Watch that sexual health hangover!

PARTYGOERS are being reminded to look after their sexual health this Christmas and New Year.

Northamptonshire Healthcare wants everyone in the county to make sure they have safe sex during the party season. Health services are also keen to encourage young people to get tested for chlamydia, now the most common sexually transmitted infection.

Senior sexual health nurse Chris Stirmey said: “People often let their hair down during the party season, but too much alcohol can lead people to take unnecessary risks.

“We want to urge people to stay safe and use condoms, as well as their usual contraception.”

Northamptonshire Healthcare provides a full range of contraceptive services, including emergency contraception, which is effective if taken within 72 hours of having sex.

It is also a good idea to have a sexual health test if you have had unprotected sex, as some sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, do not always show obvious symptoms.

Tests are quick, easy and confidential. You do not need a referral from your doctor and in most cases sexually transmitted infections are easily treated.

Northamptonshire has two main sexual health clinics: the Department of Sexual Health at Northampton General Hospital and the Ashwood Centre for Sexual Health at St Mary’s Hospital in Kettering.

Contraceptive clinics are held at Brackley Health Centre, Stuart Road Resource Centre in Corby, the Ashwood Centre in Kettering, St Giles Clinic in Northampton, Weston Favell Primary Care Centre, Rectory Road Health Clinic in Rushden and the Castle Unit at Isebrook Hospital in Wellingborough.

Northamptonshire's sexual health and contraceptive clinics will be operating during the holiday period. Details of changes to clinic times can be found on the trust's sexual health web pages.

10 things everyone should know about HIV in Northamptonshire

DECEMBER 1 is World AIDS Day. To mark the day, HIV specialists in Northamptonshire are keen to remind people of some of the most important facts about HIV/AIDS and HIV services in the county.

More people than ever before are living with HIV in the UK.
Dr Mohamed Ghanem, HIV consultant with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “There are around 650 people in Northamptonshire living with HIV and we are expecting this number to grow. We predict that there will be at least 80 new cases of HIV diagnosed in the county every year.

Health specialists suspect that the real figures for HIV are probably even higher.
The Health Protection Agency suspects that as many as many as 25 per cent of all people who have HIV don’t know this and haven’t yet been diagnosed,” said Dr Ghanem. “This is why it is so important to be tested if you might have been in contact with the virus – especially if you have had unprotected sex with someone whose sexual history you don’t know.”

HIV can affect anyone.
“Men who have sex with men are still the group most at risk of HIV, but it isn’t just gay men,” said Dr Ghanem. “A third of people with HIV in the UK are women, and in 2007 more than 700 young people under the age of 24 were diagnosed. Anyone who has sex without a condom or shares needles when injecting drugs is at risk of HIV.”

HIV is not a death sentence.
“Although there isn’t a cure for HIV, modern treatments have come a long way,” said Dr Ghanem. “People diagnosed with HIV today can have a normal life expectancy and live healthy and productive lives. People should not be afraid to have an HIV test – the earlier treatment starts, the better the outcome for patients.”

Modern HIV tests are quick and reliable.
“Samples are tested more than once to make sure there are no mistakes,” said Dr Ghanem. “We can carry out a reliable test within a month of possible exposure to the virus. And if you have your test at one of our clinics, it costs you nothing.”

It is important to know your HIV status.
“Knowing early if you have HIV has important benefits,” said Dr Ghanem. “It means we can evaluate you for treatment even before your symptoms appear – and the earlier you start treatment the more effective it is. And if you know you are infected, you can help to prevent passing the virus on to others by practicing safer sex."

HIV is most often spread through unprotected sex or sharing injecting equipment. “It is a myth that HIV can be spread through everyday contact such as kissing or sharing utensils,” said Dr Ghanem. “In the UK, you will only become infected if you have unprotected sex with someone who has HIV or if you share a needle or injecting equipment.”

Never take unnecessary risks.
“You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV,” said Dr Ghanem. “It is also dangerous to assume that your partner will tell you if they have HIV – after all, they might not even know. So, always using a condom is the safest way to protect against HIV.”

Your test results are completely confidential.
“Your test results are completely confidential,” said Dr Ghanem. “Northamptonshire Healthcare is not permitted to reveal your personal details or test results to anyone without your permission, except under the most exceptional circumstances. We do recommend that people with HIV tell their partners, if they possibly can, but we appreciate that this isn’t always easy.
We are here to help and support them in this.”

Finding out your HIV status is easy.
“It is very easy to get an HIV test in Northamptonshire,” said Dr Ghanem. “We hold clinics every day, Monday to Friday, in Northampton and Kettering, where people can have a test for HIV or any other sexually transmitted infection. We also hold satellite clinics in Brackley and Corby. The tests are free and confidential, and people can either drop-in or book an appointment. If the results show that you are infected, we also offer comprehensive treatment and support locally at the Summers Unit, which is based at Northampton General Hospital."

Northamptonshire Healthcare’s main sexual health departments are at the Ashwood Centre for Sexual Health, St Mary’s Hospital, London Road, Kettering, and the Department of Sexual Health, Area R, Northampton General Hospital. Call 01536 410647 or 01604 637203 for appointments and more information about local sexual health, HIV and contraceptive services, or visit: http://www.nht.nhs.uk/.

Contraception: worth talking about

HEALTH services in Northamptonshire are supporting a new national campaign to help young people make informed choices about contraception, look after their sexual health and avoid unwanted pregnancies.

“Contraception. Worth talking about” is a new campaign from the Department of Health that aims to promote more open and honest discussions about sex and relationships among 16 to 24 year-olds and their parents. Research shows that a lack of knowledge, and misinformation, coupled with poor attitudes and communication is hindering safe sexual behaviour.

In Northamptonshire there are now more places than ever before where young people can go for advice, information and help to make choices about sex and contraception that are right for them.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust runs 20 contraceptive clinics and more than 30 young people’s drop-in sessions a week in community venues right across the county, in addition to the advice and services available from GP practices.

The drop-ins are held at youth groups, community centres and colleges, giving young people more opportunities to discuss sexual health, make informed choices about their sexual relationships, and access the contraceptive and other sexual health services they may need.

Jane Waite, Northamptonshire’s teenage pregnancy strategy co-ordinator said: “It is important that young people can talk to their families, friends and health professionals without feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable.

“By providing sex education at school and health advice to teenagers, we are supporting young people to improve their knowledge and understanding about sexual health, and to delay early sex. But it is also really important that they have access to effective contraception when they do start having sex. This will help keep teenage pregnancy rates on the downward trend, and to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections.”

Dr Jagruti Doshi, consultant in contraceptive and reproductive healthcare with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “There is a method of contraception to suit the lifestyle of everyone and it is important to understand what the choices are.

“Our drop-ins give young people an opportunity to talk to a doctor or nurse about the contraceptive choices that are available and choose the one that is right for them.”

More information about the new campaign, “Contraception. Worth talking about”, can be found at www.nhs.uk/worthtalkingabout.