Girl Power: Why Your Sexual Health is In Your Hands

Becoming a teenager is a very turbulent time in more ways than one. Not only are you going through all these physical changes, but your emotional wellness also takes a major hit. Does any girl suddenly grow breasts, start periods and get hair in weird places without being a little bit affected by it? You’re becoming an adult – both physically and emotionally – and that’s a pretty scary thing. There’s also a certain amount of responsibility attached to this new body you’re developing. Kids don’t have to give much thought to taking care of their wellbeing – especially considering the fact their parents do it for them – but as a teenager you need to start thinking about your body and how to take care of it.

 

This is no more true than when it comes to your sexual health, especially with regard to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young people aged less than 25 years experience the highest rates of STIs in the UK, with the peak age for girls being between the age of 19 and 20. The worst news is that not only are people your age getting infected, but it’s happening to individuals more than once! Official statistics show that, of all 16-19 year olds diagnosed with an STI in 2009, at least 11% of women and 12% of men will become re-infected within a year. It’s really important to look after your body and this includes looking after your sexual health by staying free from STIs.

 

But why are STIs such a big deal? If you have an STI and you let it go untreated, this may lead to some serious health consequences and even prevent you being able to have children in the future. The problem with STIs is that they don’t often present with any obvious symptoms, meaning that you could have one without even realising. As we’ve already discussed, this is something you’ve never had to deal with before, which is why teenagers don’t give much thought to their sexual health. However, just like the rest of your body, your vagina can be affected by infections, sickness, stress or antibiotics.

 

With regards to infections, it’s easy to catch an STI off someone who has already been infected. Like I’ve said, the symptoms of an STI aren’t always obvious, and so your partner may not know he has one, and could pass it on to you through oral, vaginal or anal sex. That said, there are a few signs for women that an STI might be present. These include itching, soreness, unusual discharge, swelling or pain. Sometime even cold and flu symptoms may indicate an STI. Therefore, if you experience any of the above symptoms, or you have unprotected sexual contact with someone else, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible, and get tested for STIs.

 

Another important sexual health strategy to take up is to get a Pap smear on a regular basis. You should start having Pap smears two years after the first time you have sex, AND after you turn 18, and then every two years after that. During the Pap smear test, your doctor will take a sample of cells from your cervix so that he or she can detect if there are any changes to the tissues or cells in your cervix or womb. Human Papillomavirus is one of the most common causes of these changes, and is also responsible for causing genital warts. Pap smears are done by doctors and nurses all the time, so there is no need to feel embarrassed.

Categories: pap smear, Screening and Testing, sexually transmitted infections

Gay Men and Women: Are You Skipping Vital Screenings?

According to a wealth of research, gay men and lesbians are less likely to protect their wellness with routine screening tests than heterosexuals. Whether you’re gay or straight, illnesses can affect your wellbeing, so why aren’t you having screening or testing done to check your risk? And we’re not just talking about sexual health here, but other health concerns like cancer. Gay men and women often fear discrimination, or simply don’t think they’re at risk, and so they don’t get tested but the screening process may save your life. It’s vital that certain conditions are detected early, and some, such as breast cancer, may actually be more common in gay people.

 

For Women Only:

 

• Cervical cancer screening: If you have sex with other women, you should have cervical smears every three to five years. Early detection of cervical abnormalities is vital to prevent cervical cancer, which is currently diagnosed in around 2,800 women each year. There’s an urban myth floating around that lesbians can’t get cervical cancer, but in reality your risk is just thought to be lower than straight women. You can still develop cervical cancer, but according to charity Stonewall, 15% of lesbians and bisexual women have never had a cervical smear test compared with 7% of women in general. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme encourages every 25- to 49-year-old woman to have a screening every three years, and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years. Your GP gives the programme your details and sends you a reminder letter when your test is due, so it’s vital to register with a local surgery.

 

• Breast cancer screening: Stonewall’s survey of more than 6,000 women found that lesbians are more prone to breast cancer than straight women. This may be linked to other factors that lesbians are more prone to, such as being overweight, drinking more alcohol and being less likely to have children. Compared to one in 20 of women in general, more than one in 12 lesbian and bisexual women aged between 50 and 79 had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and yet lesbians and bisexual women are less likely to attend routine breast screening tests. As the NHS Breast Screening Programme automatically invites 50- to 70-year-old women for screening every three years, and encourages the over 70s to make their own screening appointment every three years, there’s no reason not to get tested.

 

For Men Only:

 

• HIV Testing: As a gay man, you’re more at risk of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhoea, than straight men. This is certainly the case with HIV, as gay men in the UK are the most commonly affected group even though it can affect anyone’s wellbeing. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) notes over a quarter (27%) of people with HIV don’t know they have it, and the number of people with HIV continues to rise. The most common way to spread HIV is through penetrative sex, and so prevention using a condom is key. However, if you do have unprotected sex or think you might be at risk of HIV, your nearest genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic can give you a free, confidential and anonymous sexual health check.

 

For Men and Women:

 

• General health checks: You’re eligible for NHS bowel cancer screening from the age of 60 and for a blood pressure check every five years or so from the age of 40, although you should be screened more often if you have high blood pressure.

 

• Chlamydia screening: As one of the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK, chlamydia can affect men and women, gay or straight, and often doesn’t present any symptoms. You can get a free chlamydia test if you’re under the age of 25, but screening is important at any age as chlamydia can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

Categories: Bisexual Women, blood pressure, breast cancer, breast screening, cancer screening, cervical cancer, gay men, Lesbians, Screening and Testing, screening programme, women aged