HIV/AIDS continues to rise in Europe
At the end of 2007 it was estimated that around 800,000 people were living with HIV in Western and Central Europe. Although small when compared with Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, recent evidence shows increasing rates of HIV transmission in a number of European countries, particularly among men who have sex with men. The number of people living with HIV who are unaware of their status is alarmingly high and many people are diagnosed with HIV at a late stage, reducing the likelihood of treatment success.
To minimise the risk to yourself if you suspect that you may have HIV, or have had sex man on man, is to take an STD test. These tests are carried out at a number of centres throughout London and all other major cities in the UK such as Manchester and Birmingham. The test is very simple and is carried out in complete confidence, anonymously if preferred, with the result given to you within a few hours. The quicker you know the result the sooner treatment can begin.
HIV is not curable
A lot of people think that if they, not forgetting their sexual partners have tested negative for HIV they no longer need to use condoms. Many people forget that HIV tests do not immediately detect an infection. In addition, many people think that HIV/AIDS is the only sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is incurable and potentially fatal. This is a fallacy and a very dangerous practice. It is true that many STD’s can be cured with modern medication but often serious damage to a person’s health can have occurred.
Any person, male or female, if they have multiple sexual partners or believe that they may have been infected with an STD should arrange an STD test without delay. There are numerous centres within London and most major cities outside of the capital, such as Manchester and Birmingham as well. The test is simple and is completely confidential, you can even withhold your name if you prefer. Do not delay. Arrange an STD test today.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is a virus that damages human immune cells. It weakens the immune system and, without treatment, leads most infected people to develop AIDS. Like all viruses, HIV infects the cells of a living organism in order to make new copies of itself. HIV can only be transmitted in certain ways and the purpose of this page is to explain how you can and can’t become infected. HIV cannot live for long outside the body, so to be infected you need to allow some body fluid from an infected person to get inside your body.
The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are by having sexual intercourse with an infected partner, or through injecting drugs using a needle or syringe that has been used by someone who is infected. There is no cure for HIV and treatment is carried out through the use of antiviral drugs. It is important to ensure that treatment is started quickly before the infection can become full blown AIDS. Therefore it is important that should you believe that you may be infected, a test for HIV is undertaken as soon as possible so the antiviral can be administered.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sadly in the first decade of the 21st century the various risks connected with having sex have increased. The figures for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea are all going up. This is almost entirely because so many people do not practice safe sex. The first thing to remember if you do not want to become infected is to avoid casual sex. If you do have sex with someone who is not your regular, faithful partner use a condom throughout. Regrettably teenagers are now losing their virginity very young and frequently at an age where they don’t have any idea about how to protect themselves against the unwanted consequences of sex. So inevitably, there are times when teenage love-making, instead of being beautiful and fulfilling, leads to disaster.
Most sexually transmitted diseases can be cured if they are diagnosed and treated in their early stages. The important thing to remember is to have an STD test particularly if you have sex with someone who is not your regular, faithful partner. There are STD test centres in London and major cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, the test are carried out in complete confidence and the result given to you quickly. Contact your STD test centre today if you have any doubts, or are showing unusual symptoms following sexual contact.
Simple facts about HIV/AIDS
HIV is a virus and it should be pointed out that viruses cannot grow or reproduce on their own, they need to infect the cells of a living organism in order to make new copies of themselves, which is know as replicating. The human immune system usually finds and kills viruses fairly quickly, but HIV attacks the immune system itself, bad news because that is the very thing that would normally get rid of a virus. Sadly the infection rate for HIV is not decreasing and in 2007 alone nearly 3 million people became infected with the infection
Often people do not understand that HIV is not AIDS but it does cause AIDS by damaging the immune system cells until the immune system can no longer fight off other infections that it would usually be able to prevent. For an average person with a good diet it would probably take around ten years to develop AIDS, a malnourished person would develop this much sooner. HIV can be treated with antiretroviral drugs keep the levels of HIV in the body at a low level, so that the immune system is able to recover and work effectively. Antiretroviral drugs enable many HIV positive people to live long and healthy lives. The important thing though is to act fast; anyone who thinks that they may have come into sexual contact with someone with HIV should take a test at one of the many testing centres throughout London and the other major cities in the UK.
STD’s are prevalent in the UK
Sexually transmitted diseases are prevalent in the United Kingdom, making it important for a sexually active adult to have regular sexual checks to identify and diagnose STDs. There are several methods to test for sexually transmitted diseases, otherwise known as sexually transmitted infections, your local STD test centre in London will advise you the method they will use, which will depend on your symptoms, should you display any.
A sexually active adult should submit themselves to testing as soon as symptoms arise, if not immediately after any unprotected sex or sexual activity. Sexual testing and screening at the private London clinics is completely confidential. You may, if you wish, have an STD test undertaken anonymously if you prefer, but what is important is that you have frequent sexual checks to ensure you are clear of infection.
Undiagnosed HIV has trebled in 10 years!
The number of people living undiagnosed with HIV in the UK has trebled in the last decade. Another worrying fact is that four fifths of the men who acquired the infection probably acquired this in the UK. So many people believe that some how this sexually transmitted infection is an African problem, but it is not, HIV is worldwide and is not decreasing.
New HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men continue to increase, but then so does the number infected through heterosexual contact which has doubled to 23% as a proportion of all heterosexual diagnoses during this period. One in three persons with HIV remains undiagnosed passing on the disease to others with whom they come into sexual contact. HIV is on the increase along with other sexually transmitted infections, like chlamydia and syphilis. The earlier that HIV and other infections are diagnosed the sooner treatment can begin. STD testing in London and other parts of the UK is readily available and the tests are carried out in complete confidence, anonymously if required.
Summer social contacts
With the onset of the warmer weather we tend to become more sociable and to get out and enjoy the summer days and nights. This is the time of relaxing outside at the pub and we are more likely to make more social contacts than when it is cold and raining. Inevitable this can also mean that casual sex is also on the agenda with inhibitions lowered through alcohol. Herein lays the danger!
Having casual sex, particularly with multiple partners can mean the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) which can be very serious. An example of one such STD is the dramatic increase in the rate of infection from Chlamydia. This sexually transmitted infection is the most common STD in the world with approximately 89 million people worldwide that have been diagnosed with Chlamydia. Worryingly about 75 percent of women and 50 percent of men who have chlamydia have no symptoms. If symptoms do appear they emerge about one to three weeks after infection.
If you believe that you may have contracted this or any other STD, a test can be arranged in London and throughout the UK, when you can be informed and essential treatment can begin.
Testing for HIV in London
HIV (AIDS) is one of the most serious of sexually transmitted diseases and early detection is vital if the infection is to be kept under control. However, there is no cure for HIV and typically this virus leads to AIDS. With the use of antiretroviral drugs, though, people with HIV can significantly prolong their life as well as the put off the development of AIDS.
With this in mind people who are sexually active with multiple partners or same sex couples are most at risk of contracting HIV. Testing for the infection is carried out at a number of clinics in London as well as major cities throughout the UK. The primary detection of HIV is through a blood sample to test for HIV antibodies in the blood. If HIV antibodies are found, the patient is HIV positive. Another test is conducted to confirm diagnosis. The current treatment for the HIV virus is antivirus drugs, antiretroviral treatment or combination therapy. Contact your STD testing clinic today if you are injecting drugs or fall into the above category.
Basic Procedure for STD Testing
Sexually transmitted diseases are prevalent in the United Kingdom, making it important for a sexually active adult to have regular sexual checks to identify and diagnose STDs. There are several methods to test for sexually transmitted diseases, but the primary method is through a physical examination. Many STDs, such as genital herpes, syphilis or genital warts can be detected by confidential physical examination at a local testing clinic in London and the provinces.
For example the testing of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Trichomonas Vaginalis, the HIV virus, genital warts and genital herpes require either blood, urine or cell samples to be taken and analyzed, Chlamydia can also be detected by a urine sample or a swab taken from the urethra, the cervix, rectum, throat or eye. All tests are carried out in complete confidentiality and the results will be with you quickly by unmarked post or by telephone if preferred.