The Better2Know Blog

A recent survey by the charity ovarian cancer action has found that young women prefer to search google than to go to their doctor for a sexual health issue.

A review of papers and studies has recently been conducted by Dr Monica Desai, HIV & STI Department, Public Health England, to explore the potential benefits of active recall programs to increase rates of HIV and STI testing. This means proactively contacting patients to advise them to come back for regular STI testing.

A lot has been written about Chlamydia, the fact that it is one of the leading sexually transmitted infections and that if it is left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to fertility problems or worse, in both man and women. But did you know that there are several other types of Chlamydia bacteria out there?

Chlamydia is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Infections in the UK and indeed around the world. It is easy to transmit and easy to catch, but some individuals seem to catch it more often than others. Researchers have asked the question why this might be, and have come up with an interesting hypothesis.

We have two main ways of booking your STI Test at Better2Know.  Our friendly Patient Services Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  They can help answer your questions, book your appointment and help you to get your results when they are ready.  The team are highly trained and knowledgeable about Sexual Health and STIs.  The same team will book you on-line booking request if you choose to Book Online.The Patient Services Team can help you choose the right STI test for you from our different range of services.

PEP, or Post Exposure Prophylaxis is the name given to a course of medication, which has been shown to reduce the rate of infection with the HIV virus following exposure. HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the cause of AIDS. If HIV is left untreated, it will usually lead to death. Being able to prevent any HIV infection from becoming established in the body is therefore of tremendous value to both the individual concerned, and to the health care organisations which care for people.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is bacteria responsible for a common sexually transmitted infection. Cases of Gonorrhoea infection have been on the rise over the past several years. Since 2004, cases of Gonorrhoea have increased by over 42% and cases of infection continue to rise from 25,000 in 2012 to over 29,000 cases diagnosed in 2013, a 15% increase. Gonorrhoea is of particular concern due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of this bacteria. This means that there are now types of the Gonorrheoa bacteria that cannot be treated and cured using the normal antibiotics. Fortunately, there are still some drugs which can be used to cure this infection but it is getting increasingly difficult to do so.

Three school boys in London have come up with an idea that will see condoms change colours if they come into contact with an STI.  This is a great idea, although still to be tested to see if it could actually work.

Better2Know has instant STI tests available across the UK. The tests give you your STI Test results in just 20 minutes for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Next month we celebrate the first anniversary of our hugely popular Everywhere service.  Instead of travelling to a clinic, our nurse will come2you at  your home, place or work, hotel or anywhere where your samples can be taken.  We need a private room,  a loo (if we need a urine sample), and washing facilities. Our nurses are plain clothed and very discreet.

Its official! If you live in an urban area the chances of catching an STI are higher than if you live in the country. And if you live in a city, or a big city at that, then your chances of infection are greater still.

A recent study into the possible role of HPV (the Human Papillomavirus) in certain types of head and neck cancers has revealed some fascinating insights. The rate of HPV associated head and neck cancers, and in particular throat cancer has increased markedly over the last 4 decades. This is set against falling numbers of non-HPV induced head and neck cancers, giving strong argument to the fact that HPV is directly responsible for the majority of these illnesses.

A new survey shows that young women aged 16 to 25 are recording the highest levels of chlamydia ever recorded, with most people having no idea they were carrying the infection.  Usually symptoms, if they occur, will be noticeable in the first two weeks of infection, or not at all. Figures from the Public Health Laboratory Service show that 9% of sexually active women under the age of 25 have the infection.

Do not panic!  Around 1 in 20 Smear Tests come back abnormal.  Having abnormal smear test does not mean that you have or will have cervical cancer.  It is sensible though to do some further tests to find out why.  These tests can help to stop you developing cervical cancer, or to make a full recovery.  

The Better2Know Everywhere service is the first service in the UK where we Come2You for your STI test.  This means that you do not have to spend time and money travelling to an appointment, your nurse will Come2You Everywhere.  This includes your work, home or hotel, in fact everywhere where we can take a blood sample and/or you can provide a urine sample.

Read the Better2Know response to the Guardian’s article on Gonorrhoea and online prescribing: click here. Our comment is published below the article.

In a recent study of 6,000 men and women aged 50 to 90 by the Universities of Manchester, Leeds and the National Centre for Social Research, 1 in 3 of those questioned were having sex at least twice a month.

A new study has concluded that “Men who consume more alcohol have a greater risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection”. HPV is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus. There are many types of HPV, which are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer, other cancers in both men and women, and genital warts.

The answer to this question is: with Better2Know it is up to you.  We have a variety of different places where you can have your STI test.  So if you want to ask the doctor a lot of questions, or whether you would really prefer to go somewhere to have your samples taken and then leave as quickly as possible, we have the location for you. With our Everywhere service, you can also get tested at home or work.

In June 2014 we were very excited to welcome 11 young people from Botswana to our homes in Newcastle. With the aim of sharing in fellowship, friendship and hospitality, this marked the start of Diocesan Youth Exchange. When the Batswana youth were here, the joy and liveliness that surrounded them was undeniable. They sang spontaneously in perfect harmony in any location – even the local Weatherspoon’s! While they shared this passion and talent for singing with many churches and schools across the north east, a great melody was not something we were able to offer them during our return visit!

50 Shades of Grey may not have been the best written book in the world, but it has certainly changed the way people read sexual fantasies (e-readers are perfect as no one can see what you are reading) and has made people more confident to explore different aspects of sex.

Public Health England collects all the NHS STI test results and publishes the overall results.  With Better2Know, your results are not included in this data, but they make interesting reading.  Here are the key points:

• There were 450,000 STI diagnosis in England in 2014

STIs are not the usual topic of conversation on Valentine’s Day. The day is a celebration of love and not sex. However, there have been a number of campaigns over the years to use Valentine’s Day to encourage people to come forward for testing. Here are some of our favourites.

Doctors are worried that the increase use of dating apps on mobile devices has led to an increase in the number of STIs.  Apps which find people who want to have sex, near to where you are now are very popular with 20 and 30 years olds.  Gonorrhoea cases have increased 15% and Syphilis has increased 9% in recent years.

How was your Christmas party?  Chances are that if you are on the Better2Know web page, you might be a bit worried about who you went to bed with that night, and any lasting STI present that you might have caught.  Don’t worry, you are not alone.  We are here to help.  There are thousands of people every year who get carried away at Christmas, and we understand that you want your results quickly and confidentially.  At 28 days after the incident you are concerned about you can be tested for:

When used properly, condoms are a very effective and low cost method of preventing unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Although the condom is such a popular and convenient choice of contraceptive, researchers continue to look for ways of making sex even safer and making condom use feel more natural.

Dr Mahua Chowdhury, Assistant Professor at the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M Health Science Centre has developed a ground-breaking new male condom. Currently, condoms are made from latex which can cause allergic reactions and some may argue reduces sexual pleasure. Chowdhury’s new design uses a water-based gel, similar to the gel used in contact lenses.

A new report has concluded that “The Majority of new HIV infections among MSM in the United Kingdom in 2001-2020 is expected to be accounted for by a small group of highly sexually active individuals under the age of 35 years, living with undiagnosed HIV in the asymptomatic stage”.  Let’s explain what that means…..

A new major study by a team at the University of Oxford, have found that the HIV virus is becoming less deadly and infectious.  The virus is adapting to our immune system and changing the way it behaves.

The latest survey from NATSAL (the British National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles) questioned over 15,000 men and women aged 16 to 74 between September 2010 and August 2012.  The results, from the third National survey (the last one was 1999 to 2001) shows some interesting changed in our attitudes to Sex. 

A recent article by Jane Usser, Professor of Women’s Health Psychology, Centre for Health Research at the University of Western Sydney challenges an assumption that women of a certain age no longer wanting to have sex.