A recent report by the Health Protection Agency has shown that the number of STD cases in the UK is still rising. It showed that the rate of Chlamydia rose from 121,791 (2007) to over 123,000 last year; this is 10,000 more than in 2006.

This latest news came despite a nationwide campaign to prevent the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. The report also shows that the number of diagnosed cases of genital herpes and genital warts continue to increase. Genital wart cases rose by nearly 3% (92,525), with the rate of genital herpes infections up by 10% to 2,524.

There was some good news in the report, as Syphilis cases showed a 4% fall and the number of new Gonorrhoea cases dropped by 11%.

Young people aged between 16 and 24 are still considered to be a high risk of catching an STD, with Dr Gwenda Hughes stating: “Our data clearly show that considerable numbers of people, especially those under 25, are getting infected with an STI.”

Adding that, “Early detection is vital for both men and women. Without treatment Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can lead to complications and permanent damage such as infertility.”

Hepatitis is an injury to the liver indicated by the presence of inflammatory cells in its tissue. This disease might be self-limiting, heal on its own, or might advance to a point where it causes liver scarring. It is considered chronic if it lasts longer than six months and acute if it lasts less than six months.

Hepatitis has two categories, namely viral and non-viral hepatitis. Viral hepatitis can be categorised as acute if the condition occurs swiftly with relentless symptoms but only lasts for a short time. Non-viral hepatitis is a condition that slowly creeps in and may or may not have any manifestations, but lasts far longer.

Most cases of liver damage in the world are caused by a group of viruses, known as the hepatitis viruses. However, some cases are caused by toxins (like alcohol), other infections, or by an autoimmune process.

There are different types of hepatitis, depending on the viruses triggering the symptoms. Tests to determine which kind of hepatitis is present in an individual’s body will help in designing the appropriate treatment plan for them. Depending on the type of virus found in the body, a patient might undergo more than one or two tests to make sure that the diagnosis is correct and to determine what other infections are inside the body’s systems.

The five types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Non-viral hepatitis, on the other hand, has two main types which are called toxic/drug-induced hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis. In addition, there are two less common types of non-viral hepatitis called autoimmune hepatitis and granulomatous hepatitis.

A recent study conducted by the Health Protection Agency has reported that diagnosed cases of Syphilis in the UK have risen ten-fold throughout the last decade; mainly affecting gay men.

 Syphilis had became a rare sexually transmitted disease in the UK by the late 90’s through a combination of new antibiotics and syphilis awareness campaigns, with diagnosed cases of just 301 in 1997. This figure has jumped ten-fold with 3762 Syphilis cases diagnosed in 2007.

Of all of the syphilis cases diagnosed over the last decade, 73% of the cases (approximately 9560) affected gay men, with a third of them also infected with HIV. However in 2007, 68% of new syphilis cases were diagnosed in heterosexuals, with the rate of congenital syphilis also rising from 136 in 1999 to 448 in 2007.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease aka PID is an infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and other reproductive organs. It is a common complication that results from some sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), particularly gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Left untreated, PID may result in serious consequences, which include ectopic pregnancy, in which the fetus is in the fallopian tube or somewhere else outside the womb; infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and formation of abscesses.

PID is caused by bacteria that move upward from the vagina or the opening of the uterus, called the cervix, into the reproductive organs. The ones who are most at risk are sexually active women during their childbearing years. Also, due to more exposure to potentially infectious agents, a woman who has more sex partners has a greater risk of suffering from PID. This also applies to a woman whose sex partner has many other partners.

According to research, douching increases the risk of developing PID. This is because douching harms the organisms that live in the vagina, called the vaginal flora. These organisms serve as natural protection. Without this protection, bacteria can go into the upper reproductive organs.

Women below 25 years of age are more prone to developing PID than women above the age of 25. The reason for this is that the cervix of teenagers and young women has not yet matured, which increases the susceptibility to STDs that are associated with PID.

In the US, it is estimated that more than one million women a year suffer from an episode of acute PID, and about a tenth of this figure represents women who become infertile each year because of PID.  PID and its complications cause the deaths of more than 150 women a year.

Based on the 2007 statistics, around 63% of people suffer from some form of sexually transmitted disease at any one time. Some people who are suffering from STDs prefer to administer self-medication being uncomfortable with the idea of seeking professional help because of the embarrassment associated with an examination. Some STDs are asymptomatic (no apparent symptoms) and the condition of the person who is infected has already worsened before they are properly diagnosed.

Many STD/HIV testing clinics are available in London. The clinics offer services that ensure strict confidentiality relating to a patient’s case. At some clinics patients who need to undergo certain tests need not give their real names. These clinics do not give an update or any report to a government database so the patients can really be assured of complete privacy. Clinics are located in many parts of London, they are usually well maintained and offer fast results for patients that present there.

At present STD and HIV testing clinics are available in Canary Wharf; Bank, Mansion House, and Tower Hill in the city; the West End and Oxford Street, Chelsea, Clapham, Victoria, Kensington, Paddington, Notting Hill and Earl’s Court. There are several other clinics dotted around the capital.

It is advised that anyone who has unprotected sex with multiple partners should have regular STD tests, and anyone who has any symptoms or feels that they may have an infection should get tested straight away.

A recent study conducted in America has concluded that people who use condoms are 30% less likely to contract Genital Herpes. The infection is caused by the Herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) virus and can lead to infections or complications during pregnancy.

The study combined data from 6 separate studies on the rate of HSV infections and condom use that included a total of 5,384 people. All of the participants were free from the infection at the start of the studies and during the follow-up, a year later 415 individuals had contracted the virus.

Individuals who reported that they always used a condom were 30% less likely to contract the virus, while the risk of infection increased with the number of unprotected sex acts. The study concluded that condoms are only partially effective in preventing the virus, as it can be spread by skin-to-skin contact and even when there are no visible sign of infection.

Even though condoms do give some protection against the virus, experts still maintain that if you are worried about the virus or have regular unprotected sex, then you should have a STD test.

Up to 6,000 patients may be at risk of contracting hepatitis C following the arrest of a medical technician. Kirsten Diane Parker, 26 is accused of swapping her dirty needles for new ones filled with painkillers, which were meant for patients.

Parker, who was addicted to painkillers tested positive for hepatitis C and worked at the Rose Medical Centre in Denver and the Colorado Springs Audubon Ambulatory Surgery between October of last year and June 2009. 6,000 patients who had surgery at the medical centres during that time have been urged to get tested for hepatitis C, with 10 cases already been linked to former Rose patients.

Parker told detectives that she carried used syringes filled with saline in her pocket and swapped them for syringes filled with Fentanyl from operating tables. Fentanyl is a narcotic that is 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

A 20 year US law that has banned HIV positive people from visiting American is to be removed thanks to a HIV positive Briton, who accused the US government of discrimination during a major health conference.

Paul Thorn, who campaigns for access to treatment for HIV sufferers, should have spoken at the Pacific health summit in the US last month, but was refused a visa after stating that he had HIV on his visa application.

Instead of attending, Mr Thorn sent a statement that was read out in his place, accusing the US of discrimination and having a HIV policy rooted in fear. The statement went on to say that the US had no right of calling itself the world leader in the fight to eradicate the disease.

Politicians took up Mr Thorn’s case, lobbying the US government to rethink its HIV policy and last week the government decided to bring the ban to an end, stating that it was time to: “remove HIV as a communicable disease of public health significance”.

The removal of the ban is likely to be in place before the end of the year.

If you are worried about STD’s or feel that you may have contracted one, it is vital that you get tested straight away. Better2know has private STD testing clinics all over the UK, offering 100% confidential results quickly and effectively; results can usually be given on the same day or within 48 hours, which is a lot faster than a local GP clinic that could take up to 2 weeks.

STD testing at a Better2know clinic is 100% anonymous and confidential and you do not even have to give us your real name. We do not keep any medical records on you and do not share your results with any third party.

With STD and HIV testing clinics throughout the UK including, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh, Better2know can give you that peace of mind fast and efficiently, meaning that you can carry on with your life quicker.

Somerset’s local NHS service has been giving its residents free STD tests at the Glastonbury Festival. Any festival-goers who lived in the county were given the Chlamydia screening tests for free, while people from other areas were given information and advice about their local screening program.

Chlamydia is the most common and fastest growing sexually transmitted disease in the world, and with the Glastonbury Festival attracting over 200,000 people during the week, Somerset NHS used it to promote awareness about the infection.

Sarah Dove, the screening service manager for Somerset NHS said that the disease was particularly dangerous because: “Unfortunately the disease has no symptoms in 70 per cent of women and 50 per cent of men, so they may not even know they have it, and, if left untreated, Chlamydia can cause major infertility problems.”

Adding that, “We want to reach as many young people from Somerset as possible to inform them of the risks of Chlamydia.”

Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 were eligible for the test, which is free and totally confidential. People can also choose how they want to receive their results, either by text or email, by phone or through a letter.

For more information about Chlamydia you can visit the National Chlamydia Screening Programme website.