The Better2Know Blog

Syphilis is a form of bacterial infection and is particularly dangerous because after some initial symptoms, it can lay dormant for years, only to reoccur causing damage to the nervous system, brain, heart and eyes, which can be potentially deadly.

Syphilis is usually transmitted through sexual contact, though it can be caught through sharing infected needles and blood transfusions; it can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy; this is called congenital syphilis.

The symptoms of syphilis usually begin with painless sores on the skin, which are called chancres. These are highly infectious and anyone that comes into contact with them, usually during sexual contact, can be infected. This is called Primary Syphilis.

Secondary Syphilis symptoms will develop if the infection is not treated between 2 and 10 weeks and include non specific symptoms like, a sore throat, skin rash, tiredness and headaches. The symptoms will then subside even before treatment.

The infection may then lay dormant for many years and then return, causing damage to the body and organs, even causing death. This is the most dangerous stage of Syphilis and is known as Tertiary Syphilis.

Recent figures released by the Department of Health have reported a rise in the number of sufferers of Hepatitis C. The report shows that there are more than 7,500 cases of Hepatitis C nationwide, but the Department of Health warns that there is an estimated 200,000 people that have it in the UK without realising it.

The figures also show that the North West had the most cases, with over 1,600 sufferers in 2007. A national Hepatitis C campaign has been launched this week in a bid to teach people about the disease, its symptoms and to get people to be tested for the infection.

Hepatitis C is a virus that can lead to lasting liver damage if it is not treated. It is usually transmitted through blood to blood contact such as sharing needles, getting tattoos or piercings from unsterile needles and unprotected sex with an infected person.

Speaking about Hepatitis C, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said, “It can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear, if at all. If left untreated, it can lead to liver damage and premature death.”

He also added that: “Fortunately, effective treatment is available, so it is vital that people who may have been at risk of infection seek medical advice and get tested.”

People who are worried about the risk of Hepatitis C, or think that they might of been exposed to the virus, should contact their GP or nearest STD testing clinic. Better2Know has clinics across the UK which provide confidential STD testing services with fast results.

There has been a substantial increase in the spread of STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) over the past 10 years in the UK, and with a number of STD’s having little or no symptoms, many people are unaware that they are infected.

It is important that you get tested for STD’s if you have had various sexual partners, especially if you have had more than one partner in a short space of time and if you have unprotected sex. Although some STD’s do not have symptoms or have little evidence, there are serious medical risks if an infection is not treated.

Potential risks include: infertility; an increased risk of cancer in both men and women; a potential to transmit the infection to a child during childbirth; and an increased risk of a miscarriage or premature birth.

If you are infected with an STD, there is also an increased risk of getting another infection and if Chlamydia or gonorrhoea are not treated, there is also a risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women and could cause swollen testicles, arthritis and infertility in men.

If you feel that there may be a chance that you have an STD, Better2Know firmly advise that you should get tested, even if just to give peace of mind. The quicker an STD is diagnosed, the better, as you can be given the appropriate treatment and tackle the potential risks of STD’s.

Since 1998 there has been a huge rise in the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia, and it has now become the most frequently diagnosed STI in the UK. Chlamydia is often known as ‘the silent disease’ due to the lack of symptoms and is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia Trachomatis.

Chlamydia is transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, and due to its lack of noticeable symptoms goes largely undiagnosed. Over 50% of men and 70% of women who are infected with Chlamydia experience no symptoms and many other people have minor symptoms that go unnoticed.

Women that have Chlamydia may experience some mild symptoms like, cystitis, vaginal discharge and abdominal pain, and if left untreated can cause pain during sex, pelvic pain or bleeding or spotting between periods. In some cases it can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

Men that have been infected with Chlamydia can experience discharge from the penis or a mild irritation on the tip of the penis, which will generally disappear in a couple of days. In some cases the testes may become inflamed or swollen.

The most common treatments for Chlamydia are antibiotics, and if taken as advised can be more than 95% effective. They come in either a single dose (Azithromycin), or a series of pills that can last up to two weeks (Doxycycline). If you are prescribed either of these antibiotics, you must ensure that you follow the instructions and finish the course; if this is not done properly the infection could come back.

If you are sexually active, especially if you have multiple partners or change partners regularly, you may be worried that you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This can be an upsetting time and you will want to get an STD test, which is fast and efficient as well as totally confidential.

Better2Know has HIV and STD testing clinics throughout the UK, including London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh, and their service is 100% confidential. No medical records will be kept and if you should wish, a false name can be given. Please note that if you go to your NHS doctor for an STD test, the results will be recorded on your medical documents and may be seen by third parties.

If you feel that you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, a Full STD Screen is the best option. The STD screen will test for the most common STD’s including, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and Syphilis and includes a 28 day HIV test.

Gonorrhoea, also known as The Clap, is caused by a highly contagious bacteria called neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is spread through infected semen or vaginal fluids. During unprotected sex, gonorrhoea can be passed onto anything that comes into contact with the infection, including the penis, vagina, anus, throat and eyes.

Anyone who is sexually active can catch gonorrhoea, especially if they change partners regularly and do not use a barrier method of protection. Once infected, an individual is more at risk of contracting other forms of STD’s including HIV.

The symptoms of gonorrhoea typically show up within the first two weeks after infection, but may not appear for a number of months, or until it has moved to another part of the body. Around 50% of women and 90% of men that have contracted gonorrhoea experience some sort of symptoms, which include:

• A thick and often smelly yellow or green coloured discharge from the penis or vagina.
• Pain and tenderness of the genitals.
• Irritation or discharge from the anus, and
• A need to urinate frequently.

Women may also experience bleeding between periods or heavier periods.

If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women, which can lead to infertility and causes infections of the prostate gland and testicles in men.

If you think you have been exposed to gonorrhoea or another STD, Better2Know can provide you with confidential STD tests with fast results at any of our clinics across the UK.

Harrow Primary Care Trust sent out over 10,000 STD letters to children by mistake. Sparking nearly 1,000 complaints by parents, who were left thinking their children had Chlamydia, a leaked report states.

The confidential documents, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, stated that children as young as seven years old received the letter, urging them to have an STD test.

The inquiry blames a mistake that happened when a worker put the wrong date of birth into the database. The letters had not been checked by the Harrow Primary Care Trust.  They were sent out to over 10,000 homes in the surrounding area.

The letter, sent out on the 22nd of October was intended for 15-24 year olds and offered a chance of winning an iPod if a Chlamydia test was taken. From now on all mail shots that are posted by the Trust will be checked, before they are sent out.

In a statement Dr Andrew Howe, the Director of Public Health said, “I would like to sincerely apologise to the families affected by this mistake, and assure them that, of course, Chlamydia screening is only necessary for sexually active adults and young people, in line with the national programme to offer Chlamydia screening to those aged 15 to 24.”

In a bid to encourage young people to be tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s), a new trial has been set up to offer clubbers and pub goers home testing kits. The trial will be offered to under 25’s in the Ealing, Greenford and Southall areas of London and will test for the most common STD, Chlamydia.

If the trial is successful, the initiative will be made available across the UK. The Chlamydia home testing kits will be available in dispensers located in pub and club toilets and contain a urine sample jar and a leaflet about Chlamydia as well as a form to fill in and a freepost envelope.

The test will be totally confidential and the results can either be received by post, text or by visiting a doctor.

Chlamydia is the most common STD in the UK, and up to 50% of males and 70% of females who are infected show no symptoms at all. If undiagnosed, Chlamydia can affect different parts of the body and cause infertility.

Welcome to the Better2Know blog. We understand the worry of sexually transmitted diseases and the need to get a quick and confidential test in a convenient location. Better2Know have STD testing clinics in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham and other UK locations.

All of our clinics maintain strict anonymity. When booking an STD test with us a PIN code will be received that will not in any way identify your personal details.

In modern times there are so many reasons why you should get tested for STD’s, ranging from infertility in both men and women and high risks of other infections such as HIV.