Sexual Health Week 2012: clinical
Clinical:
What’s new in 2012?
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What's new in 2012
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» CONTRACEPTION
» SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) TESTING
CONTRACEPTION
To bleed or not to bleed?
For women using the COMBINED pill and other oestrogen containing contraception, there are a number of regimes to minimize the number of bleeds per year i.e. 3 or 4 bleeds. Your local sexual health clinic can give advice on this.
Better emergency contraception
In Dumfries and Galloway there is now a more effective oral emergency contraception pill available for the time interval 72-120hours (up to 5 days). It is called EllaOne. However please note:
- Pharmacies do not provide emergency contraception after 72 hours.
- The copper intrauterine device (coil) is the most effective method of emergency contraception (99%) and also provides ongoing contraception.
Quick starting contraception
It is becoming more common to ‘quickstart’ certain types of contraception (e.g. pills, patches) i.e. starting it immediately rather than waiting till the next period, or starting it on the same day as taking emergency contraception. This should only be done as advised by a clinician as it may mask a pregnancy.
Antibiotics and the pill
Most common antibiotics DO NOT affect / interact with the combined pill. This is a recent change. Certain other medication can still affect the pill for examples any medication that increase the effect of liver enzymes including ST JOHN’S WORT
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SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) TESTING
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is on the increase in Dumfries and Galloway in all age groups. Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacteria and spread through any sexual contact e.g. oral, anal and vaginal sex. There is a simple test for it (see below) and it is cured by a single dose of antibiotic.
Combined test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea
There is now a combined test for both infections and is carried out on a urine for men and a self taken swab for women. At its simplest it can be done by yourself at home (postal testing kits) or by dropping in to Sexual Health D&G (Mon – Fri 9am-4pm)
New online risk assessment for STI’s coming
Look out for our new online tool where you can assess your risk of an STI (Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis, Hep B and Hep C)… it is in development!!!!