The Better2Know Blog

STI home testing is becoming increasingly popular. Despite a society where our lives are posted all over social media where we thrive on sharing, likes and followers. The sudden shyness or refusal to talk about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections is surprising. Sex is easily accessible now, more than it was in the past. Stigma and discrimination still exist. With the idea that people who have STIs are dirty. Having a sexually transmitted infection should not be the decider on one’s perception of other people’s personal hygiene levels.

Getting tested is the hard part done. No more wondering if that itch, rash, or pain when you urinate will go away. No more worrying about going to see your doctor, or sitting in the waiting room feeling like everyone knows why you’re there (FYI: they don’t at Better2Know clinics). You now know your STI status and can now receive treatment to clear or manage the infection. The next step is to notify sexual partners (past and present) of your status. Please ask them to book an STI testing appointment. This may seem daunting, but their health is at risk. It is not fair on them not to tell them. Protecting your partner, it is a conversation you will need to have.

Whether you are exhibiting concerning symptoms, or are simply concerned about your sexual health, then you should book an STI test. If this is your first time getting tested, there is nothing to be afraid of. You should feel confident that you are taking control of your sexual health. Everyone’s experience with sexually transmitted infections differ. Some might suffer from painful or worrying symptoms such as blisters, unusual discharge or pain during sex, whilst others may experience no signs of an STI at all.

Better2Know’s Founders Michael Asher and Anthea Morris are regional finalists for two awards. The awards celebrate Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Best Practice examples of what being a Director is all about.

Our friends in America promote women’s health month in May every year. This awareness raising programme of events looks at many different aspects of women’s health including: Cervical Cancer Prevention, self-care, orgasms and sexual well being and the menopause.

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) recently updated standards for the management of sexually transmitted infections to help healthcare establishments, government-funded and otherwise, ensure they are providing high quality sexual health services for their patients. The clinical recommendations are relevant for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections has risen by a third in people ages between 50 and 70. With increasing rates of divorce and online dating fuelling the surge in casual sex, the sexual health of the generation who may not have had access to sex education is threatened. Stigma and discrimination are not encouraging this commonly overlooked population to get the help and advice they need regarding their personal risk to STIs.

Research suggests that there has been a 10-fold increase in HIV infections amongst drugs users in Glasgow. Britain has not suffered an outbreak of this scale since the 1980s and the epidemic is not being contained. With few places to get clean injecting kits, drug users are resorting to sharing needles. Even though Glasgow’s NHS has introduced needle exchange points to reach addicts on the streets, the virus is still rapidly spreading.

The HPV vaccine has exceeded experts’ initial expectations with a recent study suggesting that the routine vaccination of young girls in Scotland has led to a significant reduction of cervical cancer cases later in life.

One of BBC’s reporters recently went undercover to investigate the illegal online trade of drugs that is endangering the sexual health of the UK population. The unlicensed antibiotics were advertised through social media as treatment for sexually transmitted infections; the drugs were not only illegal – with some not even being prescribed anymore – but also sold at the wrong dose.