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If you're involved in any of the following - dogging, swinging, working as a sex worker, you're a sex worker's client, or if you're a man looking for sex with other men - especially sex in public places, then this website is for you!
Sex may be fun - but hey it's not without its dangers! Assaults on sex workers and people who have sex in public places are not uncommon, and there are also those cursed STIs. Whether it's a warning about 'dodgy' punters, or a Syphilis outbreak, you'll find news, views and alerts about how to avoid the pitfalls, and how to get help if you don't.
C-Card is a free condom distribution scheme for young people under 25 who live in Gloucestershire. You can get free condoms from any of the distribution outlets. Click here for further details: http://www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk/sexhelpglos326447.html
ALERT WARNING!
For people seeking sex with sex workers in the county this is a serious message.
There may be people in Gloucestershire offering sex for sale who may be carrying the HIV/AIDS virus. For a number of reasons we are unable to identify specific persons or a location. This is a serious health alert – posted in the interests of protecting public health.
If you are considering paying for sex in Gloucestershire, please think carefully about the consequences of becoming infected with HIV, and if you do choose to have sex with a sex worker ( or with any partner whose sexual history you are unaware of ) please wear a condom and avoid contact with body fluids. Whether you’re a sex worker or someone who has sex with sex workers a condom will help to protect you from sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
If you have recently paid for sex – or had sex and have concerns about your sexual health please contact sexual health services. Details on www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk . Treatment is free and confidential.
Please don’t be an April Fool.
ALERT WARNING ENDS
Sexually Transmitted Infections The Collectors Series – Number 7. Syphilis
Whether this infection was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus’ sailors (obviously more risk-taking was involved than just crossing the Atlantic in a rickety wooden tub) or hitched a ride from elsewhere, one thing is for sure, syphilis is a serious contender as a heavyweight STI.
Before Fleming discovered antibiotics this one could do some pretty serious damage – in fact fatal damage; let’s say that again – fatal damage. If you leave this one untreated it still can. But…before you bolt the doors, pull down the shutters and vow never to have sex again let’s put things straight. As with other STIs, treatment is available for syphilis – you can be cured of this infection – but, and there is a ‘but’, but only if you receive treatment during the first two stages of the infection. If you do leave it late, treatment for the conditions caused by syphilis are available – but there is no cure at this stage.
Let’s explain. Syphilis is caused by a type of bacteria and is sexually transmitted, so you can acquire the infection via oral, vaginal, or anal sex. There are three stages to syphilis.
Stage 1.The usual symptom is an open sore called a chancre. This is painless and usually forms at the point of infection (ie penis, vagina, anus, or mouth – but can appear elsewhere on the body) around three weeks after having sex with an infected person. After a week or so the sore will disappear. You may think “ hey, I’m cured” – but you’re not!
Stage 2. The next stage occurs between one to six months following the first stage of infection. Symptoms include a rash – either on the soles of the feet or palms of the hand – or all over the body. Moist patches and loss of hair may also occur; other common symptoms may include a sore throat, muscle aches, weight loss, fever, and enlarged glands/lymph nodes. At this stage you will be very infectious to other people. If you have had a sore as described in Stage 1., not sought treatment, it’s gone away and you’re now experiencing these symptoms you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
Stage 3. If you do not receive treatment at Stage 2 then the final stage of syphilis can do you some serious damage. This can begin to occur a year after initial infection – or can take many more years. If the infection reaches this stage syphilis can affect the major organs – the brain, heart, liver, and spinal cord –and can affect movement, cause paralysis, dementia and blindness. The damage done at this stage cannot be reversed. Potentially because you didn’t protect yourself when having sex. The damage to major organs caused by syphilis may result in death.
Latent syphilis. One other thing – syphilis can lie latent for many years – ie you may have it and be spreading it to other people without knowing that you have it for a long time – until it decides to introduce itself to you. Scary.
A few facts:
How is it caught? Caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum (no, nothing to do with the London Palladium). Syphilis can be transmitted through genital, anal and oral sex.
Symptoms: A sore called a chancre will appear on the genitals or mouth. This will go after a couple of weeks whether or not the syphilis is treated. A few months later a rash and other symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, patchy loss of hair and moist lumps around the anus and genitalia occur. These symptoms might disappear and reappear for a couple of years and then vanish.
Effects: If left untreated, up to 30 years later a person infected with syphilis will develop serious conditions involving the brain, heart and spinal cord. These can result in death.
Treatment: Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, but in the third stage of syphilis, damage that has been done to organs cannot be reversed.
Prevention: Using a condom should prevent syphilis. Avoid having unprotected sex.
Until very recently syphilis was an infection that was very rare. Unfortunately it’s back and on the increase. As the NHS Choices website reports:
Syphilis is more common in men than women, and rates are highest among gay men. Catching syphilis increases your chances of catching HIV. Also, HIV will alter the typical course of syphilis, increasing the chances of it progressing to tertiary syphilis.
Some STIs can have more serious consequences. Syphilis is a serious infection which requires medical attention – it won’t go away on its own. Anybody can catch, carry or transmit an infection whether it’s the first time you’ve had sex or the ‘nth time with an umpteenth partner– if you have unprotected sex; i.e. sex without a condom. Remember some STIs don’t have any symptoms, so if you have had unprotected sex and you’re concerned then contact your local sexual health clinic – they’re free and confidential – no one is going to judge you!
Clinics:
Cheltenham:
Benhall Clinic, Cheltenham General Hospital
Tel 08454 224279
Gloucester:
Hope House, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Tel 08454 226470
The sexhelpglos website is a great place to look for further information:
www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk
Sexually Transmitted Infections The Collectors Series – Number 5. Herpes
Back in the 1970s this STI was the new kid on the block. Genital herpes has been around for a long time, but from the late 70’s onwards the incidence of genital herpes has grown significantly – particularly amongst young people. So what is it? What does it do? And – what can you do to protect yourself?
Well, genital herpes is caused by a virus, and is part of a family (but not one you’d want to be related to) of viruses which can cause chicken pox and shingles; however whilst related, the genital herpes virus – or if you want to get technical HSV – 2, is one that likes to get close up and friendly with your genitals. That’s right – it’s sexually transmitted. This one can cause raw, painful ulcers around your genitalia, anus and your mouth (and if it gets into your eyes, a nasty eye infection too) – so whatever type of sex you have, if you’re not using a condom HSV- 2 has the opportunity to set up home – in you! But this uninvited guest is one that you won’t be able to get rid of; antiviral medication is available to control symptoms, but there is no cure. The sores or ulcers will eventually go away, but they may recur near the original sore or ulcer when you’re feeling run down. Some people never develop any symptoms and don’t know that they’re infected – but you can still pass on the virus even without any symptoms. Protection? Condoms – especially if you’re not aware of your partner’s sexual history.
Herpes is not life threatening, but it can be painful and unpleasant – and it may hinder your relationship. It may also be a sign that someone is not being careful about their sexual health. Some STIs can have more serious consequences. Anybody can catch, carry or transmit an infection whether it’s the first time you’ve had sex or the ‘nth time with an umpteenth partner– if you have unprotected sex; i.e. sex without a condom.
Remember some STIs don’t have any symptoms, so if you have had unprotected sex and you’re concerned then contact your local sexual health clinic – they’re free and confidential – no one is going to judge you!
Cheltenham:
Benhall Clinic, Cheltenham General Hospital
Tel 08454 224279
Gloucester:
Hope House, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Tel 08454 226470
The sexhelpglos website is a great place to look for further information:
www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk
Sexually transmitted infections: The forecast for all sexually transmitted infections remains high. Use a condom – and if you do have unprotected sex, seek help via your local clinic. Details may be found at www.sexhelpglos. If you’re interested in figures on STIs take a look at the Health Protection Agency website. Should any alerts around concerns about specific sexually transmitted infections in Gloucestershire occur, details will be posted here.
Assault: Please be aware of your personal safety at all times when visiting public sex environments, or if you are a sex worker. If you are the victim of a sexual assualt please contact the Sexual Assault Referral Centre. Details concerning warnings about increased risk of assault at public sex environments , or for sex workers will be posted here.
Public sex environments: the places where you choose to go cruising or dogging, are often beauty spots or sites of special scientific interest in their own right; ie other people use these sites literally for walking the dog, or bird watching, or a family picnic . Please respect the countryside code and clean up after you! Don’t leave any used condoms or sex litter lying around – thanks! Details concerning criminal or environmental damage will be posted here.
Sexually Transmitted Infections The Collectors Series – Number 4. Pubic Lice
These critters are relatives of head lice – almost kissin’ cousins in fact, except that whilst head lice are content to wander around the barnet on the top of your head, pubic lice like to bed down in your pubic hair, and the other coarse hairs on your body – so you can also find them in the hair on your legs, chest, and armpits –your beard and moustache if you happen to possess them, and even the eyebrows…
Sex – close body contact, is the main route of infection, although they can be caught from sharing bath towels if they happen to be deposited on there by an infected person – and you use the towel afterwards; the same applies to shared bed linen or clothing.
Pubic lice are more of a nuisance and possible embarrassment than anything else – but they do cause extreme itching, which is one way of discovering you’ve got them (they look like head lice –they also lay eggs in your hair). If you discover a black powdery substance in your underwear, this is their faeces. Whilst not a serious problem they’re not the sort of pet that you want to share with everyone else, hence it’s important you get them treated.
Prevention: Wearing a condom will not protect you – but you should wear one anyway because of a whole lot of other STIs lurking out there. If your partner (or yourself) has symptoms of these, you should tell each other – it’s not fair to pass on any STI
Pubic lice are little more than a nuisance that require treatment – but they may be a sign that someone is not being careful about their sexual health. Some STIs can have serious consequences. Anybody can catch, carry or transmit an infection whether it’s the first time you’ve had sex or the ‘nth time with an umpteenth partner– if you have unprotected sex; i.e. sex without a condom. Remember some STIs don’t have any symptoms so if you have had unprotected sex and you’re concerned then contact your local sexual health clinic – they’re free and confidential – no one is going to judge you!
Cheltenham:
Benhall Clinic, Cheltenham General Hospital
Tel 08454 224279
Gloucester:
Hope House, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Tel 08454 226470
The sexhelpglos website is a great place to look for further information:
www.sexhelpglos.nhs.uk
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