also in and around your anus. These warts are easier to deal with early on, so talk to your doctor who will freeze them or use a cream to remove them.

Categories: antibiotics nbsp, bacterial infection, gay men, genital, genital herpes, genital warts, HIV, infected person, infection, sexual health, STI Symptoms

The Truth About HIV Rates Within the Gay Community

Recent reports have shown that HIV is the biggest threat to the sexual health and wellness of gay men, and can also affect their mental wellbeing. These same reports have also suggested that the rates of HIV infection amongst the gay male community are out of control. But is the disease really as ‘out of control’ as all that?

 

This was a direct quote from The Lancet Infectious Diseases, an important scientific journal and is just one of a number of recent publications that has made this alarming claim about the HIV rates amongst gay men. Another article noted that young gay men in Belgium were generally showing high rates of unprotected sex, leading to reinfection amongst one another. It showed that the young men who had HIV were hooking up with one another and not using condoms, and this circle was widening as more men became infected.

 

HIV studies are very difficult to conduct properly, because there is a hugely variable time between infection of the disease and diagnosis. You could get HIV from having a one night stand and then discover it a few weeks later when you start to suspect that something has gone wrong. On the other hand, you could get HIV from a long-term partner who is not aware that they have the disease and only find out years and years later when you show symptoms of having AIDS.

 

However, studies do not seem to support the use of the alarmist ‘out of control’ type phrases being used. The transmission of HIV does not appear to have increased amongst any of the populations.

 

On the other hand, the rate of decline in HIV transmission amongst gay men is significantly lower than the decline in any other population. So whilst rates do not appear to be ‘out of control’, the reduction in infection is not what it should be, and further research is needed into why this is.

Categories: control, Disease, gay, gay men, HIV, hiv rates, infection, men, nbsp, Rates

What Can Be Done to Reduce HIV Amongst Young People?

With World AIDS Day on the horizon (December 1^st), wellness experts in the US are focusing on teens and young adults, as this subsection of the population accounts for a disproportionate number of HIV infections. This follows a recent report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has found that very few young people are getting tested for HIV.

 

HIV affects the wellbeing of 13- to 24-year-olds each year, with people in this age bracket making up more than a quarter of new infections in the US. Moreover, over half of those who are infected have no idea that they are HIV-positive, and could be risking their own wellbeing as well as the sexual health of others. CDC director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden comments, ‘Given everything we know about HIV and how to prevent it after more than 30 years of fighting the disease, it is just unacceptable that young people are becoming infected at such high rates.’

 

The latest CDC analysis, which was published online as part of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, looked at data from a diverse population of youth using two key sources: the 2009 and 2011 Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System for 9th to 12th grade students and the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for young adults between ages 18 to 24. According to the report, there were about 12,200 new infection of HIV among this age group in 2010, and the highest rates were among bisexual and gay young men (72%) and African-Americans (57%).

 

Rates of HIV are most common in communities with low incomes, as they face lack of access to healthcare, stigma, discrimination and a prevalence of unrecognized and untreated infections. Frieden notes, ‘As we work to drive down new HIV infections in all populations, we have to give particular attention to the next generation, especially African Americans and gay and bisexual young men. Every young person should know how to protect themselves from HIV and should be empowered to do so.’ Since young people often do not seek health care on a regular basis, the CDC is pushing for more widespread testing and education about the virus both in healthcare settings and in communities.

 

However, the Kaiser Family Foundation recently released a survey that shows greater awareness of HIV, particularly among higher risk populations. In a group of 1,437 youth ages 15 to 24, African American young adults were three times more likely to cite HIV and AIDS as issues of personal concern than their white counterparts, and Latino youth were twice as likely. Tina Hoff, senior vice president and director of health communication and media partnerships at Kaiser Family Foundation, explains, ‘We saw striking differences, most notably among race. This is a generation that has never known a time without AIDS and may see the end of it. I think there is a lot of hope for this generation. They are motivated to respond and ready to be active about it.’

 

In both reports, stigma is cited as one of the key culprits behind young adults being kept in the dark about their status, although such discrimination isn’t as prominent as it once was. The Kaiser survey noted that one in three young people say there is still “a lot” of stigma around HIV/AIDS in the US, while 52% assert there is still “some.” So what can be done to battle the stigma associated with HIV? Frieden says, ‘All Americans can talk honestly and open about HIV to help combat the stigma and fear that keep people from seeking prevention and treatment. Dramatically reducing HIV among young people is going to require that all of us do our part.’

Categories: african americans, family foundation, HIV, hiv infections, kaiser family, people, Research, young, young adults, young men, young people

Revolutionary Sexual Health Project Sparks Change in Newala

In the remote Newala District of Tanzania, teenage girls face a real health issue; unwanted sexual advances. Young girls are often approached as they walk to a neighbour’s house, the water well or the store, and many feel forced to give in. Those who don’t put their wellbeing at risk to rape, and a lot of adolescent girls end up missing school because, as they put it, some teachers “just want to have sex with you.”

 

However, this isn’t just a matter of the girls’ emotional wellness, but their sexual health also. In these Tanzanian communities, such sexual violence puts 12- to 17-year-old girls at a greater risk of being infected by HIV. In fact, across the world, girls and young women are far more likely to be HIV-positive than their male counterparts. Of those between the ages of 15 and 24 living with HIV – which is disproportionate to other age groups anyway – females make up more than 60% of the group. These are shocking statistics which, at their core, reveal the reality that girls throughout the world are living with every day. Gender inequalities are the norm in many countries, and these shape the lives of young girls and threaten their mental and physical wellness.

 

It was with this in mind that International Centre for Research on Women researchers embarked on a new project, allowing them to understand and tackle the numerous ways in which girls of the Newala District are at risk of HIV. The effort, known in English as “Yes Youth Can”, was funded by ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action programme and undertaken in partnership with Taasisi ya Maendeleo Shirikishi Arusha (Tamasha). The researchers learned that the girls themselves needed to be active contributors to the work, not as passive recipients of the project outcomes but being placed at the centre of both research and programming agendas.

 

Instead of giving a pre-packaged HIV prevention effort to voiceless beneficiaries, the project enables girls to define and address their own needs. Jennifer McCleary-Sills, a senior social and behavioural scientist at the International Centre for Research on Women, explains, ‘We accomplished this through an inclusive process that began with our local partner, Tamasha, informing community leaders about our initiative, who in turn nominated several potential candidates to serve as “youth researchers” for the project. Tamasha then interviewed them to assess literacy levels and their willingness to discuss sensitive issues.’

 

This process resulted in the selection of nine 18- to 24-year-old women, who led formative research in four rural communities. Overall, 82 girls aged 12 to 17 participated in a series of Participatory Learning and Action sessions, which included exercises such as getting the girls to draw a map of where they feel unsafe in their community, to explain the obstacles they face in achieving their dreams, and to detail their perceived risks to HIV. McCleary-Sills adds, ‘Meanwhile, our team interviewed adults – parents, community leaders, service providers – to learn whether and how they thought about girls’ vulnerabilities and how the community could better safeguard girls’ health and wellbeing.’

 

So where is the Newala District now in terms of sexual wellness? The integrative approach of the Yes Youth Can project shaped the structure and priorities of the subsequent intervention project, as well as giving content and case studies for a life skills education curriculum, and mentors for peer facilitators who were later trained to implement the project. Moreover, the involvement of Newala women encouraged open, non-judgmental dialogue, which is a rarity in such communities. McCleary-Sills notes that change is a gradual process, but the process has been started, and will spill out into surrounding communities.

Categories: community leaders, girls, HIV, international centre, mccleary sills, Newala, newala district, project, sexual health, Victim Involvement, Women, young girls

What Are Health Experts Advising for HIV Testing?

The treatment of HIV has been almost exclusively focused on for the past few decades, but it seems that public health experts are now planning a change in this field to focus more on preventative measures to curb the spread of disease. Recent research shows that anti-HIV drugs can help to hamper the growth of the virus to prevent the progression of the disease after the exposure to HIV in infected individuals. This same medication can also prevent infections from developing in healthy people who are exposed to virus, both of which could offer vital ways to control the spread of this disease to keep new cases of HIV to a minimum. An independent panel of health experts analysed a range of scientific evidence, including trials of anti-HIV drugs, and came to the conclusion that making HIV screening routine in the same way that cholesterol screening is will allow more people to determine their status. One in five people in the US living with HIV aren’t aware that their status is positive, and even high risk people such as gay and bisexual men are part of low test rates. Experts want to change this and hope that this new focus shift will result in a lowered rate of people developing HIV.

This knowledge could help to improve the public health campaigns to adopt a preventative strategy and move away from a primary focus on treatments in order to reduce the spread of HIV. These campaigns will promote measures that are beyond the common knowledge of safe sex and abstinence, which seem to have only been marginally effective in reducing infection rates. Naturally, the best course of dealing with HIV is to not get it in the first place, so preventing the disease from spreading in the first place could save thousands of people from having to go through treatment and screening processes. The treatments for HIV have improved significantly in recent years, but general screening could help make it a possibility that the whole population could be healthier. It seems that this shift in focus is also timely, as combination drug therapies have now created a sense of complacency around the disease.

Around 20 to 25 percent of people who are currently living with HIV are unaware that they’re HIV positive. Researchers have noted that the sense of urgency surrounding HIV has dissipated, largely because of the improvements with medication. But it also has something to do with the common mistake that people have that HIV only affects gay men or drug users – HIV can affect anyone, and is still a dangerous virus. If HIV testing became routine, more people would realise that the HIV epidemic remains prevalent – this is the hope of health experts. Normalising the screening of HIV and making it an active part of the medical care offered to people today will help to expand the reach that researchers have to identify people who need treatment. It will also help to make the campaign for preventing HIV easier, as researchers will have a better understanding of the scope of the epidemic. The best prevention, until more research takes place, is to ensure that you always have safe sex and get checked regularly for STDs and HIV. If you think that you may have HIV, then you should seek advice and testing from your GP as soon as possible. Health experts hope that increasing the education and urgency of this condition will help to alert people to the need for safe sex practices, and the importance of regular check ups.

Categories: health experts, HIV, hiv drugs, hiv testing, public health, Research, safe sex, Sex

Are You Harbouring the Symptoms of HIV?

Between 40 and 90 percent of people develop flu-like symptoms within a month of the HIV virus entering the body, and this is known as acute retroviral syndrome or ARS. However, this isn’t always the case, with some people not developing symptoms for years or even up to a decade after the infection. Many people who have HIV, for this very reason, don’t realise that they have it, so it’s very important that you get tested regularly. This is especially vital if you’ve had unprotected sex with anyone or use intravenous drugs. There are some signs that you should be aware of so that you can detect the problem early and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

 

The first and most common symptom is a fever, which is often accompanied by a sore throat, swollen lymph glands and fatigue. During this stage the virus is spreading into the bloodstream and is duplicating in large numbers. The reaction of this is from the immune system which attempts to fight off the virus. The second is fatigue – everything you do will leave you tired and out of breath, even if it something minor or something you used to do regularly. Achey joints and muscles are also common – as previously mentioned, the flu-like symptoms can often get overlooked and passed off as a minor bug or virus. However, if the HIV virus has been contracted, this could well be to blame. A violent, boil-like rash may also appear, which is itchy and inflamed. This is often a sign for many people that they don’t just have a regular cold or flu virus.

 

Around 30 to 60 percent of people with HIV experience diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms are unresponsive to treatments, this could be an indicator that you’re suffering with HIV. You may have also noticed weight loss, which was once referred to as AIDS wasting. This is a sign of a more advanced stage of the disease and could be connected to the severe diarrhoea that many people with HIV suffer with. Weight loss is a sign that your immune system is depleted, but antiretroviral treatment has meant that this symptom isn’t as much of a problem for many patients now. A subtle yet prominent symptom is a dry cough, which a lot of people ignore out of habit. If you’ve had a cough on and off for more than a year, this is a sign you should be concerned about.

 

Around half of the people with HIV experience night sweats as well, which are more common in the later stages of the disease. They’re hard to ignore though, unlike the cough or nausea, being described as similar to those menopausal women deal with. They are unconnected to the temperature of the room and will leave your clothes and bed sheets drenched with sweat. It’s worth paying attention to your nails too, as these can highlight changes which are associated with HIV – thickening, discolouration or vertical black lines on the nail are all common in people with the virus. This is because of a fungal infection which your body is more susceptible to because the immune system is lowered. The same can be said of yeast infections, particularly in women, such as thrush.

 

If you’re concerned about any of the symptoms you have, or think that you’ve had symptoms which have been present for a long time, it may be worth speaking to your GP to arrange a HIV test. You should get regular HIV tests at your local GUM clinic if you’re sexually active to ensure you haven’t caught the virus.

Categories: HIV, hiv experience, hiv virus, nbsp, people, sexual health, sign, Symptoms, Virus, Weight Loss

Is HIV Making You Miss Out on a Natural Delivery?

When your wellness is affected by HIV, it’s more than just a matter of your sexual health. If you have children, their well-being is at risk of the infection, which is why elective caesarean section delivery (a caesarean performed before the onset of labour) has been recommended for HIV-positive women since 1999. However, though this measure has been shown to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a new study, published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency, asserts that there are “missed opportunities” for HIV-positive pregnant women with a suppressed viral load to give birth vaginally.

 

In Europe, it is recommended, or permissible, for you to deliver vaginally if you have an undetectable or very low viral load, but, according to the investigators, more than a third of women with viral suppression and no contraindications still have a caesarean section. The study authors commented, ‘Rates of vaginal deliveries were lower than expected. Our results suggest that the policy for vaginal delivery among women among women with undetectable or very low VL [viral load] is only slowly becoming established within practice over time.’

 

Across Europe, rates of mother-to-child transmission have declined dramatically, reaching rates of below 1%. This is thanks to the widespread use of combination anti-retroviral therapy, rather than the common practice of elective caesarean section. Wellness experts have questioned the additional benefits of delivering via caesarean, with particular regard to the risks of the procedure itself. As guidelines across Europe for the management of HIV infection during pregnancy have been changed over the past decade, the study researchers wanted to investigate whether or not this had had an impact on low viral-load women giving birth vaginally.

 

For the study, the researchers examined data collected between 2000 and 2010 in two studies (the European Collaborative Study and the Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study).  They looked at data on 3013 deliveries to 2663 women, and found that, after the guideline changes, caesarean section was the mode of delivery for 55% of women with an undetectable viral load. The study authors concluded, ‘Rates of vaginal delivery in HIV-positive pregnant women are increasing for women with suppressed VL. Despite this, there is evidence of missed opportunities for viral suppression and for having a vaginal delivery in women with a suppressed viral load.’

Categories: birth vaginally, caesarean section, child transmission, HIV, HIV Positive, Natural Delivery, Research, study authors, suppressed viral, vaginal delivery, vaginally nbsp, viral load

Could Party Drugs be Causing Increased Rates in HIV?

Gay men in London are putting their sexual health at risk when they take so-called party drugs, a new study has found. Statistics showed that HIV infections amongst the gay community in London were soaring, and those who work in the sexual health industry in the capital say that the wellness and well-being of gay men is adversely affected due to an increasing culture of taking party drugs.

 

The phrase used was ‘chaotic and harmful’, describing the increased link between drugs and gay sex. Figures released recently by Public Health England show that the rates of people contracting HIV in London have increased dramatically since last year, with a rise of over 20 percent. Charities that deal with HIV and AIDS are warning on the strength of these new figures as the increase in virus represents an extremely serious public health crisis for the United Kingdom.

 

Across the country as a whole, the rate of people contracting the HIV infection increased by eight percent, with around 3,240 new infections reported last year in the gay male group. These figures were even higher in the capital city amongst the gay community.

 

HIV/AIDS is a serious health concern because it can cause serious damage to the immune system and can even threaten life. It is also dangerous because men who do not realise that they are carrying the disease do not properly manage it and could pass it on to others. Also, left untreated, it severely damages their immune system, resulting in illness.

 

More and more men are using drugs at parties, including mephedrone, crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, and this can lead to risky sexual behaviours, which can result in the spread of the infection.

Categories: drugs, gay community, gay men, health, HIV, increased, Party, party drugs, people contracting, public health, sexual health

Warning: Party Drugs Could Be Responsible For Rise In HIV

Recent results from a sexual health survey show that the rate of HIV infections amongst the gay male population of London is soaring. Sexual health workers claim that the wellness and wellbeing of men in London’s gay community is being severely damaged by so-called ‘party drugs’. They feel that there is a strong and very harmful link between drug use and gay sex, and that it increases risk-taking behaviour.

 

The latest published figures on the subject show that the rates of infection in London have leaped by over 20 percent. HIV/AIDS charities have warned that the virus is on the increase and is becoming the most serious public health crisis in the United Kingdom.

 

Across the country as a whole the rates of infection are up by around eight percent, meaning that there are around 3,240 new infections amongst gay men who have had sex with other men. In just London there were nearly 2,000 cases of the disease amongst gay men.

 

Drugs play a huge part in this because infection can be caused by sharing needles when users are taking drugs, but also because when people are under the influence of drugs they are more likely to indulge in risky sexual behaviours such as having unprotected sex.

 

Thanks to new treatments, those who contract HIV have a good chance of living a normal, healthy life, so long as they continue to take daily anti-retroviral tablets to keep the disease at bay. Nevertheless, the disease is still a massive concern, as many people do not know that they have the disease and this can lead to widespread spreading of the disease as well as people having serious declines in health due to the damage that the disease causes to the immune system, and this can even result in premature death.

Categories: Disease, drugs, gay, gay men, health, HIV, london, nbsp, party drugs, sexual health

Warning: HIV/Aids Infections are on the Rise in Britain

Urgent action is now required as figures from a new sexual health study show that the rates of HIV infection are on the rise.

Wigan health chiefs are calling for urgent action to be taken in their borough in particular, as figures show an alarming rise in the number of people there whose wellness and wellbeing is being negatively affected by the disease.

In 2006, there were just 86 sufferers reported, whereas by 2011 this had rocketed to 189. Due to this alarming figure, there have been calls for health workers to work in closer cooperation to help protecting the public from this growing threat.

The lead commissioner for sexual health at Wigan Council, Eleanor Mansell, said that she was disappointed to see a rise in the cases of HIV in the borough, but was confident that ways would be found to tackle the problem, if health professionals would work in close collaboration to find solutions. For example, there would be more opportunities for people to be tested for HIV in community clinics, and this should help to reduce the number of people who are in the later stages of HiV before they are diagnosed. This will remove unnecessary suffering, help to prevent the spread of the disease (as people often unwittingly spread it before they are diagnosed) and help to increase the health of all patients.

Nearly a quarter of the patients who were diagnosed with HIV last year were aged over 50, and this trend is echoed across the North West of the country, with the over-50s being around one fifth of the cases of HIV diagnosed in the region. This number is expected to triple over the next decade, as HIV treatments improve and sufferers consequently live longer.

Categories: aids, HIV, rise

Men Deliberately try to Catch HIV: New Craze Sweeps UK

HIV/Aids is one of the most dangerous, distressing and debilitated conditions to affect the sexual health of men and women. It may seem like madness then, that some people are actually disregarding their wellness and wellbeing and going out of their way in an attempt to contract the disease.

This is a bizarre new craze known as ‘bug chasing’, which has taken hold in the US and, to a lesser extent, in the UK. Experts have warned that not only does this new craze mean that men are seeking out the virus, they are then also secretly spreading it around without informing sexual partners.

The men involved apparently get a thrill from risking catching the deadly disease. HIV/Aids attacks the body’s immune system, leaving it weak and unable to fight against diseases which most people easily recover from. It often causes death.

Online forums for the ‘bug chasing’ craze are spreading, with men meeting up on chat sites, twitter and Facebook. Some of these bug chasers claim that they are happier after contracting the virus, because the medications give them a better quality of life.

One such bug chaser is Nick, a 31 year old man from the Midlands. He claims that he feels healthier than ever since contracting the disease, and enjoys the regular testing. He claims to have had sex with over a thousand men in his quest to get the virus, all of which were unprotected encounters.

Now that he has the virus, however, he admits that it is a bit disappointing as it takes the fun out of attempting to contract it away.

Although the true reach of the craze is still unknown, some studies have claimed that as much as a quarter of all new HIV cases in the US could be attributed to the practice of bug chasing. No evidence has backed this up specifically, but a Facebook group for bug chasers currently boasts 1, 173 likers.

Categories: bug, chasing, HIV

Could there Really be a Cure for HIV Once and for All?

One of the biggest sexual health problems comes in the form of HIV/Aids. The biggest question that is always asked about this devastating disease is: will there ever be a cure? For the millions whose wellness and wellbeing, or that of a loved one, is affected by this disease, any piece of news that seems to indicate a cure can be tremendously exciting and potentially life changing.

That’s why when a recent report told the story of two HIV positive patients who were treated for cancer in Boston and who were subsequently found to be free of HIV, people everywhere sat up and took notice. But does this mean that a cure for HIV is in the wings? Sadly, no. Although the research on these two men (and a third who sadly died from his condition) is medically significant and could help towards the eventual development of a cure, it does not in itself represent a ready-made cure.

Unfortunately, whenever there is a headline claiming that a ‘cure’ for HIV has been found, it has some unintended side effects. First of all, people who read the article believe that the HIV epidemic is then automatically over, and this does damage to charities who fight for drugs, rights, access and understanding for patients with HIV. It also, potentially, reduces the social impact of the disease, as people are less afraid of catching something that they believe can be cured.

Although HIV drugs have advanced significantly in recent years, sufferers still experience unpleasant side-effects from drugs, near death before diagnosis and drug resistance amongst some people who have the disease.

That is why it is so important to be careful about using words such as ‘cure’ when talking about HIV. In this case, it is simply a case of drugs forcing a virus down to undetectable levels. It still lies dormant in the human body, however, and has the power to rise up and cause severe health problems at any time.

Categories: aids, cure, HIV