Sexual health and contraception

Author(s):  
Chantal Simon ◽  
Hazel Everitt ◽  
Françoise van Dorp ◽  
Nazia Hussain ◽  
Emma Nash ◽  
...  

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of General Practice explores sexual health and contraception in general practice. It covers assessment of sexual health, vaginal discharge, sexually transmitted infection, chlamydia, trichomonas, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B and C, and HIV infection. It explores contraceptive choices, combined hormonal contraception, progestogen-only contraceptives, and intrauterine contraceptive devices. It discusses teenagers and women over 40, termination of pregnancy, infertility, sexual problems, erectile dysfunction, gender dysphoria, and gender reassignment.

Author(s):  
Chantal Simon ◽  
Hazel Everitt ◽  
Françoise van Dorp ◽  
Matt Burkes

Assessment of sexual health Vaginal discharge Sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and trichomonas Hepatitis B and C HIV infection: prevention and testing HIV infection: clinical disease Other sexually transmitted infections Summary of contraceptive methods Combined hormonal contraception Progestogen-only contraceptives Intrauterine devices Other contraceptive methods Teenagers and women over 40...


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Martin Woodbridge ◽  
Anthony Dowell ◽  
Lesley Gray

INTRODUCTION: Sexual health is an important component of primary care, and optimal sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing by doctors could help improve sexual health outcomes for men. Currently, little is known about general practitioners' (GPs') assessment of STI and HIV risk, particularly in relation to male patients, and the degree to which current advice can be translated into consistent testing protocols. The aim of the study was to explore STI and HIV testing strategies for men in general practice and opportunities and barriers to more optimal testing. METHODS: This study used a qualitative, multiple-case methodology, incorporating 17 distinct GP cases, drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The following themes were identified: sexual health consultations by men in general practice are usually initiated by the patient; GPs appear to have a consistent rationale for their risk assessments in terms of STI testing; the nature of the doctor's interaction with men influences the quality of sexual health services utilisation; optimal sexual health consultations require sufficient time and a recognition of the 'delicacy' of the consultation content for both patient and health practitioner. CONCLUSION: The stratified testing strategies undertaken by GPs appeared appropriate given the risk profiles of their patients. Constraints to optimal sexual health consultations were identified, including inadequate consultation time, male utilisation of GP consultations, and challenges in discussing sexual health topics within the consultation. Prioritising men's sexual health as a topic in CME may be helpful. KEYWORDS: General practitioners; health communication; HIV; men; sexual health; sexually transmitted infections


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 528-532
Author(s):  
Nur Gasmelsid ◽  
Benjamin CB Moran ◽  
Tom Nadarzynski ◽  
Rajul Patel ◽  
Elizabeth Foley

Patient demand on sexual health services in the United Kingdom is so high that many services have introduced online screening to accommodate more patients. There are concerns that these services may not be accessible to all. This service evaluation was undertaken to determine whether online screening is accessible by those patients most at need by comparing the demographics and number of asymptomatic chlamydial infections detected online and in clinic. No difference was found in the age nor level of deprivation, demonstrating that online services are an accessible way to screen for sexually transmitted infections without overburdening established services.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 1407-1416 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Desai ◽  
F Burns ◽  
G Schembri ◽  
D Williams ◽  
A Sullivan ◽  
...  

Men who have sex with men (MSM) attending sexual health (SH) clinics are at high risk for HIV acquisition and are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We collected standardised behavioural data from MSM attending clinics to characterise sexual behaviours and identify predictors for HIV and STIs. In 2012–2013, HIV-negative MSM attending five SH clinics in England reported sexual behaviours in the previous three months via a self-administered questionnaire. Behaviours were linked to the individual’s clinical records using national surveillance. The prevalence and incidence of bacterial STIs (gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, lymphogranuloma venereum and syphilis) and incidence of HIV were calculated. Adjusted odds ratios and hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported for significant predictors. Of 1278 HIV-negative MSM, 54% were of white ethnicity and UK-born and 43% were 25–34 years old. Almost all men reported at least one partner in the last three months. Half reported condomless anal sex and 36% condomless receptive anal intercourse (CRAI). Incidence of bacterial STIs was 46/100 (95%CI 39–54) person years (py) and of HIV was 3.1/100 (95%CI 1.7–5.6) py. A STI at baseline and CRAI with increasing numbers of partners were associated with both incident infections. In this cohort of MSM high-risk behaviours and STIs were prevalent. Engagement in CRAI increased the likelihood of subsequent infection, while men diagnosed with a bacterial STI were at increased risk of a future STI. Clinical and behavioural risk assessments to determine an individual’s risk of infection could allow a more nuanced prevention approach that has greater success in reducing transmission.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Sweeney ◽  
E. Trembizki ◽  
C. Bletchly ◽  
C. S. Bradshaw ◽  
A. Menon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMycoplasma genitaliumis frequently associated with urogenital and rectal infections, with the number of cases of macrolide-resistant and quinolone-resistantM. genitaliuminfection continuing to increase. In this study, we examined the levels of resistance to these two common antibiotic treatments in geographically distinct locations in Queensland, Australia. Samples were screened for macrolide resistance-associated mutations using a commercially available kit (ResistancePlus MG; SpeeDx), and quinolone resistance-associated mutations were identified by PCR and DNA sequencing. Comparisons between antibiotic resistance mutations and location/gender were performed. The levels ofM. genitaliummacrolide resistance were high across both locations (62%). Quinolone resistance mutations were found in ∼10% of all samples, with a number of samples harboring mutations conferring resistance to both macrolides and quinolones. Quinolone resistance was higher in southeast Queensland than in north Queensland, and this was consistent in both males and females (P = 0.007). TheM. genitaliumisolates in rectal swab samples from males harbored high levels of macrolide (75.9%) and quinolone (19%) resistance, with 15.5% harboring resistance to both classes of antibiotics. Overall, the lowest observed level of resistance was to quinolones in females from north Queensland (1.6%). These data highlight the high levels of antibiotic resistance inM. genitaliumisolates within Queensland and the challenges faced by sexually transmitted infection clinicians in managing these infections. The data do, however, show that the levels of antibiotic resistance may differ between populations within the same state, which has implications for clinical management and treatment guidelines. These findings also support the need for ongoing antibiotic resistance surveillance and tailored treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (14) ◽  
pp. 1373-1379
Author(s):  
Sara Day ◽  
Ryan Kinsella ◽  
Sophie Jones ◽  
Victoria Tittle ◽  
Tara Suchak ◽  
...  

Guidance around how to safeguard young people using online sexual health services (e-SHSs) is limited. Sexual Health London (SHL.uk) is an e-SHS, integrated with London’s sexual health clinics (SHCs), offering users aged 16 years and above sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. For a safeguarding risk assessment, under 18s must complete a safeguarding e-triage, and any concern raised results in a ‘call back’ (CB) by the SHL.uk team. The safeguarding outcomes of CBs between 8 January 2018 and 18 September 2018 were reviewed; 261/454 (57.5%) users never triggered a CB on their e-triage (non-CB group) and 193/454 (42.5%) users triggered one or more CB(s) (CB group). Safeguarding concerns disclosed predominantly related to drug/alcohol use and partner's age imbalance. Successful telephonic risk assessment took place in 84.5% CB cases. Safeguarding outcomes comprised referrals to: SHC in 35.5%; child protection team in 8.5%; social services in 7%. STI positivity was 16.4% and 15.2% in the CB and non-CB groups, respectively. Although a high number of safeguarding triggers were disclosed, only a small proportion warranted referral for further support/intervention. Using e-triage with telephony support to screen and safeguard adolescents accessing an e-SHS was acceptable to users and enabled their clinical and safeguarding needs to be safely met. e-SHS integration within a network of SHCs further supported this model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Caswell ◽  
K Manavi

Human T-lymphotropic virus-1 is a preventable sexually transmitted infection. In the majority of people it is asymptomatic, remaining undiagnosed and thereby contributing to its silent transmission. When it does manifest it causes significant morbidity and mortality. This review summarises the existing evidence for its role in sexual transmission and offers suggestions for those working in the area of sexual health. This is the third part of a series looking at novel sexually transmitted infections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent J Cornelisse ◽  
Christopher K Fairley ◽  
Tiffany Phillips ◽  
Sandra Walker ◽  
Eric PF Chow

‘Fuckbuddies’ are a type of regular sexual partner with whom men have ongoing sexual contact, generally in the absence of romantic attachment. We surveyed 989 men who have sex with men (MSM) at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia, with the aim of determining the frequency of ‘fuckbuddy’ partnerships among sexual health clinic attendees and assessing their sexual risk. The majority (60%) of 1139 regular partnerships were described as ‘fuckbuddies’. Most MSM (63%) with a ‘fuckbuddy’ had multiple ‘fuckbuddies’. MSM with ‘fuckbuddies’ were more likely to also have casual sexual partners (odds ratio [OR] 5.7; 95% confidence interval 3.6–8.9) and had more casual sexual partners (median of 4 versus 1, p < 0.001) and more rectal chlamydia (12.4% versus 5.7%; adjusted OR 2.3; p < 0.05) than MSM without ‘fuckbuddies’, and this risk persisted after adjusting for total numbers of sexual partners. Our findings suggest that patients with ‘fuckbuddies’ are at particular risk of sexually transmitted infections. We argue that clinicians should specifically ask about ‘fuckbuddy’ partnerships as part of their risk assessment during patient interviews, as these patients may benefit from HIV prevention strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).


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