The Terrence Higgins Trust have organised to start a monthly event in a gay bar in Brighton, the Charles Street bar which will offer those under the age of 25 years a sexually transmitted infection screen for the most common infections, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
With one in fourteen young people between the ages of 16 and 24 walking around with chlamydia that they are not aware of, this sounds like a good idea. Leaving chlamydia untreated could potentially cause infertility and since this sexually transmitted infection is often symptomless, the risk of becoming seriously affected by this infection is high.
Men will give a urine sample and women will give a urine sample or a swab which they can take themselves. The most common infections will be tested for but for HPV, herpes and HIV one should attend their local sexual health clinic. Most infections can be treated besides these viruses which will last a life time in many cases. Although there are now vaccinations available, once exposed to the virus, the vaccine will not work. Worst of all, some parents will not allow their young children to receive the vaccine.
What parents and teachers forget is that the HPV vaccine will help prevent against anal, penile and oral cancers in men and will also stop men transmitting the virus to their partners. With this knowledge, it is a shame that we are only able to treat women based on this most cost effective approach. If they were to start vaccinating men in addition to women then we would be in a much better position in terms of the easing off on the cost of HPV related cancers in men and women.
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