(Erectile Dysfunction) (Most Common Male Cancers) (Sexual Infections)
(Fertility) (Five Important Male Health Issues )
(Fertility) (Five Important Male Health Issues )
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Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a tiny bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. If you haven't heard of chlamydia, you're in good company – a substantial proportion of the UK population hasn't either. Many people who are at risk of this infection don’t really know what it is, or understand it, even if they are aware of the name.
Why should I know about it?
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK. It affects both sexes, although young women are more at risk. Chlamydia can be treated, but it often has no symptoms in either men or women, so remains undetected. Infection may only be diagnosed once chlamydia has led to complications - when treatment can sometimes be too late to stop permanent damage.
Are there any symptoms?
Good advice is, get yourself tested if you think you have been at risk of infection. Some women may experience: cystitis, change in vaginal discharge,
mild lower abdominal pain. These are very 'non-specific’ symptoms and can be caused by other infections and diseases. In men, chlamydia is the most common cause of discharge from the penis. Sometimes chlamydia can cause mild irritation at the tip of the penis (urethra) that disappears after two or three days. Many men will wait to see if the discomfort goes away. While the discomfort may disappear, the man can still harbour the infection.
If in doubt, get tested. Otherwise, you could put yourself at risk of inflamed and swollen testicles, and pass chlamydia on to your partner.
What complications can chlamydia cause?
Chlamydia infection can affect sperm function and male fertility. It is the most common cause of inflammation in the testicles and sperm-conducting tubes (epididymo-orchitis) in men under the age of 35. This causes pain, swelling and redness on the affected side of the scrotum, or on both sides.
Chlamydia can also trigger joint inflammation in some men. Although this is uncommon, it can be difficult to treat.
What problems do the lack of symptoms cause?
The UK's genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics form one of the best networks in Europe to diagnose and treat STIs. But people often have no reason to suspect they have chlamydia, so they don't seek advice at one of these clinics.
Apart from sexual health experts, many doctors may not suspect chlamydia when assessing a person’s symptoms, so don't do an appropriate test.
Healthcare professionals are often unaware of how common chlamydia is and that it can be present without causing symptoms.
How do I know if I should be tested?
Chlamydia is almost always transmitted through sexual intercourse, so the likelihood of having the infection depends on your sexual behaviour.
If you've had sex and not used a condom, you are at risk of chlamydia.
The more partners you have, the more likely you will be exposed to infection. This isn't about promiscuity - you only need to have unprotected sex with one person who happens to have the infection to get chlamydia.
In a recent survey of young male army recruits, almost 10 per cent proved positive on chlamydia urine tests. Eighty eight per cent of the men who tested positive had no symptoms whatsoever.
Good advice is
Make sure your friends have heard about chlamydia and its consequences.
Encourage them to get a check-up if they think they are at risk. If you have concerns, act on them and get yourself checked out. Not so much is known about the risk of infection in men. Those at highest risk are men between the age of 16 and 30.If you are over 25 and have had two partners within a year, or recently changed partner, your risk is also increased. Chlamydia is most common and most likely to cause serious complications in younger women.
If you are sexually active with young women under 25, it is worth noting that they have a 1 in 10 chance of having chlamydia, so it is worth getting tested.
Your risk is even higher if you have had unprotected sex under the age of 20.
How is chlamydia diagnosed?
A urine sample is good enough and avoids the discomfort of a swab from inside the tip of the penis (urethra). The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing. The results of the tests usually take around seven to ten days to come through.
How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Make sure your sexual partner also gets treatment. Otherwise, the treated partner becomes re-infected. Repeated infection can cause far worse fertility problems in women. Not all antibiotics are effective. There are two major groups of antibiotics that work, so make sure you get one of these. Macrolides: azithromycin (eg Zithromax) is the most convenient treatment because it only requires a single dose (1g).
Tetracyclines: the usual prescribed drug is doxycycline (eg Vibramycin). One 100mg capsule should be taken twice a day for a week.
If you have chlamydia, do what you can to encourage any ex-partners to get tested. This infection can stay unrecognised for months, if not years.
How can I make sure I don't get chlamydia?
Use condoms with new sexual partners. Before you stop using condoms, make sure you and your partner get checked out for STIs by your local GUM clinic or GP.
How common is chlamydia?
In the UK chlamydia infections are rising. Between 2000 and 2005 the number of chlamydia infections increased by 14 per cent, with an estimated 1 per cent of women aged 16-19 having the infection. Overall the rates of chlamydia in other Western European countries are lower than those in the UK. The higher number of cases in the UK may partly be due to the national screening programme for chlamydia being rolled out in England. This should identify more people with the infection. Similar initiatives are underway in Scotland. There have been high profile education campaigns targeted at the younger age group as part of the screening programme. STIs are now discussed in school-based sex education programmes.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is the most common STI after Chlamydia and in the case of infections in men it is normally accompanied by a discharge from the urethra. Most men will display symptoms within 3 to 5 days of infection. It is possible that this infection can affect the throat area if oral sex has taken place with an infected person. This will normally manifest itself as a sore throat. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in a woman’s reproductive tract, and in the urethra in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus.
Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired.
Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints, a condition which can be life threatening. Also people with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV. People with HIV who have gonorrhea can transmit HIV more easily to another person than if they did not have gonorrhea.
Symptoms
Some men with gonorrhea may have no obvious symptoms at all, but usually they appear two to five days after infection. Sometimes symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear. Symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men will develop painful or swollen testicles. Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection sometimes has no symptoms. Infections in the throat can cause a sore throat but usually causes no other symptoms.
Testing and treatment
Gonorrhoea can be tested using a genital swab or urine tests. The infection can be treated with an antibiotic but some have shown resistance to certain strains of gonorrhoea. If you are suffering any symptoms such as genital discharge or a burning sensation when you urinate, we recommend the Full STI Screen in order to determine all factors which may be at the root of the problem.
Herpes
Two different types of herpes exist: Simplex I and Simplex II. The herpes virus is transmitted via saliva or sexual contact. Simplex I is transmitted via infected saliva and type II is transmitted through sexual contact. Herpes is a virus and can therefore be controlled with anti-viral medication. This is not normally required to be taken on a continual basis.
Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious. Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores. Infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected. Most people infected with Simpex II are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they are usually quite pronounced. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with Simplex II infection never have sores, or they have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or another skin condition. People diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency. It is possible that a person becomes aware of the "first episode" years after the infection is acquired.
Symptoms
Herpes appears as redness and small watery blisters on the genitals and these normally heal in 2 – 3 weeks. The blisters can be accompanied by an itching and burning sensation. Simplex I normally affects the area around the mouth and lips and manifests itself as a cold sore. Simplex II affects the area around the genitalia and rectum. Around 80% of the population has type I antibodies, suggesting that they have come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives. The same figure for type II is 25%. The first eruption of herpes will normally occur around 7 days after infection. Repeat infections will tend to be milder and the frequency of recurrence varies from individual to individual and outbreaks generally decline as the infected person gets older.
Test and treatment
There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a tiny bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. If you haven't heard of chlamydia, you're in good company – a substantial proportion of the UK population hasn't either. Many people who are at risk of this infection don’t really know what it is, or understand it, even if they are aware of the name.
Why should I know about it?
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK. It affects both sexes, although young women are more at risk. Chlamydia can be treated, but it often has no symptoms in either men or women, so remains undetected. Infection may only be diagnosed once chlamydia has led to complications - when treatment can sometimes be too late to stop permanent damage.
Are there any symptoms?
Good advice is, get yourself tested if you think you have been at risk of infection. Some women may experience: cystitis, change in vaginal discharge,
mild lower abdominal pain. These are very 'non-specific’ symptoms and can be caused by other infections and diseases. In men, chlamydia is the most common cause of discharge from the penis. Sometimes chlamydia can cause mild irritation at the tip of the penis (urethra) that disappears after two or three days. Many men will wait to see if the discomfort goes away. While the discomfort may disappear, the man can still harbour the infection.
If in doubt, get tested. Otherwise, you could put yourself at risk of inflamed and swollen testicles, and pass chlamydia on to your partner.
What complications can chlamydia cause?
Chlamydia infection can affect sperm function and male fertility. It is the most common cause of inflammation in the testicles and sperm-conducting tubes (epididymo-orchitis) in men under the age of 35. This causes pain, swelling and redness on the affected side of the scrotum, or on both sides.
Chlamydia can also trigger joint inflammation in some men. Although this is uncommon, it can be difficult to treat.
What problems do the lack of symptoms cause?
The UK's genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics form one of the best networks in Europe to diagnose and treat STIs. But people often have no reason to suspect they have chlamydia, so they don't seek advice at one of these clinics.
Apart from sexual health experts, many doctors may not suspect chlamydia when assessing a person’s symptoms, so don't do an appropriate test.
Healthcare professionals are often unaware of how common chlamydia is and that it can be present without causing symptoms.
How do I know if I should be tested?
Chlamydia is almost always transmitted through sexual intercourse, so the likelihood of having the infection depends on your sexual behaviour.
If you've had sex and not used a condom, you are at risk of chlamydia.
The more partners you have, the more likely you will be exposed to infection. This isn't about promiscuity - you only need to have unprotected sex with one person who happens to have the infection to get chlamydia.
In a recent survey of young male army recruits, almost 10 per cent proved positive on chlamydia urine tests. Eighty eight per cent of the men who tested positive had no symptoms whatsoever.
Good advice is
Make sure your friends have heard about chlamydia and its consequences.
Encourage them to get a check-up if they think they are at risk. If you have concerns, act on them and get yourself checked out. Not so much is known about the risk of infection in men. Those at highest risk are men between the age of 16 and 30.If you are over 25 and have had two partners within a year, or recently changed partner, your risk is also increased. Chlamydia is most common and most likely to cause serious complications in younger women.
If you are sexually active with young women under 25, it is worth noting that they have a 1 in 10 chance of having chlamydia, so it is worth getting tested.
Your risk is even higher if you have had unprotected sex under the age of 20.
How is chlamydia diagnosed?
A urine sample is good enough and avoids the discomfort of a swab from inside the tip of the penis (urethra). The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing. The results of the tests usually take around seven to ten days to come through.
How is chlamydia treated?
Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Make sure your sexual partner also gets treatment. Otherwise, the treated partner becomes re-infected. Repeated infection can cause far worse fertility problems in women. Not all antibiotics are effective. There are two major groups of antibiotics that work, so make sure you get one of these. Macrolides: azithromycin (eg Zithromax) is the most convenient treatment because it only requires a single dose (1g).
Tetracyclines: the usual prescribed drug is doxycycline (eg Vibramycin). One 100mg capsule should be taken twice a day for a week.
If you have chlamydia, do what you can to encourage any ex-partners to get tested. This infection can stay unrecognised for months, if not years.
How can I make sure I don't get chlamydia?
Use condoms with new sexual partners. Before you stop using condoms, make sure you and your partner get checked out for STIs by your local GUM clinic or GP.
How common is chlamydia?
In the UK chlamydia infections are rising. Between 2000 and 2005 the number of chlamydia infections increased by 14 per cent, with an estimated 1 per cent of women aged 16-19 having the infection. Overall the rates of chlamydia in other Western European countries are lower than those in the UK. The higher number of cases in the UK may partly be due to the national screening programme for chlamydia being rolled out in England. This should identify more people with the infection. Similar initiatives are underway in Scotland. There have been high profile education campaigns targeted at the younger age group as part of the screening programme. STIs are now discussed in school-based sex education programmes.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is the most common STI after Chlamydia and in the case of infections in men it is normally accompanied by a discharge from the urethra. Most men will display symptoms within 3 to 5 days of infection. It is possible that this infection can affect the throat area if oral sex has taken place with an infected person. This will normally manifest itself as a sore throat. Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in both women and men.
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in a woman’s reproductive tract, and in the urethra in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus. Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus.
Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired.
Gonorrhea can spread to the blood or joints, a condition which can be life threatening. Also people with gonorrhea can more easily contract HIV. People with HIV who have gonorrhea can transmit HIV more easily to another person than if they did not have gonorrhea.
Symptoms
Some men with gonorrhea may have no obvious symptoms at all, but usually they appear two to five days after infection. Sometimes symptoms can take as long as 30 days to appear. Symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men will develop painful or swollen testicles. Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection sometimes has no symptoms. Infections in the throat can cause a sore throat but usually causes no other symptoms.
Testing and treatment
Gonorrhoea can be tested using a genital swab or urine tests. The infection can be treated with an antibiotic but some have shown resistance to certain strains of gonorrhoea. If you are suffering any symptoms such as genital discharge or a burning sensation when you urinate, we recommend the Full STI Screen in order to determine all factors which may be at the root of the problem.
Herpes
Two different types of herpes exist: Simplex I and Simplex II. The herpes virus is transmitted via saliva or sexual contact. Simplex I is transmitted via infected saliva and type II is transmitted through sexual contact. Herpes is a virus and can therefore be controlled with anti-viral medication. This is not normally required to be taken on a continual basis.
Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more infectious. Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores. Infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected. Most people infected with Simpex II are not aware of their infection. However, if signs and symptoms occur during the first outbreak, they are usually quite pronounced. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus is transmitted, and the sores typically heal within two to four weeks. Other signs and symptoms during the primary episode may include a second crop of sores, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and swollen glands. However, most individuals with Simplex II infection never have sores, or they have very mild signs that they do not even notice or that they mistake for insect bites or another skin condition. People diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Over time these recurrences usually decrease in frequency. It is possible that a person becomes aware of the "first episode" years after the infection is acquired.
Symptoms
Herpes appears as redness and small watery blisters on the genitals and these normally heal in 2 – 3 weeks. The blisters can be accompanied by an itching and burning sensation. Simplex I normally affects the area around the mouth and lips and manifests itself as a cold sore. Simplex II affects the area around the genitalia and rectum. Around 80% of the population has type I antibodies, suggesting that they have come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives. The same figure for type II is 25%. The first eruption of herpes will normally occur around 7 days after infection. Repeat infections will tend to be milder and the frequency of recurrence varies from individual to individual and outbreaks generally decline as the infected person gets older.
Test and treatment
There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.
