A new proposal has set tongues wagging and relates to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDCs) suggestion that those who have had more than two sexual partners within the space of one year should not be applicable for organ donation due to the fact that they would be considered more at risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV and that this is the case for both living and dead donors.

Health professionals are worried that potential donors would be put off by such restrictions and questions regarding their sexual history. Furthermore, they question how a health professional would go about questioning family and friends about the sexual history of a deceased donor?

However, the CDC says that rather than turn away donors who have had more than two sexual partners in a year, they would merely carry out more tests than they usually would.

We are not convinced by this new proposal and it does not take into account how this information is to be gathered and even if someone is categorised as “promiscuous”, they might have been having safe sex, as most responsible people do. If you are responsible enough to sign up as a donor, you are probably responsible enough to have been careful about your own sexual health. As for carrying out additional screening of organs for transplant, rigorous screening already takes place.

Gardasil will now be used to vaccinate against HPV according to the Department of Health and this will be implemented from September 2012. This vaccination will be in use instead of Cervarix, the current recommendation. Like Cervarix, Gardasil will also protect against HPV strains linked to instances of cervical cancer but it will also protect against strains of the virus that cause genital warts. HPV is one of the most common STIs today, with 50% of men and women likely to contract the virus at some point in their lives and yet there is so little public awareness about it.

Although both vaccines are 70% effective in preventing the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer, Gardasil is effective at preventing 2 other strains of the HPV virus which are the cause of 90% of genital warts cases.

The decision to use Gardasil is based on figures released by the Health Protection Agency, which includes information that 75,000 new cases of genital warts were reported in 2010 and which costs the NHS £17 million each year to treat.

Considering the association between the HPV virus and mouth cancer, The British Dental Health Association has asked that the vaccination programme be extended to boys also. The vaccination would also prevent throat, penile and anal cancers.

If you have genital warts then The Online Clinic can prescribe treatments to eradicate the warts. The most popular treatment is Warticon, which will normally eliminate the warts within a few weeks.

The Health Protection Agency has released worrying figures regarding HIV testing in the UK, which reveal that one fifth of British people offered a HIV test will refuse to take it. In 2010, one quarter of those infected with the virus in Britain did not know they had it and people are being treated far too late into their condition, therefore not giving their bodies the best of chances of coping with HIV and also increasing the risk of passing the virus onto others. Furthermore, the number of men who have sex with men testing positive is the highest it has ever been.

In the UK, one in twenty gay men is infected with the virus and that number is even higher in London where one in eleven men are believed to be HIV positive.  Over half of the men and women who tested positive well into their condition last year were past the stage that health professionals would consider the optimum for treatment to commence.

The Health Protection Agency therefore wishes to promote the idea of universal testing in GP practices for new patients and where patients are admitted to hospital in areas around Britain that are deemed at high risk.

Looking at these statistics, this seems like a worthy request and especially when we hear that only 4% of England’s population were tested for the virus in 2010. A spokesperson for the National Aids Trust rightly suggested that people are scared of being tested but instead should be fearful about living with undiagnosed HIV. With only 4% of English people having taken a test in 2010 and one fifth declining the offer, it is high time British people woke up to the problem instead of watching infection rates increase and presuming that they themselves are impervious to the virus.

The Government is warning us that illegal HIV testing kits imported from China are being purchased in Britain and are potentially giving patients the wrong diagnosis. The MHRA (Medicines Products Regulatory Agency) is making plans to close down 6 websites based in the UK that do not comply with European legislation and who operate without accredited laboratories.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has written to patients who have availed of such services and warned them of their inauthenticity. Thankfully the organisation regularly investigates websites like these which pose as legitimate health care operations.

It is illegal to sell kits that test for HIV in the UK. Home sampling kits for HIV are legal but we recommend that patients get tested for HIV in a face to face environment. In terms of other STIs, there are legitimate sites online where you can purchase testing kits but you should research and make sure the clinic is genuine. For HIV testing, we recommend Freedom Health in Harley Street. If you are not based in London then we recommend that you contact the Terrence Higgins Trust for further information about services in your area.

Tenofovir, the antiretroviral, when used as a vaginal gel, has been proven to protect women against the herpes simplex virus. A study published in the Cell Host and Microbe journal reveals that due to higher concentrations reaching the vaginal cells in the gel form of the drug as opposed to the oral formulation, the drug’s use can extend to reducing the risk of contracting the herpes virus (HSV). The study was carried out by the Catholic University of Leaven, the University of Rome, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Gilead Sciences.

The gel form of the drug stops the spread of the herpes virus by disabling its DNA enzyme and reduces the risk of contracting herpes simplex infections as well as HIV infections. It has always been known to inhibit the reproduction of the HIV virus but this study highlights its potential regarding HSV. HSV in its shedding phase is contractible even when infected partners present as asymptomatic.

HIV and herpes are closely associated and those who have the herpes virus and who are exposed to the herpes virus are more likely to contract HIV than those who do not carry the herpes virus.

Tenofovir is converted by human tissue into a form that inhibits the activity of the HIV virus and now we know that it does the same for herpes simplex. The study examined HSV infected group cells and individual cells and it was proven that the drug in high concentrations stopped the reproduction of the virus. Furthermore, mice treated with tenofovir and which were infected with herpes experienced no symptoms of herpes and lived longer.

Taking the drug orally will not affect the HSV virus but there is approximately 100 times the amount of the drug present in the gel form when administered directly to the vaginal tissues. Safety and efficacy studies will need to be carried out before the drug is sold in this form and for this use but this could be a breakthrough preventative treatment for a virus that stays with an infected individual for life.

According to a recent survey, it seems that Cambridge University’s acclaimed educational village is lacking one vital resource. 309 students were surveyed about sexual health awareness and the results were frightening to say the least. Half of those surveyed admitted to having had unprotected sex at some stage and half of the group also believed that women were not at risk of pregnancy once they were menstruating.

10% of the group believed that wearing 2 condoms during sex would reduce their risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Furthermore, at the survey’s outset, 92% of the group said that they felt confident about their knowledge of sexual health and contraception.

Last year, the Health Protection Agency noted 12,000 more cases of sexually transmitted infections reported compared with the year before and also highlighted that the 15 to 24 year olds represented the most at risk age bracket.

Of course this ignorance is not specific to Cambridge students but to all young people. Really, the main observation is the 92% who felt confident about what they knew. If they are not aware of what they do not know, how can they be expected to learn? The information simply is either not accessible or is not taught in schools.

A study carried out at the University of Texas finds that HPV(Human Papilloma Virus) may increase the risk of heart disease due to the suppression of a vital gene. According to the study, women who have HPV are 3 times as likely to suffer a heart attack or a stroke. HPV is already known to be a direct cause of cervical cancer, anal cancer, vulva and penile cancer and cancer of the throat.

The reason the study’s author began his research was that he was concerned about the fact that 20% of patients who suffered heart attacks did not present with any of the common risk factors associated with this event.

The study is published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology and reveals that women with HPV are 2.3 times more likely to have heart disease. Those who had the cancer causing strains of HPV were 2.86 times more likely to have heart disease than those without the virus.

p53 is a gene that protects the body from cancer and artery disease and it is hampered by the HPV virus.  It is also known to protect the body from inflammation and thickening of the arteries. The inactivation of this gene is thought to be the cause of cardiovascular illness in HPV patients.

HPV is an extremely common virus. A majority of people fight off the virus themselves but in others the virus remains and some of those who have cancer causing strains of the virus will develop cancer.

Unfortunately, one can only be vaccinated prior to exposure and presently the vaccine is only administered to those below the age of 26 years.

The study does not explore the sequence of events so we do not know if these women developed heart disease before they developed HPV. This could have established a different sort of link altogether however the associations highlighted here are enough to spur on more research in this area as the study provides plausibility but is not conclusive.

Research that took place at the Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton revealed that a vaccination for chlamydia looks more possible than before as scientists discover how to manipulate the genome of chlamydia trachomatis. This means they are much closer to the reality of a vaccination against this very common sexually transmitted infection, one that is soften symptomless and worryingly can cause infertility if left untreated due to the scarring of the fallopian tubes.

Treating chlamydia with calcium ions allowed researchers to introduce a foreign DNA offering a greater understanding into the genetics of this bacterium. The study is published in the Public Library of Science.

It has been reported by the HPA (Health Protection Agency) that there were a total of 189,612 cases of the infection in 2010 and a majority of those infected were under the age of 25.

The Health Protection Agency has warned that a growing resistance to Cefixime may render gonorrhoea untreatable. The most recent statistics show that approximately 1 in 5 cases of gonorrhoea have a reduced susceptibility to Cefixime. The reduced susceptibility has jumped from 10.6% in 2009 to 17.4% in 2010. Some cases of gonorrhoea were completely untreatable with Cefixime.

Instead of Cefixime, doctors are being asked to prescribe a combination of the injection Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin which is taken in capsule form. This is still only a short term solution and we would expect gonorrhoea to develop a resistance to these antibiotics also. Where patients refuse the injection or where they cannot be seen face to face for whatever reason, Cefixime can be prescribed with Azithromycin to be taken orally. The Online Clinic will prescribe this combination for patients who cannot get to a clinic for the injection.

If you are worried about Gonorrhoea or other sexually transmitted infections then you should visit a GUM clinic, your GP or get tested through one of a growing number of online STI clinics. We recommend The STI Clinic as they have a very fast turn around time.

It is already known that certain strains of HPV cause cancer of the cervix, rectum, and most recently the mouth and throat, but a recent study links certain strains of the virus to skin cancer. The study is published in the PLoS Pathogens journal.

The research was carried out using mice at the German Cancer Research Centre where it was revealed that HPV was associated with non-melanoma skin cancers. The mice infected with a strain of HPV and who were then exposed to UV light, were more inclined to develop squamous-cell carcinoma than the mice that were not infected with the strain of HPV. The study also showed that mice who had a weaker immune system were more at risk of developing skin cancer.

It is important to remember that not all types of HPV can cause these serious diseases. The most common forms of HPV will cause genital warts that can quite easily be treated.

A recent study, presented at the International Society for STD Research meeting in Canada, reveals that Trichomonas Vaginalis is much more common than was once thought and the age group most affected are those over the age of 45.

The researchers state that a Trichomonas screen should be routine practice for sexually active women of every age and that that cases should be reported to the public health authorities in the same way as gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

Samples were collected from 7,593 women in the United States and were gathered from women aged between 18 and 89. The results proved alarming with 13% of women in their fifties infected, 11.3% in their forties, 7.9% in their 30s and 8.3% in their twenties.

Everyone is susceptible to this parasite and both men and women can contract it. The vagina becomes infected in women and in men the urine canal is commonly infected. Trichomonas is easily treated with antibiotics such as metronidazole.

Up to 50% of women will not experience any symptoms so it is important to get tested regularly if sexually active. The same is likely to apply for men but there is no data yet to prove this. No large scale study of this kind has been carried out on men in relation to Trichomonas to date. Trichomonas has been associated with premature births and low birth weight babies.

At the Swedish Reference Lab, scientists discovered that a new strain of the gonorrhoea infection is resistant to all current antibiotics available for treatment due to its ability to mutate easily and effectively. They warn that this resistant strain has the potential to pose a serious threat internationally but they do not know how widespread this particular strain is as of yet.

Gonorrhoea has in the past been found to be resistant to treatment and it is feared that it will continue to become resistant as there are signs that the bacteria are growing less sensitive to cephalosporins; the current line of treatment for gonorrhoea. Currently, much research is being carried out in the way of new treatment but scientists worry that it is not happening fast enough.

Preventing the infection is now of utmost importance especially considering the latest HPA (Health Protection Agency) report which suggests that gonorrhoea along with chlamydia are still the most common sexually transmitted infections around.

For now, according to the HPA, the cephalosporin antibiotics that we use for the treating of the infection in the UK are still working however, with signs of less sensitivity, but we will need to investigate just how widespread this new resistant strain is.

This sometimes symptomless infection can cause serious long-term health problems in those who delay diagnosis and treatment.

Seemingly Islington is not the place to be if you want to avoid contracting STIs. The London borough has the highest rate of herpes in the entire country and furthermore the area is one that is quite badly affected by soaring numbers of other sexually transmitted infections.

In 2010, 178 cases of herpes were reported in every 100,000 people. The area also has the third highest rate of gonorrhoea in the country, which has increased by an alarming 26% since 2009. Chlamydia is the most common infection affecting 584 people per 100,000 and it is among the top seven worst areas for syphilis and genital warts. These figures are only the recorded numbers of people presenting at a sexual health clinic – the actual rate of infection will be much higher.

Workers at the sexual health clinic on Holloway Road say that sexually transmitted infection rates are higher in areas that are less well-off and according to them, youth sexual health education programmes in the area have been cut so they were not surprised by these dramatic increases.

The STI rate is 50% higher in London than it is in the rest of England. Despite the small drop in the level of Chlamydia infections detected in the last 12 months, the message is still not getting across and people are still having unprotected sex. Given that some infections are symptomless, many people are walking around with an infection without even knowing it.

According to recently gathered statistics, the weekend of the Royal wedding was one to be remembered for reasons beyond Kate and William’s big day. The requirement for the morning-after pill tripled over the holiday weekend according to one primary care trust in Northamptonshire.

The warm summery days, lively street parties and balcony kisses obviously inspired more than courtly romance. This report has spurred the local trust on to hand out information on their free C Card campaign, which ensures that free condoms are accessible to young people from over 200 different outlets in the county. The number of people seeking the morning-after pill highlights the lack of awareness surrounding STIs, as getting pregnant is not the only complication that can arise from a one night stand.

Those attending summer festivals have been warned by the HPA (Health Protection Agency) to take care of their sexual health this season. But it is not just sexually transmitted infections that get the better of festival goers but also sunburn, sprain, cold and flu, sun stroke and even heart attacks and respiratory illnesses are reported at such events as we throw caution to the wind!

For the first time in ten years there had been a small drop in the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across England according to the HPA (Health Protection Agency), a drop from 424,782 new diagnoses in 2009 to 418,598 in 2010. The decrease is said to be due to the increase in STI testing all around the country.

The numbers of chlamydia diagnoses have remained roughly the same as last year which is believed to be due to the increase of 196,500 tests that were carried out in 2010.

The number of chlamydia diagnoses in women peaked at 20 years and in men they peak at 21 years. In men who have sex with men (MSM), the number of new chlamydia diagnoses increased by 22%. The number of 15-24 year olds getting tested for chlamydia also increased 10% which is very positive considering they are still the most at risk group. The HPA therefore recommend that sexually active under 25s get tested every year for chlamydia and more often if they change partner.

The number of gonorrhoea diagnoses have increased by 3% and, in women, peaked among those aged 19 years. In men, the infection peaked in those aged 22 and 23. The number of new gonorrhoea cases among the 15 to 19 year olds fell by 13% and 14% and the number of cases among MSM has increased by one third.

Genital warts diagnoses have decreased by 3% and in women diagnoses of the infection peaked in women aged 19 years. The infection peaked in men aged 21 years. The number of new cases of genital warts in both women and men aged between 15 and 19 years decreased by 13% and 8%.

Syphilis cases have decreased by 8%.

The number of tests carried out at a GUM clinic increased overall by 1%. The HPA say that the levels of STIs in young people are still unacceptably high. They also state that according to studies, those who become infected are more inclined to have unprotected sex or are lacking in confidence and knowledge and so cannot suggest options for safer sex.

The HPA recommend that consistent use of condoms is vital in MSM especially considering that are at much more risk of contracting HIV and annual tests are advised here. Regular screening for all other STIs is also necessary in this group.

A recent study carried out at the Harvard School of Public Health has shown that young lesbian and bisexual females are at high risk of developing cervical cancer as they are far less likely to go for a smear test than heterosexual females of the same age. The new study’s findings suggest that these women are not paying as much attention to their sexual health and it is also reported that they begin having sex at a younger age and with more people. The study is published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The results of surveys carried out in 2005 suggest that out of 4,224 females between the ages of 17 and 25, only 9% had not been sexually active before. 93% of the group surveyed were white. Lesbians made up 1% of the group and they were the least likely to have a pap smear.

Research has shown that approximately three quarters of sexually active lesbian adolescents and 96% of bisexual women have had sex with men at some point. These figures indicate that pap smears are required for the detection of cancer causing sexually transmitted viruses. Even without considering the figures relating to activity with men, women are capable of spreading sexually transmitted diseases between one another. Despite the fact that there is less risk involved, having regular paps and sexual health screenings are still vital.

The author of the study suggested that gay men and women may feel uncomfortable talking to their doctors about their sexual orientation and therefore less informed about their sexual health.

The male foreskin is said to be a reservoir for the HPV virus. This emphasises the importance of vaccinating the boys since HPV causes cervical cancer in women and genital warts in men and women.

The study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association. As HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and only now can females be vaccinated against the virus, there is on-going debate regarding a future in the vaccinating of boys addition to girls.

The foreskins of 133 males between the ages of 7 months and 82 years were examined without HPV or warts associated with HPV. These males had had their foreskins removed for phimosis (a condition that prevents the foreskin retracting).

DNA was extracted from tissues of the foreskin and low risk HPV genotypes were found in almost 20% of them. High risk HPV was discovered in 10% of the foreskins. None of the patients presented with any HPV related symptoms.

The presence of the virus without symptoms suggests that boys should be vaccinated before they hit puberty and it is suggested that vaccinating in this way will prove highly effective in preventing the spread of HPV through sexual activity.

Super injunctions might protect the rich and famous from shame and embarrassment but not their partners. A mysterious star worth over $100 million may be sued a measly one fifth of his vast fortune if it is proved that he knowingly spread herpes to an unsuspecting victim in Vegas. After his one night stand with the unnamed plaintiff, they were left riddled with a lifelong sexually transmitted disease, herpes simplex II, HSV2. Seemingly the defendant gave his word that he had no venereal diseases before they engaged in sexual activity.

The lesson to be learned is that one should get tested every time one changes sexual partner. In many cases an individual will not know if they have herpes as for many, they carry the virus but with no expressed symptoms. The plaintiff may even have had been carrying the virus without knowing it but in the end the risk was not a factor at the time for him/her.

Super injunctions and celebrity gossip aside, STI tests and barrier protection are the only way to avoid contracting such sexually transmitted infections.nIt will be difficult to get to the bottom of this one; we predict an end to the courtroom battle and the handing over of a very large sum of money.

Sexual health researchers in the US are concerned about the increasing resistance of Gonorrhoea to common antibiotics. The CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) released information last month that was collected on the topic in 2009 and this information listed all of the common treatments that gonorrhoea was now resistant to. Doctors are now prescribing the only remaining treatments known to fight gonorrhoea and information collected in 2010 shows early signs of resistance among these treatments too. The antibiotics fall under a category of antibiotics known as cephalosporins.

According to the CDC, gonorrhoea has the potential to cause very serious health problems if left untreated. The Online Clinic will normally prescribe Cefixime to treat gonorrhoea and we have yet to have case that did not respond to medication but the evidence from wider prescribing and retesting suggests around 10% resistance in the UK. If the infection was contracted in the Far East then there is a higher chance of that strain being resistant; this stems from the overuse of antibiotics in the region.

Many genital herpes carriers (HSV 2 carriers) do not know they have the virus and so spread it to multiple unassuming sexual partners without even realising. Some of their sexual partners will be asymptomatic for life and others will have an outbreak of sores and blisters on a regular basis. The question is who is more infectious?

A recent, large scale study from the University of Washington shows that those with asymptomatic herpes will shed the virus less frequently than individuals who experience symptoms however the amount of virus shed during active episodes of herpes are similar.

498 people collected a genital swab over a period of 30 days and the swabs collected were assessed for viral shedding. In addition, a note was taken of whether there were visible signs of outbreak.

Subclinical shedding is the number of days that the virus is shed without the presence of lesions and subclinical shedding was higher in patients who experienced symptoms. The amount of shedding while the herpes virus was active in either symptomatic or asymptomatic patients was the same.

410 participants experienced symptoms and among them the active virus was detected on approximately 20% of the days they were assessed. The active virus was detected in roughly 10% of the days that the 88 participants who were asymptomatic were tested.

This supports the claim that those who are asymptomatic or have unrecognised HSV2 are as infectious as those who are symptomatic. Most of the viral shedding happens when people have no symptoms.

The researchers also state that approximately 16% of sexually active US adults are seropositive with HSV2, which means that they have the antibodies for the virus but only 10% have recognized herpes of the genitals. 1 in 4 people in the UK are believed to have HSV2 antibodies. You can get tested by post using The STI Clinic's herpes testing service.

The study, published this week in The Journal of the American Medical Association, has highlighted a need for more blood testing in order to uncover those who have HSV2 but who do not know it. The only way to curb the spread of this virus is to be open about a positive diagnosis with new partners, use condoms and get treated when you have an outbreak. The Online Clinic has a large number of patients who take Aciclovir and other antiviral to help suppress herpes outbreaks.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) have approved a new instrument developed by BD Diagnostics for the diagnosis of Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV1 and HSV2) in patients with symptoms.  The tool will aid the diagnosis of both strands of the virus and serve to differentiate between them with the use of external anogenital samples in the hope of decreasing the spread of one of the most common STIs of today.

Being able to find out whether the patient has a type I or type II infection is the first imperative step. Generally speaking, HSV1 is responsible for cold sores (mouth and lips) and HSV2 is responsible for genital herpes (although it is possible to have symptoms in the genital area caused by HSV1). These tests have proved much more accurate than existing culture methods and results are achieved much more rapidly, for example, laboratories will be able to read approximately 96 tests within a two and half hour period.

Such advancements are vital in the area of herpes considering that since its emergence as a serious sexual health risk in the 70’s, the number of cases have steadily increased. There are more than 30,000 new cases each year reported at sexual health clinics around Britain. Some people walk around with the virus and are asymptomatic, meaning that the risk of spreading the virus is high as they do not know that they have it. With more efficient means of testing and higher level of public awareness, the number of cases of infection will hopefully decrease in time.

Researchers from the University of Guelph, Ontario have published a review in Food Research International and reveal that saffron and ginseng come out on top when it comes to aphrodisiacs, with chocolate at the bottom of the pile. They warn against the traditional aphrodisiac Spanish Fly which is made from blister beetles and used in traditional Chinese and African culture.

At the review’s outset, the research team did not believe in the supposed power of the aphrodisiac however, it was revealed that certain substances do work although all of the tests were done on animals so there is no direct evidence that the substances tested would have any beneficial impact on the libido of humans.

The review also strays onto the rise in Viagra and Cialis prescriptions for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), without any indication that the author has any qualifications to opine on matters medical. The review suggests that the side effects of such ED drugs are too dangerous and outweigh the benefits. It is also stated that the drugs are potentially harmful if taken in conjunction with other prescription medications. The review’s author hopes that present ED treatments will be replaced by these natural remedies – what a load of misleading and dangerous nonsense!

Erectile dysfunction does not occur due to a lack of desire or a low libido. ED is a medical condition, which is sometimes the symptom of a more serious cardiovascular illness. There are physiological reasons for the lack of blood flow to the penis which no saffron or ginseng can remedy.

As for comments made about the danger of taking ED treatment with other medication, there is no basis for this concern. PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, can only be purchased with a prescription and after a medical consultation. If patients are taking conflicting medications, they will not be prescribed these ED treatments and other options will be explored. The author should stick to his area of expertise – food and nutrition.

A study published in the Paediatrics journal suggests that more Hispanic and Black girls in the US are being screened for chlamydia than white women of the same age. Minority races are automatically tested for chlamydia when they visit their GP with a complaint whereas it seems the same assumptions are not being made about white girls. Black women are three times more likely to be screened for chlamydia than white girls and Hispanic women are almost 10 times more likely to be screened.

40,000 women participated in this study and were aged between 14 and 25. The study’s author suggests that there is such a discrepancy between numbers due to the perception of race. The author also suggests that insurance providers make assumptions based on race/ethnicity, insurance status and age. Women with private insurance were less likely to be screened for this infection. Considering the symptomless nature of this infection, all sexually active women, especially between the ages of 14 and 25, should be screened.

On a different but related story, Health officials are promoting a very controversial programme in the States that will provide lessons for high school students on abstinence and safer sexual practices and will include an onsite sexual health testing centre. The main aim of this programme is to lower the number of chlamydia and gonorrhoea cases in the high school age group. The number of chlamydia cases has risen hugely from 2005 to 2009 and local health officials believe that providing such confidential and easy access sites inside the school would curb the growing rate of infection.

We may be a long way from sexual health clinics popping up in local schools around England but it does not seem like a bad idea. The longer we ignore the fact that young people are having sex and the longer we think that by avoiding discussion about it, we are in some way protecting them, the longer the spread of STIs will be a problem.

It is two weeks after New Years Eve and one month before Valentine’s Day, S-T-I-Q Day (the UK’s sexual health awareness day) has come around once again. This time of year was chosen since it takes 14 days before most sexually transmitted infections can be detected so getting tested now will ensure all of those romantics have a clean bill of health before the 14^th of February . The goal of S-T-I-Q Day is to promote sexual health screening and this year there is an added extra.

The STI Clinic – the UK’s leading online and postal testing service - launched an Anonymous Notification Service for their clients to inform sexual partners of a positive test result. Anyone who has taken a test through The STI Clinic and had a positive result may avail themselves of this service.

Most men and women do not know they have infections like Chlamydia as it is often symptomless. Yet this is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and it can have long term consequences such as female infertility and ectopic pregnancies, as we reported yesterday. Between 2008 and 2009 there was a huge increase in the number of STIs reported, 12,000 more in fact, and it is not known how many people are walking around with infections but never get tested.

For more information on S-T-I-Q Day, go to STIQ Day

Not only is infertility a worry for women who have had Chlamydia but now it has been revealed that there is a possibility of having an ectopic pregnancy if there has been a past Chlamydia infection, regardless of having had antibiotics to clear it up. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that it was more probable for women who had contracted the infection to produce PROKR2 in their fallopian tubes. The presence of this protein has been linked to ectopic pregnancy, which is the implantation of an embryo outside the womb wall.

This is the first time this link has been highlighted between Chlamydia and ectopic pregnancies. Since Chlamydia, if left untreated, can lead to infertility caused by scarring and blockages in the fallopian tubes, it is understandable that Chlamydia may also cause changes in the fallopian tube without scarring being evident.

Botox may have more to offer than the stymieing of the ageing process. Those who suffer from herpes simplex 1 may in the future be pumped with the siliceous fluid to treat the cold sores which appear as a symptom of the virus.

Currently, Botox is being examined as a treatment for this type of cold sore by the researchers from the Chicago Centre for Facial Plastic Surgery. Participants will be injected with Botox, thus inducing the paralysis of muscles in the lip for a period of duration of 3 months. The researchers are analysing whether or not the virus will be blocked as a result of the paralysis. The paralysis in theory would force the virus to maintain its dormancy as the muscles would not be in use.

Since the virus is impossible to eradicate, it is promising that we may gain some control over these annoying symptoms and maybe look a little younger in the process.

Thanks to the advice of Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary, Canada, 9 Alberta Catholic Schools have banned the administering of HPV vaccinations. The Alberta Catholic Schools board of trustee’s role is to ensure that the right to educate based on the gospel of Jesus Christ is upheld. The Bishop’s pontificating has called for a resounding No regarding the vaccinations that could save the lives of many women who will contract HPV.

So the Catholics want to uphold the value of abstinence but this is still a short term solution to the problem of HPV. Even if the Alberta students abstained from sexual activity, they would one day have to procreate. The spread of HPV is as much of a risk then- it only takes one sexual interaction to pick up this virus. The likelihood that they will find their future partners in the holy grounds of this Catholic organisation is unlikely. All values and cultures should be respected but to impose such risk on young people, who have no choice and have been born into a faith that in terms of sexual health maintains a dictatorial attitude, is an outrage.

HPV is a virus known to cause cervical cancer. Current statistics show that 50% of sexually active women and men will contract the HPV virus. When women reach the age of 50, at least 80% of them will have been infected with genital HPV.

It is believed by those who are against the vaccination that approving the vaccine encourages promiscuity. This could be debated for decades to come as hundreds of women die from preventable cancers. Teaching by integrating faith, life and culture (the Alberta ethos) does not involve viewing the world through rose tinted glasses and ignoring our role in the problems that our culture needs to overcome. There is risk out there beyond the peaceful pastures of faith, a reality that must be faced head on and not idealistically.

The latest innovation in the determining of sexually transmitted diseases comes in the shape of a tiny microchip. The microchip also serves to detect prostate cancer. The invention was made by Samuel Sia, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University.

All that is needed for the detection of such illnesses by the Mchip is a drop of blood and the results are available between 12 and 15 minutes. The Mchip has been tested in Rwanda for the last 4 years. It is aimed at pregnant women who are located too far away from testing sites. Now earlier detection of such diseases will aid the treatment process.

Smoking, drinking alcohol and chewing betel nuts all increase the risk of developing mouth and throat cancers. The HPV virus also been found to increase the number of cases of oral cancer and is thought to be spread through oral sex and kissing.

The same virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer is now worryingly associated with cancer of the mouth and throat. The study was published in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV has been reported with many cases of oral cancer which itself is on the increase. It is thought that the increase in cases of oral cancers is due to the societal change surrounding sexual behaviours for example, an increase in the practice of oral sex, having multiple sexual partners, and starting to have sexual intercourse from a young age, are all related to these HPV associated oral cancers. The study authors suspect that we are coming into a ‘slow epidemic’ of primarily HPV related oral cancers that have been sexually transmitted. Oropharyngeal cancers that are caused by HPV are the second most common cancers that are linked to the HPV virus.

If the HPV vaccine received by the female population as a means of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer also decreases the number of mouth and throat cancers, the groups receiving the vaccination might also be extend to males.

Will the faces of the JLS singers really help to sell condoms? JLS have launched a new sexual health foundation and are setting out to promote safe sex with a range of JLS condoms. Each band member will have his own face pictured on the condom wrapper.

Looking back at the results of the sexual health figures collected for 2008 to 2009 and issued by the HPA (Health Protection Agency) some months ago, perhaps JLS and celebrities alike would do well to promote the use of condoms. It was reported that those between the ages of 15 and 24 practise the most unsafe sex with one in ten becoming re-infected within a year of being treated.

Despite how positive this type of promotion sounds, there is debate circulating about the mixed messages that musicians in the limelight are sending with their sex, drugs and rock n’ roll lifestyles. I must admit, I imagine JLS as far from the hotel trashing, drug taking ‘cool’ that we have all at one point been romanced by. Rather, I would wonder whether JLS will have a powerful enough influence on the age groups most in need of inspiring. Have they indeed gone passed their obsessional phases with baby faced boy band members?

Or from another perspective, will the innocent, awe inspired, prepubescent individuals among the young loyal British fans feel that sex and sexual promiscuity has now been normalized and Okayed for them by the bonafide goody boy band?

With chlamydia and gonorrhoea on the rise, this type of promotion cannot hurt. High percentages of new cases of these common STIs were contracted by those aged 15 to 24.

The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has published a study carried out by researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s research centre who explored psychiatric disorders and their relationship with risky sexual behaviour in adolescents. In particular, teenagers who experience dramatic mood swings as characterised by moods that are at one point euphoric changing suddenly to an irritable or remote mood are said to engage in a higher level of sexual activity, a larger number of sexual partners and have an increased risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection.

Moreover, teenagers who have disorders such as ADHD or who engage in dysfunctional behaviours such as stealing or behaving in a hostile manner are also more likely to have an active sex life. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress are all contributing factors as well.

Project STYLE was the name of the study carried out and was the first multi-site HIV prevention program for parents and young people with mental health disorders.  More than half of participants were female and African-American and the average age was 15.

The disorders and behaviours mentioned above are associated with impulsive acts and the attitude the teenagers conveyed in their relationship with sex, according to Larry K. Brown of the research centre, displayed this kind of impulsive tendency regarding the number of sexual partners they engaged with and with the absence of contraception.

He suggests that teenagers diagnosed with such psychiatric disorders should have regular sexual health screenings as a part of their regular mental health therapies and treatments. Considering the rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea among young people today, the increased potential of this group to have sexual intercourse without contraception and with multiple partners, would put them at a much greater risk.

More than half of the participants had a history of vaginal or anal intercourse. Of those who were sexually active, 29% had sexual intercourse without the use of a condom. 31% had engaged sexually over the past 90 days with an average of 2 partners each and 15% reported that they had four or more partners. 14% tested positive for an STI. This group was four times more likely to have an STI than other groups.

A study on the effects of an HIV treatment on the herpes virus has been published. Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona have discovered that Raltegravir (Isentress) the HIV treatment manufactured by Merck, is also successful killing off one of the herpes viruses.

The medication works by inhibiting the action of a protein involved in the replication of the herpes virus. Now scientists are in a promising position regarding the development of a drug that may kill all types of herpes virus considering the fact that all of the herpes viruses contain this protein. Pathogens of the herpes virus include herpes simplex I and II, the virus that causes chickenpox and the Epstein-Barr virus, which is linked to many types of cancer.

Humans do not have the viral protein that is affected by the drug. This means that the drug is unlikely to have any other effects on the body and additionally, the inhibitor is not toxic with the correct dosage and it is already licensed and regulated.

The study set out to develop a drug that could combat the herpes viruses. With the knowledge that all herpes viruses have this protein, there is a great possibility of developing one drug that can cure all types of herpes viruses.

Research has been carried out at Swansea University on how the womb detects and responds to bacteria. The results may lead to a breakthrough in cures and treatments for infections like chlamydia and pelvic inflammatory disease, infections that can lead to infertility.

The womb reacts to infection in a completely different way to the rest of the body.

The research team reports that the womb uses cells that are not normally used in immunity to find and interact with bacteria. The scientists discovered cells in the lining of the womb that were responsible for responding to infection.

This discovery marks the beginning of more research into possible preventative methods and treatments for some of the most damaging infections, such as chlamydia.

A recent double blind study into the effect of topical applications of Acyclovir and hydrocortisone has established that such treatments do not lead to a mutation of the herpes virus, making it less sensitive to Acyclovir. No resistance to Acyclovir was detected in patients receiving a combined Acyclovir/hydrocortisone treatment or Acyclovir monotherapy.

The results of three phase III studies were presented to a medical conference in Boston recently. This is good news for patients who have regular symptomatic episodes related to the Herpes Simplex virus as it means that they can continue to be treated in the normal way without any serious risk of the virus mutating and the symptoms becoming incapable of being controlled.

Following the recent figures released by the Health Protection Agency regarding sexual health, the FPA (Family Planning Association) will launch a new advertising campaign targeting the over 50s and will deal with the increasing number of instances of sexually transmitted infections amongst this age group.

The advertisements will depict men and women of the sixties and seventies posing in clothing relevant to the times. The caption accompanying the picture will ask the viewer if they remember wearing such items and what follows is the suggestion that they should remember to wear a condom, ‘Well, then remember to wear this’.

This follows those hard hitting numbers by the HPA which reveal that the 45 to 64 year old age bracket displayed the greatest rise in genital warts, chlamydia, syphilis and herpes from 2000 to 2009. The cases of gonorrhoea fell in all age groups but for the over 45s.

It is high time that control was taken over the situation. An increasing number of middle aged men and women are coming out of long term relationships and embarking on relationships with new partners but ignoring the risk of catching STIs as they associate condom use with contraception rather than infection protection.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a study on the effects of herpes in pregnant women that has proved that the anti-viral treatments have no relationship between birth defects and mothers being treated for herpes in their first trimester.

More than one in five pregnant women have herpes simplex antibodies in her blood but they can be rest assured and safely take herpes treatment such as aciclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir to treat any symptomatic episodes.

The authors of the study state that aciclovir is the most researched of the anti-viral drugs and that this study represents the largest of its kind, thus they feel confident to state that aciclovir is the safest to take at this stage of pregnancy. 837,795 live babies participated in this study from January 1996 to September 2008. There were no known genetic syndromes or birth defect syndromes reported among the participants from the outset and information about the dispensing of antiviral drugs was obtained from local registries.

Out of 1,804 pregnancies where the antiviral drugs were in use in the first trimester, 2.2% experienced problems with birth defects compared to 2.4% of 835,991 birth defects in pregnancies that were not exposed to the drugs.

Once you catch the herpes virus, there is no real cure but after the first major episode, the severity tends to decline in future episodes. Antiviral drugs will stop the pain and help inhibit the spreading of the virus.

New figures have been released by the Health Protection Agency today reporting on the UK population’s sexual health of 2009 and the focus seems to be primarily on those aged between 15 and 24, with women coming out as the most affected. In addition, there is an even greater risk than before regarding gonorrhoea and its growing resistance to current treatments.

Since 2008, 12,000 more cases of sexually transmitted infections than last year were reported giving us a total of 482,696 cases reported in UK sexual health clinics in 2009. It follows that two thirds of the STIs in women were represented by those under the age of 25. In the case of chlamydia, women under 25 make up 88% of those infected. For gonorrhoea, 73% of the women infected were under 25 and 66% of women infected with genital warts were of this age group also.

With men, the results are similar in that over half of the infections were contracted by men under the age of 25. For gonorrhoea, 41% of the infections were from men of this age group and in the case of genital warts, 47% of men of this age were represented. Furthermore, a massive 69% of the men infected with chlamydia were below 25. Last year, of the men and women in this age group who had contracted an infection, one in ten of them contracted an infection within a year after their treatments.

There is a huge focus here on the under 25s however, they have been targeted by the NHS for special attention so we would be staggered if there were not more under 25s presenting for testing so this obviously means that a higher proportion of the total figure will be comprised of people in this age category. Educating the middle aged is hugely important as STIs are on the rise in that group as well. With higher divorce rates and couples breaking up after years together, it is possible that in their new sexual relationships, that they are not practising safe sex and are just as responsible for the spreading of these infections.

Unprotected sex and ignorance regarding STIs is not only increasing the volume of people infected, it is now possible that we will not be able to treat certain infections in the future. The HPA report confirms an increase in drug resistance in the treatment for gonorrhoea. This is already one of the most common STIs and it is on the rise, having increased by 6% between 2008 and 2009. Overall, there were massive increases in the numbers contracting STIs with chlamydia having increased by 7% and genital herpes by 5%.

It is so easy to get tested these days so there is really no excuse. If you click through to our Sexual Health page, there are details on how to order a test online, with results from the laboratory in as little as 24 hours.>

Experts at St. Helen’s GUM clinic have warned us that a cocktail of sun cream, sand and sex on the beach is a recipe for disaster. If you are heading on a late summer holiday this year, you don’t want to get more then you bargained for. According to the health experts here, after the holiday season, they see a huge increase in the number of sexually transmitted infections. And this is not just as a result of risky encounters with one’s summer fling. St. Helen’s Health Improvement Team would like to remind young people that cosmetics like sun cream, after sun and lip gloss all contribute to making the condoms less reliable due to the oil content of the products we slap on during the holiday period. Even when you are playing it safe, you need to be extra careful. The oil damages the rubber, rendering it less protective. Washing your hands and genitals after using such products will prevent this damage to the condom.

The STIs observed by the St. Helen’s GUM Clinic every summer, include, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts and syphilis with chlamydia being the most popular of the STIs especially among the 18 to 24 year olds. Chlamydia is the most dangerous of these considering it is often symptomless and there is a possibility of becoming infertile if it is left undiagnosed. If diagnosed however, chlamydia is easily treated. The other STIs are not good but they do normally produce symptoms (not always however) so at least they have a higher chance of being detected and dealt with.

It is so easy to get tested and it is even easier to use protection in the first place. Summer loving doesn’t seem so romantic when you have contracted something nasty downstairs.

The number of STIs reported has continued on an upward trajectory in recent years, with 16 to 24 year olds representing the age group most affected. They only make up approximately 12% of the population and yet they represent 50% of the diagnosed STIs in the United Kingdom. We have new figures out from the Health Protection Agency next week and we will report these as soon as we have them.

Cash incentives might be the answer to the problem of sexually transmitted infections in Tanzania. Studies have been carried out on how best to prevent the spread of HIV and other infections in African countries and a recent study by the researchers of the University of Berkeley in California, the Development Research Group of the World Bank and the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, showed that offering a cash incentive of $60 (the equivalent of one quarter of the average salary for one year) in exchange for the efforts of the participants to steer clear of STIs, significantly reduced the number of infections. They are not sure whether this incentive reduced the level of unprotected sex or reduced the amount of individuals having sexual intercourse. Although the researchers (for ethical reasons) could not associate the cash incentives with HIV, the results strongly suggest that while reducing the risk of spreading diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, they could also be inhibiting the spread of the HIV virus.

The group of males and females (18 to 30 years) were randomly separated into 3 groups including a no payment control group, a low payment group and a high payment group. The individuals in the paid groups were given their negotiated payments when they tested negative for STIs and counselling sessions prior to and post testing were offered in order to teach individuals more about their sexual behaviour. The low payment group showed the same number of infections as the no payment group at the end of the study, suggesting that the size of the incentive matters. The experiment will be repeated next year and now a larger study is being considered. With this, there are hopes surrounding the possibilities for cash incentives slowing the HIV epidemic in Africa.

After the news that erectile dysfunction drugs have been linked to rising rates of sexually-transmitted infections amongst the over-40s, an alarming new report has indicated that there has been a huge jump in the number of over-60s contracting HIV.

The number of new cases recorded across Britain has risen by 60% over the past 7 years, going from 299 new cases in 2000 to 710 new cases in 2007. Older adults made up 8% of all new HIV diagnosis.

The research showed that older, straight adults were likely to have contracted the infection in the UK, though there was evidence that a significant number of white, heterosexuals were picking up the illness while abroad.

Half of the new cases were only diagnosed ‘late’, making an early death far more likely.A late diagnosis is defined as when the CD4 white cell count is less than 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood. In a healthy adult, the CD4 count would be 600 or above.

While anti-viral medications have made life expectancy for those living with HIV in the West almost that of a healthy adult, late diagnosis significantly reduces a patient’s chances of survival.

A senior scientist at the Health Protection Agency, Ruth Smith, warned that nearly half of older adults who tested positive became infected when they were over 50, highlighting the need for sexually active adults to get regular sexual health check-ups whatever their age.

A new study has shown that amongst the heterosexual population, poverty rather than race is the most important factor in determining infection rates of HIV.

Released today, the data suggests that HIV is becoming an epidemic in certain particularly poor neighbourhoods. More importantly, heterosexuals with low incomes were more likely to contract the infection that homosexuals with money living in the same area.

It has long been suspected that poverty plays a crucial factor in increasing rates of HIV infection in the West and in the developing world, where clearly poverty has hampered access to education services, protection and medication.  However this is the first time that scientists have examined the relationship between poverty and HIV in the west.

The team involved used a survey taken in 2006 and 2007 of 9,000 heterosexual adults, who did not use intravenous drugs. They discovered that 2.4% of those living below the poverty line were carrying the infection, compared with 1.2% of people from the same neighbourhoods who made more money than the federal poverty guideline.

However, both groups had higher infection rates than the national average, attributed to the fact that they were living amongst higher numbers of people carrying the infection. Lead scientists Dr Jonothan Mermin, of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said that this was sheer ‘bad luck’, as in those particular communities new partners were more likely to be infected.

The FDA has issued a license to Beach Tree Labs for an investigational new drug (IND) for the treatment of oral herpes to be progressed to Phases 1 and 2a. The active ingredient has also been approved as an IND targeting the influenza virus.

Around 80% of the population carries the herpes simplex virus that causes oral herpes, with around 20% of the population expressing symptoms as a cold sore. Herpes simplex II that causes genital herpes is less common but can be more severe, with around 25% of the population being infected.

Once infected with herpes, you have it for life. Some people will never have symptoms again after the first outbreak and others will be plagued with outbreaks for most of their lives. There are medications such as aciclovir, which can be used to suppress the symptoms or deal with outbreaks and the antiviral drugs available are very effective but any new medicinal weapons for our armoury are very welcome.

A recent study in The Netherlands has called for swinging (the practice of couples sharing sexual partners at sex parties) to be categorized in a similar way to other sexual practices (such as paying for sex) to establish a risk profile. The study in the South Limberg area of the country, which has a population of around 630,000, examined statistics from sexual health clinics over a period from 2007 to 2008. Of the 8,971 consultations for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, around 12% were for swingers who had an average age of 43.

The swingers came in third after young heterosexuals and homosexuals in the study and there was a higher incidence of infection in female swingers than in males.

This study helps to explode the myth that sexually transmitted infections are the preserve of the young. At The Online Clinic, we have been aware for some time of the growth in STIs in the middle-aged population based on the patients that we deal with. We have also advocated a wider coverage of this subject in the mainstream media to make people aware of the risks as many people still assume that STDs are not something that are likely to affect them later in life, even if they remain sexually active.

Sexual health checks are easily accessible either on the NHS or privately. Health checks for the most common infections (including Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea) are available online and The Online Clinic can treat anyone who has had a positive result, making this sensitive area as discreet and private as possible. We recommend The STI Clinic for postal STI tests. Their tests go through an accredited laboratory and most results take as little as 24 hours.

A new study has shown that not only is obesity damaging health-wise, but it also seems to have a strong negative impact on sexual behaviour.

French researchers have shown that women who are obese are less likely to ask for advice on contraception or use the pill. They were also more likely to have unplanned pregnancies, despite having fewer sexual partners than those who did not have weight problems. The rate of unplanned pregnancies was 4 times higher amongst obese women than in the rest of the group. Obese women when compared to the women of normal weight were 30% less likely to have had a sexual partner over the past year.

Men who were obese reported a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction. However though they were engaging in sexual contact less, they were more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease.

Overall, data was collected on the sexual behaviour of over 12,000 French men and women.  From this group, 1010 women  and 1488 men were overweight and 411 women and 350 men were obese.

Lead researcher Nathalie Bajos, research director at Paris’ National Institute of Health and Medical Research and professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that obesity strongly influenced people’s sex lives.

She said that the research had revealed that social stigma meant obese women were more likely to find sexual partners online, as they were ‘not comfortable meeting men through friends, through work, through parties’.

She also noted that doctors were less likely to prescribe and discuss contraception with the women.

Dr. Sandy Goldbeck Wood, who wrote the accompanying editorial in the British Medical Journal , urged that the data be treated with cautious interpretation. She said that more needed to be understood about how obese people feel about their sex lives, though the complex biological, psychological and social factors would require a qualitative research approach.

The sexual health charity the Terence Higgins Trust has warned that British pubs and clubs need to get ready for the world cup – by making sure that their condom machines are working.

The charity has warned that previous large sporting events have tended to increase the demand for condoms. During the Winter Olympics, 8,500 condoms had to be airlifted as a matter of priority, as despite 100,000 condoms being stockpiled for the event, the Olympic Villages still ran out (this might have something to do with the Villages being rumoured to be a hotbed of scandal and gossip each Olympics....)

THT have predicted that this summer’s World Cup will be no different and as part of a campaign called ‘Scoring without getting an own goal’ they are asking the managers of pubs and clubs to take sexual health into account, making sure condom machines in the ladies and gent’s are fully stocked to protect their customers.

The singer Beverly Knight is supporting the campaign and has said that bar staff can make a real difference and make sure that their punters are safe throughout the tournament. She added that nothing would ‘put you off your game’ worse than an unplanned pregnancy or STD and urged people to ‘make safer sex sexy again’.

Health experts have warned that urinary tract infections are becoming increasingly hard to treat, as the bacteria that cause them become resistant to antibiotics.

Scientists from the University of Hong Kong believe that antibiotics are being overused in the farming industry, causing resistant genes to be passed down the food chain from animals to humans.

They examined the bacteria Escherichia coli particularly, as it is responsible for the majority of UTIs,along with Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Gardnerella Vaginalis. When they examined samples from humans and animals, they discovered that antibiotic resistance was present.

In approximately 80% of the samples, the gene aacC2, which encodes resistance to the antibiotic gentamicin, was present. The samples were only from one area of the world, Hong Kong, but it is thought that further tests in other areas worldwide would show similar results.

Dr. Pak-Leung Ho, who lead the research, warned that international trade in meat and cattle meant that if resistance developed in one region, it could easily become global. He advised that authorities need to monitor the transmission of resistance more closely.

There are fears that even if one country cracks down on antibiotic resistance, global travel and trade means that will negate those efforts, meaning that united global action is the only solution.

There has also been research published indicating that the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea is becoming resistant to antibiotics, a story we have been monitoring closely.

A rather alarming report has reached us from the World Health Organization, which suggests that Gonorrhoea may soon be untreatable because of the overuse of antibiotics. The research is based on findings in Pacific Rim arms of the agency in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan.

Gonorrhoea is has proved resistant to front line antibiotics in some areas of the world for some time and it is now showing resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics, which are the final line of defence against the bacterium.

Gonorrhoea normally causes symptoms in men within 7 days of contracting the infection but around 10% of men do not show any symptoms at all. Immediate signs of an infection are not always present in women. Primary symptoms include a discharge along with pain in the urethra when passing urine. Longer term effects include pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Men sometimes get a swelling of the scrotum.

Gonorrhoea is very easily detected from a urine sample and most cases that are diagnosed in the UK are treated successfully using Cefixime. A postal STD testing service is available from The STI Clinic and the treatment is included in the price of the test.

Scientists believe they have developed a technique which will allow ultrasound to be used as a male contraceptive.

Preliminary results from a study at the University of North Carolina have shown that when therapeutic pressure is used in rats, sperm production was halted temporarily, with no long-term effects on health or fertility.

The team, lead by Dr. James Tsuruta, has theorised that if men receive pressure from an ultrasound to the testes for ten to 15 minutes, then they could be protected from unwanted pregnancy for up to 6 months.

They have said that they hope that equipment already found in sports medicine clinics for treatment of conditions such as scar tissue which has developed after a breakage could be used to provide a long-term, reversible and inexpensive contraceptive.

The ultrasound seems to disable the sperm cells, reducing the supply of stem cells which ordinarily replenish sperm reserves. It is unclear why the effects last for 6 months, when usually stem cells take 2 months to develop into functioning sperm. It could be that the testes automatically make the stem cells divide and multiply when sperm is low, rather than develop into sperm cells. It is also possible that the ‘nurse cells’ involved in sperm production are affected by the ultrasound.

The research team has been awarded a grant worth $100,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which invests very heavily in research into sexual health and contraception, to continue with the development of the treatment.

They will be trying to discover the lowest intensity of ultrasound needed to stop sperm production before starting trials on humans.

Generally, the last thing most people want to hear is that an ex-lover has a sexually transmitted infection. “Hey....remember me...you should probably get yourself checked out” is sentence we all dread hearing.

Well, that’s how normal people feel. Even if there’s no chance you’re infected, generally responsible members of society don’t wish STIs on anyone, regardless of how bad the break-up was or how long running the feud has been.

It seems there’s a lot of abnormal people out there. Hence the creation of a new service named ‘Crab Revenge’. Yes, just as it sounds, the website sells public lice ‘to give to your ex-girlfriend or whoever has p***** you off.’

Those with serious mental health issues can choose from three packages, from a ‘single crabs colony’ of roughly 30 eggs for £13.99 to 30 F-strain lice, at £34.99. which are apparently ‘almost impossible to get rid of’.

The company is positioning itself in the revenge market as the smart revenge method ‘that does not involve permanent damage or risk of personal injury or jail time’. Which begs the questions, how many people consider revenge that is so violent they could lead to prison or serious personal injury?

Despite their tagline, “Make that b**** itch ”, the site does have a disclaimer that says they do not endorse giving people lice, recommending that purchasers of the bugs “take care of them, give them cute names and most importantly love your lice like they are their own.”

It’s just so many levels of wrong that my head is spinning! The internet, for all its wonders, can also be a truly terrifying place. We’ll leave you with a testimonial from their website, by Jessica from Somerset: “Beats the hell out of hate mail."

US scientists have announced that they have taken a crucial step towards understanding why some people have natural immunity to HIV.

There are a very few people who may contract HIV, but in whom the virus will only progress very slowly or not develop at all when they are exposed to it, as their bodies are better at making white blood cells to fight the virus. The team studied a group of such people, who are known as ‘elite controllers’.

They discovered that the gene that these individuals share, known as HLA B57, encourages the body to make killer T cells, the cells in the body that fight infection. The gene was first discovered in the late 1990s, and is thought to be present in about every 200 people who are infected with HIV.

The white blood cells can make people more susceptible to autoimmune diseases, which occur when the body’s immune system starts working against itself.

The research was carried out with the help of computer modelling, which map how T-cells develop in the thymus.

Though the discovery is a huge step forward, the team, lead by MIT professor Arup Chakraborty and Harvard’s Professor Bruce Walker, say that any vaccine that results from the findings will take at least a decade to reach doctors on the ground.

As the disease is causing devastation in many parts of Asia and Africa, while the vaccine is the dream in the meantime huge energy is being devoted to finding better treatments and funding prevention and awareness programs.

The full study is published in the journal Nature.

South Africa has launched the world’s largest ever HIV testing program, in an attempt to aggressively cut down on the extremely high rates of the infection in the country.

The testing program is supported by politicians at the highest level, with President Jacob Zuma saying publically that he had been tested and was negative. The President has come in for criticism over his polygamous lifestyle, which many have said sets a bad example in a country that has been ravaged by AIDS. Mr Zuma once told a court that he had unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman and has fathered at least 20 children by a variety of different women.

His move to get tested has been greeted positively by the UN’s Aids Agency Unaids, whose head Michael Sidibe said that while previously the biggest problem facing healthcare professionals in SA was that the doors were closed, now the ‘context has completely changed’.

He added that he hoped that the move by the government to push for HIV testing would encourage neighbours in Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola and Mozambique to follow a similar policy.

There were also calls for South Africa to change how they procure anti-retroviral drugs, as at the moment they pay significantly more than other nearby countries, as they prefer to purchase the medication from local suppliers.

South African authorities hope to get more than 15 million people tested for HIV before 2011 and subsequently to ensure that at least 80% of South Africans who require treatment receive the necessary anti-retroviral drugs.

Some 5.7 million people in S.A, out of a population of 48 million, are believed to be HIV positive, making it one of the countries that have been worst hit by the epidemic.

Scientists studying the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia have called for women to get routinely tested for the infection every time they have intercourse with a new partner.

In a study of 2,500 students, the team concluded that annual screening for the infection was not sufficient to prevent women developing pelvic inflammatory disease, a possible complication of the infection which can lead to infertility.

The team said that when chlamydia was correctly diagnosed, it cut the risk of a woman developing pelvic inflammatory disease by 80%. However since the infection is frequently present without symptoms, getting regular tests is often the only way to detect the infection.

In the study, sexually active females aged between 16 and 27 at various colleges and universities in London were asked to get swabbed at the starts of the trial to check for pelvic inflammatory disease.  The test was then repeated a year later. Chlamydia tests were also done.

The findings suggested that PID was most common in women who initially tested negative for chlamydia at the start of the study, indicating that an annual test was not enough to protect women against the potential side effects of chlamydia.

Scientist Pippa Oakeshott, also a GP, said that the results has lead her team to conclude that women should get chlamydia tests everytime they have a new partner and that women should also routinely be screened for gonorrhoea.

The Chlamydia National Screening Program has praised the research, published in the British Medical Journal.

While certainly we support the proposal and believe that if people took better care of their sexual health, society as a whole would benefit. We will, however, be very surprised if the study makes any difference to policy.

Most local health authorities struggle to get young adults to get tested once a year, with many routinely missing the targets set by the National Screening Service, so it seems like a long shot to hope that women can be pushed to follow the recommendations.  

New figures have suggested that men are twice as likely as women to test positive for chlamydia, but are significantly less likely to get tested and treated for it.

Lloyds Pharmacy have released the statistics after commissioning a survey to test the sexes' different attitudes to sexual health. The survey appeared to show that men are far more cavalier about their sexual health, with 13% reporting that they had had unprotected sex with more than one person during the last five years. Only 7% of women admitted to the same thing.

Similar figures showed that 13% of men tested positive for chlamydia, compared with 6% of women. However, though they are statistically more likely to have a positive test, nearly three quarters of the men surveyed said that they had never had an STD test.

Lloyds have suggested than men are likely to wait to have a test until they notice symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, meaning that it is likely that many men are carrying an infection but are unaware. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be present in someone’s body but not produce any symptoms. In men this is unusual with gonorrhoea however, which tends to cause symptoms in 90% of men who are infected.

If left untreated, both infections can cause long-term problems, including infertility.

Facebook has had to defend itself today against suggestions that it is responsible for a fourfold increase in cases of Syphilis in the UK.  The accusation comes from Professor Peter Kelly who is director of public health at NHS Tees, which covers communities in the North East of England. Professor Kelly has stated that his research has found links between people infected with Syphilis and the use of Facebook and other social networking sites.

Facebook has vigorously defended its position after the accusation that people who use the social networking site meet up with their friends  for casual and unprotected sex. A spokesman for Facebook said that its site is a place for friends, family and co-workers to connect and share information.

I am sure that some people have used Facebook to make contacts for casual sex but there are plenty of “dating” websites out there that are much more likely to lead to casual encounters and the spread of STDs, so pointing the finger at Facebook seems a little bit unfair and at the end of the day, it is up to individuals to take sensible precautions no matter where they meet their sexual partners!

The 60s as often described as a time of free love, promiscuity and general good times all round. But now it seems that the current generations are having more sexual partners than their mothers.

Research has shown that the average 24 year-old has had 6 partners, compared to women of the sixties who were likely to have had 3.72 partners. Lloyds Pharmacy commissioned the study to demonstrate how the increase in sexual partners has put women at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia.

A spokeperson for the pharmacy also pointed out that despite better screening for cervical cancer, the rates of cervical cancer in under-25s has not declined, possibly because women are having more sexual partners and so are more likely to catch human papilloma virus, linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer affects around 3,000 women a year, though only 50 cases of the illness each year are in the under-25 age group. Cancer charity Jo’s Trust warned that there needed to be caution before ascribing any cause to the relatively stable rates the of cancer in young women.

Incidences of sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea however have been steadily rising and have been attributed to an increase in the number of sexual partners, as well as ignorance of the prevalence of STIs and indifference to the risks of unprotected sex.

A new study has mapped out a person’s sexual life expectancy, with an average man of 30 years able to look forward to a further 34.7 sexually active years and a woman 30.7 years.

The study examined data taken from a variety of surveys involving over 3,000 people. In one, 84% of men aged between 57 and 64 had been sexually active during the previous year, regardless of whether they were married or living with someone. 62% of women said that had been sexually active.

When older people were asked, those in the 75 to 85 age bracket, the number fell to 39% of men who said they had engaged in sexual activity, compared to 17% of women. 71% of the men who were sexually active said that they were having good sex, with again a lower number of women (51%) saying the same thing.

Almost 50% of those who took part in the survey said they felt they were in excellent health and those who were feeling well were twice as likely as those in poor health to be sexually active.

It was suggested that men stay sexually active for longer because they tend to marry younger women. It was also pointed out that women tend to outlive their partners, meaning that while men in their 70s and 80s may be with their partners women at the same age are more likely to be widows.

A new sexual health study has indicated that British women are neglecting to get themselves tested for HIV.  It is hoped that this new research will act as a ‘wake-up call’ to women in Britain, particularly to the 63% of the participants who believed that they did not need to get tested because they were in a long term relationship.

The study by the Mac Aids Fund was developed to investigate British women’s attitudes towards condoms. The results were worrying; with 82% of British women admitting to having sex without a condom, and a further 35% claiming that they trusted that their partner did not carry the HIV virus.

Despite the fact that cases of HIV and AIDS have tripled in the last ten years a total of 62% of those interviewed claimed they did not consider the disease to be a threat in their community.

Nancy Mahon, executive director of MAC Aids Fund expressed her concern at the findings and claimed that the results indicated the divergence between the perception of the disease and the reality of its prevalence in the UK.

The lack of condom use in Britain has also led to an increase in other sexually transmitted diseases. Cases of gonorrhoea, genital herpes and syphilis have all risen in number in the last decade as have cases of the symptomless condition Chlamydia.

A high profile advertising campaign highlighting the risks of unprotected sex is currently airing on TV and is hoped to raise awareness of the importance of practising safe sex to young people in Britain.

Health officials have said that a change in strategy in fighting HIV could be the key to beating the spread of the life-threatening illness.

They have suggested that testing most of the world’s populations for HIV, or ‘blanket testing’, could see the virus dying out within 40 years.

The plan could see people offered twice-yearly tests for the sexually transmitted infection, with those testing positive immediately put on anti-viral treatment for the rest of their lives. The suggestion comes after clinical trials showed that blanket prescription of ARVs, or antiretroviral drugs, could stop transmission of HIV and halve the number of cases of AIDS-related tuberculosis within 10 years.

Treating patients with ARVs within a year of their diagnosis can not only prevent the HIV from becoming full-blown AIDS, but can reduce the transmission of the virus tenfold, which eventually could force the virus to die out.

Scientists are planning to launch large-scale trials of the new strategy in Africa and the US, results of which will decide whether the plan will be adopted as public health policy. It is thought that in South Africa alone, the cost to implement the program would be between $3bn and $4bn per annum.

Speaking to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Brian Williams of the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis said that he believed that when all costs were factored in, the cost of the antiretroviral drugs would be considerably less than the cost of treating HIV-positive patients for the diseases they eventually develop, only for the patients to eventually die.

He said, “The only thing that’s more expensive is not doing this”, pointing out that young adults in the prime of their life were dying at the moment when they could be contributing to society.

They say abstinence is the best way to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and for 1 in 4 women over 35, they are certainly playing their part to keep the STI rates down. A survey has revealed that over 25% of UK women over 35 ‘never’ have sex.

Scotland had the highest proportion of women who don’t ever make love (38%) while in the Midlands 32% of women say they have sex once a week.

The high proportion of women who don’t engage in sex was partly explained when most women said that working every day impacted on their sex lives. It was discovered that the less women work, the more they enjoy their sex lives, with 2/3s of those working part time reporting regular orgasms, compared to just over half who work full time.

Childless women were more likely to have a greater number of orgasms than mothers. 41% of women with no children said that they orgasmed most of the time, falling to 12% for those with one child and 14% for those with two.

26% of women said they were concerned that the menopause would cause them to lose their sex drives, as well as affecting their memory.

The survey was commissioned by Sky Real Lives as part of the launch of their new TV show, The Secret Guide To Women’s Health. Fronted by Colleen Nolan, of the exquisitely annoying Iceland adverts,  the show hopes to provide a platform for women to discuss the health problems they can’t talk about with friends (there seems to be a bit of flawed logic going on there – oh, no, of course most people would rather talk to Colleen Nolan on national TV if they are too embarrassed to speak to their best friends.)

Though scientists were disappointed by a study that showed that the herpes drug aciclovir did not prevent the transmission of HIV from person to person, hope has been raised that the medication could delay the progression of the illness.

Researchers published the results of a study involving 3,3000 African patients in The Lancet, which showed that the easily-accessible anti-viral reduced the risk of the illness progressing by 16%.

Previously studies had shown that aciclovir reduced the levels of HIV in the blood but there was uncertainty as to whether this could slow down how quickly the virus takes hold.

Though they were restrained about the results, calling the effect ‘modest’, the team said that as the treatment was relatively cheap it could be a useful way to help patients with the infection stay health for as long as possible, until they get access to HIV-specific antiretrovirals.

Scientists were encouraged to test the relationship between the herpes treatment and HIV by the fact that in Africa, the majority of patients with HIV also are carrying the Herpes Simplex II virus, also known as genital herpes.

The study saw participants receive either a twice-daily dose of the medication or a placebo and they were monitored for 2 years. By the end of the study, 284 people taking the medication had either seen their CD4 count drop, indicating they should be on antiretrovirals, or had died. This was compared to 324 patients in the placebo group.

While HIV treatment using antiretrovirals is far and away the most effective way to slow the progression of the illness, the team suggested that acyclovir could provide another treatment option, perhaps for patients not yet eligible for antiretroviral treatment.

The herpes medication acyclovir does not diminuish the risk of transmission of the HIV virus, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The conclusions were based on results from a 5-year, international clinical trial. Researchers had hoped that as preliminary studies had shown that acyclovir could decrease the amount of HIV in the blood and urinary tract, this could translate into a reduction of HIV transmission.

At the moment about 90% of people with HIV are thought to be also carrying the HSV-2 virus, which causes herpes. HIV is not only transmitted through blood and bodily fluids but through the ulcers that are associated with genital herpes. People with the Herpes virus are also thought to transmit the HIV virus more effectively.

The study, led by scientists from the University of Washington and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, involved 3,408 couples, one member of whom had HIV, one who did not. Across 14 countries in Africa, the results showed that there were 43 new infections amongst the group given acyclovir, and 41 amongst the group given the placebo.

The difference was ruled to be too small to be statistically significant, proving that the herpes anti-viral medication did not make a difference as to whether someone was more likely to contract HIV. The scientists also discovered that the Herpes virus attracts immune cells called CD4-T to the genital region, what can make it easier for an infection to establish itself or be passed on.

The Government has come under fierce attack by the Public Accounts Committee in the UK Parliament for the way that the execution of the national Chlamydia screening programme has been carried out in England. Detection rates have not reached the levels set down by the Government and as a result there appears to be no demonstrable reduction in infection rates. This latest criticism follows an earlier report by the National Audit Office, which slammed the programme as a waste of public funds.

Chlamydia is known as the silent infection as it can cause little or no symptoms but can cause serious health complications, including infertility, if left untreated. In 2008 there were 210,000 diagnoses of Chlamydia in the UK. Although testing rates have been pushed up to 16% in the year 2008-09 from 5% in the previous year, experts warn that this is nowhere near the level that it needs to be to halt the rise in infection rates.

Chlamydia is easily detected and very easily treated with antibiotics such as Azithromycin or Doxycycline but there is resistance to getting tested as people think that this is an issue that does not affect them. Most people assume that if they do not have any symptoms then they cannot possibly have a sexually transmitted infection but this is simply not the case.

Getting tested could not be easier these days. Even if you do not have time to go to your local GUM clinic there is a free postal service available in some Primary Care Trust areas for people under 25. If you do not qualify for free testing then there are a number of private clinics in the UK that provide a highly reliable laboratory screening service by post for very reasonable costs. We normally recommend The STI Clinic as they have a 24 hour results service and they pay for your treatment if you test positive for anything. Do yourself a favour – get tested just to be sure.

A debate within the medical community in the United States is beginning to take hold regarding the vaccination of boys against HPV. Girls are regularly vaccinated in the US and UK using either Gardasil or Cervarix because of the high risk of developing cervical cancer.

The HPV family of viruses can cause genital warts and some types of cancers, including but not limited to, cervical cancer. The virus is spread through skin to skin contact. Gardasil has been licensed in the US for treatment in boys to protect them against genital warts and penile and rectal cancers. Although Gardasil is not licensed for this purpose in the UK, some doctors are prepared to prescribe it “off license” for these purposes. Most of my reasonably well off gay friends have been to a private clinic in Harley Street to have the Gardasil vaccination as MSM (men who have sex with men) tend to be more prone to rectal cancers. Many people who have had the vaccination and who previously suffered regular outbreaks of genital warts have recorded a noticeable improvement by way of a reduction of outbreaks.

The debate going on in the US on this subject relates to cost in relation to benefits. The benefits are clear: men who have been vaccinated will be protected against certain of the human papillomaviruses that cause genital warts and certain type of cancers but moreover, they will not be passing the virus on to female partners which would otherwise put them at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. The question is would a mass vaccination policy contribute in a meaningful way to the overall incidence of high risk HPV infections that can cause certain types of cancers? Where you can afford to pay the large cost of this vaccination then it is a “no brainer” but from a public policy perspective in the UK, there is no way that this sort of mass vaccination programme for boys will ever be sanctioned.

Our sister clinic www.thesticlinic.com launched a new initiative – the STIQ Day. The day was launched to raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections and the importance of regularly getting checked for them and is supported by the Terence Higgins Trust and Mates condoms.

No one likes to think they might have caught something, but the awareness day is designed to encourage people to take the smart route and get checked regularly, before an infection has a chance to damage their health.

The number of people catching a sexually transmitted infection has been rising regularly over the past decade.  It is estimated that 1 in 10 people under 25 are carrying Chlamydia, while experts have been warning that the older generation are not immune either. More and more people starting new relationships in later life means that more and more over-50s are catching infections.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea, two of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK, are easily treated but when left undiagnosed they can damage fertility. It seems obvious that getting checked out is infinitely preferable to more serious health problems later on but far too many people still don’t go for regular checks.

We’re really pleased this day has been created to raise awareness of the issue and hope that people will be encouraged to visit their doctor, local GUM clinic or go online for a test. To read more about the day, The Sun newspaper has written an article about it, or you can visit the website – http://www.stiq.co.uk

A major trial of a new gel that scientists hoped would reduce the risk of HIV infection in women has produced disappointing results, showing that it did not significantly reduce infection rates.

The trial saw 9,385 women in four African countries given either the vaginal microbicide or a placebo gel. Previously a smaller trial had suggested that the gel could reduce the risk of catching the disease by up to 30%.

However the Microbicides Development Agency, a not-for-profit partnership of 16 African and European research agencies, failed to show the gel was any kind of effective protection. As the trial was so large, the results can be considered conclusive.

The results will be a huge disappointment for HIV workers in Africa, where infections rates amongst women are extremely high. In sub-Saharan Africa, women are the most badly affected by the AIDS epidemic, with 60% of those infected believed to be female.

Women in Africa are at particularly risk of infection as they are frequently forced to take part in unsafe sex, as well as being biologically more vulnerable to infection than men. It had been hoped that a gel the women could apply themselves could offer them much needed protection, even if they could not convince their partners to use a condom.

Though the gel did not work, the women who took part in the study were given free condoms and access to counselling about safe sex.

The lead researcher on the study, Dr. Sheen McCormack, described the results as ‘disheartening’  but said that the trial itself showed the importance of large trials that offered definitive results about the efficacy of a product.

As experts faced with the huge AIDS infection rates in Africa and Asia admit that condoms alone have not managed to halt the spread of the virus, scientists will continue to search for a vaccine and other ways of preventing its transmission.

Today, the world is marking World Aids Day. While the disease has become a crisis in Africa and Asia, it is often overlooked that HIV and AIDS are also a grave concern for Western countries. In the UK alone, 80,000 people are living with HIV in the UK and infection rates are going up each year.

Experts believe that a quarter of people living in the UK with HIV are still undiagnosed. While the gay and bisexual community are still the most affected groups, straight people are still at risk of contracting the infection and rates of infection amongst this group are increasing.

Unfortunately, the stigma attached to HIV in the UK that it is a ‘gay’ illness means that many straight people do not consider themselves to be at risk and are less likely to get regular HIV tests, crucial if they have had more than one partner , unprotected sex or have casual sexual partners.

Black and minority communities are especially at risk, with 2,790 new diagnosis made this group, more than the 2,760 new cases reported amonst men who have sex with men.

Thankfully however in the UK patients have access to the best treatment. Whereas once HIV was seen as a death sentence, now those who take appropriate anti-viral drugs can enjoy life expectancies only a small amount less than the UK average. Quick diagnosis is crucial as the sooner treatment begins the longer the overall life expectancy – so getting more people to go more regularly for an HIV test is of paramount importance.

The same is not true of Africa and Asia. The majority of the 33.4 million people living with HIV are from those continents and in 2008 there were 2 million deaths. Anti-viral medications are frequently difficult to come by in developing countries and millions of children have already become ‘AIDS orphans’, after both their parents died of the disease.

Today, governments across the world vowed to do more to eradicate the AIDS epidemic. In South Africa, where up to 20% of the adult population are infected, President Jacob Zuma promised that all infected children under 1 would receive treatment for the disease and committed himself to extending treatment to pregnant women. Gordon Brown and David Cameron recorded a message in support of the day, while the EU called for a strengthening in the response to the disease.

Our sister clinic The STI Clinic is a proud sponsor of World Aids Day and we hope that you will buy and wear a red ribbon. You may also want to consider donating to the National Aids Trust or to Avert, who work in the developing world supporting communities in their fight against the disease.

Over the last 30 years, the sexually transmitted infection syphilis has fallen off the radar somewhat. However new Scottish figures have shown that levels of the infection are the highest they have been for 56 years.

As part of a report into the sexual health of the nation, Health Protection Scotland and the Information Services Division (both part of the NHS) released data showing that in 2008, 264 cases of the infection were diagnosed, 15 more than the previous year. This is the highest annual total since the mid-fifties.

Over the past 5 years, the number of diagnosis at GUM clinics has risen by 28%. The figures also showed that despite the 15-25 age group only representing 13% of the Scottish population, they accounted for 75% of all cases of chlamydia.

Gonorrhoea was also on the rise, with 1,644 people diagnosed with the infection at their local GUM clinic. This was a 6% rise on the previous year and there was an even bigger increase of 30% in the number of cases diagnosed in women.

One of the report’s authors, Dr. Lesley Wallace of Health Protection Scotland, said that the results showed that there needed to be a shift in sexual behaviour, with an increased emphasis on safe sex and regular sexual health check ups. He added that this was especially important for those with new partners or those who had casual sexual partners.

The Scottish minister for Public Health Shona Robison said of the report that they knew that STI rates were increasing and that ministers were planning on working with the NHS to ‘drive down’ the rates of STIs and improve education about safe sex.

Two of the biggest pharmaceutical firms this week took the unusual move of pooling their HIV treatments. The new group has been named Viiv Healthcare and was formed by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.

Viiv will take over GSK’s collection of HIV medicines, which are becoming slightly outdated (one otf their biggest sellers Combivir is due to lose its patent in 3 years) and Pzifer’s new and largely untested drugs. The chief executive of Viiv Dominique Limet described the newer medications as the ‘key driver’ for growth.

At the moment, Viiv has 11 marketed medicines and 7 different molecules.The large part of the start-up money, £250 million in total, has been contributed by GSK and they will be the major shareholders, with 85% of the equity However this equity split could change depending on which company’s research and products deliver the most profit. The drugs in Pzifer’s portfolio are likely to be profitable if they go successfully through clinical trials.

Dr Limet said that he has not ruled out making a public offering of the company in the future, but this will depend on the shareholders. He added that as the structure of the company is unique in the industry due to the size of the two companies involved, the priority at the moment was making the structure work.

He concluded that access and affordability of HIV drugs was a priority and said that the “challenging landscape” of HIV treatment made new research a priority.

Look at any of the slew of adverts for perfume, make-up or clothes and the message coming across is very clear – thin equals sexy, erotic and desirable. However, good news has been announced for everyone packing a few extra pounds – bigger men and women are apparently better in bed.

The newspapers have been using this as a fantastic excuse to compare skinny and curvier celebrities, with the Mirror running the headline, “Kelly Brooke is better in bed than Cheryl Cole!” (conjuring up images of a staff writer desperately trying to kid himself his knowledge is based on personal experience rather than lustful conjecture).

In a study commissioned by bedmakers Silentnight, 89% of men said that they preferred curvier sexual partners to  thin women. Of those men, 56% of them said that they thought partners with curves were more considerate about pleasing them when in bed.

Furthermore, when the romping is over, you’re more likely to sleep better if your partner is curvy. During the two-year study, it was discovered that thin people toss and turn up to 10 times a night on average, whereas those who are heavier only turn over twice.

It is thought that this is due to thin people suffering more from their pressure points being triggered while they sleep, decreasing their circulation and forcing them to turn more often to relieve the pressure.

The company’s sleep scientist Iftikhar Mirza commented that curvy men and women ought to be ‘feeling pretty happy right now’ as not only were they considered good in bed but were also better to sleep next to.

A new study, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, has shown that men who use Viagra or other erectile dysfunction medications may be more likely to have the condom break during sexual intercourse.

The researchers recruited 440 men who used condoms when having vaginal sex who also used medication to help them achieve an erection. The volunteers were recruited using newspaper and internet advertisements and asked to fill in questionnaires about their most recent sexual experience.

1 in 10 of the men had used an erectile dysfunction treatment on the occasions and for 12% of those men the condom broke, compared to 5% of men who did not use medication. The researchers also discovered that men who reported having intercourse for longer were also more likely to report the condom having broken.

When the results of the questionnaire were analysed to take into account other factors, it was discovered that erectile dysfunction medication remained a significant factor in the condom breaking. Men using treatments like Viagra were up to 4 times more likely to have this happen to them.

The team who lead the study have suggested that the results may be due to Viagra and other similar medications causing increased swelling when a man achieves an erection, possibly causing the condom to be tighter. They have said that men using medications might be advised to use condoms large enough to accommodate the enhanced erection and warned that longer-lasting sex might be associated with condom breakage.

However there is some doubt about the results as the same team did a similar study last year, where 7% of the respondents used an erectile dysfunction drug, but no increased likelihood of condom breakage was noted.

The researchers have called for there to be further investigation of the possible link between prophylactics failing and the usage of impotence drugs.

Hopes have been raised that scientists have come closer than ever before to developing a vaccine for the HIV virus. A team say that they have created the first experimental vaccine that cuts the risk of infection considerably.

It is a combination of two earlier vaccines, with Sanofi-Aventis’ ALVAC HIV used as the primary vaccine and AIDSVAC B/E as the booster. It was trialled on 16,000 people in Thailand in the largest ever HIV vaccine trial. The results showed that the patient’s chances of contracting HIV were reduced by nearly a third.

The trial was overseen by the Thai authorities, with support from the U.S military, and received a large amount of funding from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as well as the US army . Thailand was chosen as the site of the trial due to the high rate of HIV infection in the country, as well as their developed medical infrastructure and strong commitment to the project.

The trial started in 2003 and was an extremely complicated project. 60,000 people were initially interviewed before 16,402 people were chosen to take part. By the end of the trial, 0.8% of the trial group had contracted HIV, which included 52% of people who had received the vaccine and 74% who had not.

The scientists are still unsure about the mechanism of the vaccine, as it did not seem to reduced the viral load of HIV in those who were vaccinated. There is also uncertainty over how the vaccine affects someone’s likelihood of contracting the infection in the long-term and over how effective it is in particularly high risk groups, such as intravenous drug users, men who have sex with other men and prostitutes.

The HIV vaccines product manager for the US army called the trial results the first evidence of a safe and effective vaccine being available and the hope has been expressed that the trial could encourage new donor funding and interest from companies working in the field.

Lloyds Pharmacy has developed a new ‘online calculator’ which enables people to calculate the number of indirect sexual partners they have had over their lifetime in order to educate people about the risks of unprotected intercourse.

Despite the fact that men claim to have had an average of 9 partners, and women an average of 6.3, experts warn that by having unprotected sex people are exposed to the sexual infections of literally hundreds and thousands of other people.

The online calculator, humorously called Sex Degrees of Separation, uses data collected from more than 6000 British adults. The way it works is that when people enter the age range of each partner, the calculator uses its database to work out how many previous sexual partners people within that age range have had on average. This process is then repeated for five further ‘generations’ of partner. When these numbers are added together they give a ‘sex degrees of separation’ total.

Research by the The Health Protection Agency suggests that cases of sexually transmitted infections rose by half a per cent to 399,738 last year. This coincides with an increase of eight per cent in Chlamydia between 2006 and 2008.

The head of sexual health at Lloyds pharmacy Claire Kerr believes that people should be aware that when they have unprotected sex with one person that they are, in effect, sleeping with that persons previous partners, and the previous partners of those previous partners and so on.

She added that the simple way to avoid exposing oneself to the dangers of sexually transmitted infections is to use condoms and to get regular sexual health checks when necessary. This is particularly important because the majority of STI’s are easy to treat but, when left untreated, can lead to serious health implications in the future.

The connection between unhealthy living and erectile dysfunction has long been highlighted by the medical community and the media. However, new research from The Second University of Naples has established that women should be wary too due to a strong link between high cholesterol and female sexual dysfunction.The research found that women who had high cholesterol had not only their general health affected but also their ability to be sexually aroused. High cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia, causes arteries to get blocked restricting the flow of blood around the body. As with men, women need an increase in blood flow to their sexual organs in order to achieve good sexual functioning.