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Love is A Gamble, Your Sexual Health Shouldn’t Be.

Published on

15/04/2024

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 1 million STIs are acquired globally every day1. These infections are often asymptomatic, making their diagnosis complex. When symptoms do occur, they are usually nonspecific. As a result, facilities for a STI test are crucial to reduce the chance of the severe side effects associated with this collection of infections.

STIs get their name from the most common way these infections are spread, through unprotected sexual contact with an infected individual. However, STIs can also be spread through other bodily fluids like blood, often through sharing needles, or less commonly, saliva. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother to child.

Introduction

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 1 million STIs are acquired globally every day1. These infections are often asymptomatic, making their diagnosis complex. When symptoms do occur, they are usually nonspecific. As a result, testing for STIs is crucial to reduce the chance of the severe side effects associated with this collection of infections.

STIs get their name from the most common way these infections are spread, through unprotected sexual contact with an infected individual. However, STIs can also be spread through other bodily fluids like blood, often through sharing needles, or less commonly, saliva. Some STIs can also be transmitted from mother to child.

Risk Factors and Prevention

The rise of antimicrobial resistance underscores the fact that when it comes to STIs, prevention is better than treatment. STIs disproportionally affect those aged under 25, men who have sex with men (MSM) and those of black Caribbean ethnicity5. In England, in 2012, 79% of syphilis diagnoses were from MSM5.  Additional risk factors include multiple sexual partners, substance abuse (alcohol or drugs) which tends to encourage risky behaviour and a personal history of STIs.

So, what can we do to prevent the transmission of STIs? It has long been established that the first action should be to increase awareness and education about the complications and risk factors associated with STIs. A more aware and educated population is likely to destigmatise issues surrounding STIs and encourage those who may be infected to seek medical care. Communication between sexual partners is also essential. Those who think they are infected should abstain from sexual contact until a definitive diagnosis is received and should inform all recent sexual partners of their situation.  The correct use of condoms can help reduce the spread of STIs but is ineffective against the transmission of extragenital warts.

Co-infections

If you have contracted an STI, you are at an increased risk of contracting another. In one hospital, 37% of those diagnosed at the STI clinic had more than one infection6. Syphilis was the most common infection associated with multiple STIs, but others include HIV and HSV-26. This poses another serious risk; if only one infection is identified, this could lead to an aggravation of the missed infection which may result in serious adverse effects both in the long and short-term. Regular screening allows you to be tested for a wide range of STIs, allowing any potentially silent coinfections to be identified before the onset of adverse complications.

Symptoms & Complications

    • Sores or bumps on the genitals, or oral or rectal area
    • Painful or burning urination
    • Discharge from the penis
    • Unusual vaginal discharge
    • Unusual vaginal bleeding
    • Pain during sex
    • Lower abdominal pain
    • Fever

Randox Health STI Test

At Randox Health, we offer 3 test packages for STI screening: the STI 10 Urine Screen, the Blood Borne STI Screen and the Complete STI Screen. Your results are provided as a personalised report straight to your phone, helping to keep your experience as discrete as possible. We also offer the option of a remote GP appointment to discuss your results and options. Our discrete service doesn’t show up on your medical records, allowing you to keep information on your sexual health completely private.

STI 10 Urine Test

With results available the same or the next day, this screen tests for 10 common STIs detectable from a single urine or external sample.

Our clinics provide a private and comfortable environment for you to provide us with a sample, which will then be tested for:
Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Herpes Simplex I, Herpes Simplex II, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chancroid.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Book Online
  2. Visit Randox Health where a urine sample or external sample may be taken *
  3. Receive results the same day / next day based on selection
  4. Book an optional remote GP appointment

* Internal oral, rectal and vaginal swabbing not currently available.

Blood Borne STI Test

This package provides discrete testing for 4 common blood-borne pathogens: HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis from a single blood sample.

Results are available within 1-2 days, however, depending on the infection it can take weeks before it is detectable in the blood, you may therefore need to wait before testing to reduce the risk of a false negative.

This test is recommended for pre-IVF treatment. The World Health Organisation states infertility affects 1 in 6 people globally, with 17.5% of adults across the world affected by the inability to have a child7.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Book Online
  2. Visit chosen Randox Health clinic where a blood sample will be collected
  3. Results available in 1-2 working days
  4. Book an optional remote GP appointment

The Complete STI Test

Combining both tests above, this package offers discrete testing of the major STIs to give you a comprehensive insight into your sexual health and aid in the detection of infection.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Book Online
  2. Visit chosen Randox Health clinic where a urine and blood sample will be taken
  3. Results available within 1-2 working days
  4. Book an optional remote GP appointment

Conclusions

STIs are a significant global health concern with a high prevalence and often severe consequences. They disproportionately affect certain groups, and their spread is typically facilitated by behaviours such as unprotected sex or sharing needles. Although some of these infections are curable, others remain incurable, underscoring the importance of prevention.

Practices such as correct condom use and vaccination play vital roles in limiting STI transmission. However, these methods are not foolproof, and therefore, we must emphasise comprehensive education on sexual health, open communication, and regular testing as key strategies in combating STIs.

Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility, individuals and health organisations alike, to contribute to a society where STIs are not seen as a taboo but as a health issue that we can collectively address, ultimately striving towards a healthier, safer world

 

References List:

  1. World Health Organisation. Sexually transmitted infections. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis).
  2. World Health Organisation. WHO Gonococcal AMR Surveillance Programme. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/who-gonococcal-amr-surveillance-programme-who-gasp.
  3. Mijchelsen SJ, Enayat Q, Harb AK, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections and Screening for Chlamydia in England: 2022 Report.; 2023.
  4. Mayo Clinic. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/symptoms-causes/syc-20351240.
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  12. Moridi K, Hemmaty M, Azimian A, Fallah MH, Khaneghahi Abyaneh H, Ghazvini K. Epidemiology of genital infections caused by Mycoplasma hominis, M. genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum in Iran; a systematic review and meta-analysis study (2000–2019). BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1020. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08962-5
  13. Gnanadurai R, Fifer H. Mycoplasma genitalium: A Review. Microbiology (N Y). 2020;166(1):21-29. doi:10.1099/mic.0.000830
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  15. Kemp M, Christensen JJ, Lautenschlager S, Vall-Mayans M, Moi H. European guideline for the management of chancroid, 2011. Int J STD AIDS. 2011;22(5):241-244. doi:10.1258/ijsa.2010.010432
  16. Lewis DA. Chancroid: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management. Sex Transm Infect. 2003;79(1):68-71. doi:10.1136/sti.79.1.68
  17. Salek A, Nayeem J. SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION REFERRED TO AS HIV/AIDS. American Journal of Educational Research and Reviews. Published online 2018. doi:10.28933/ajerr-2017-12-0502
  18. Wilkins T, Sams R, Carpenter M. Hepatitis B: Screening, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(5):314-323.
  19. Ferraro M, Stantspainter M. Hepatitis C-Screening, Diagnosis, Management & Treatment INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND. Vol 11.
  20. Gullette D, Hopkins K. Syphilis—An Elusive Diagnosis. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2021;17(10):1189-1193. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.10.003