Features Lounge

Take control of your body

Love makes you stupid it’s official and not just because you suddenly develop a penchant for stuffed teddy bears and pet names (Fluffy bunny, Cookie, Baby cakes – you know the ones!).

When you fall in love you drop a whole world of boundaries and whilst in general this is good for a relationship, when it comes to your sexual health, dropping the condom boundary should be the very last thing you do.

Every year around 64,000 STI’s are diagnosed in England and despite myth, rumour and legend, it only takes sex with one person, one time without protection to contract one of those pesky STI thingy-m-bobs and it doesn’t matter if you’re in love or not.

What’s more, nasties like Chlamydia don’t even tend to present symptoms for many months or until the infection spreads and ultimately can lead to infertility.

So where do you go from here?

Before you rule out the rubber, get it into your head that there’s no shame in going to an STD clinic for a check-up. Even celebrities like the beautiful Kelly Osborne have proudly admitted that they visit from time to time to take charge of their own health, “I go three, maybe four times a year to get tested (for sexually transmitted infections) and most of the time I don’t even need to. I just go for peace of mind.”

So why not follow her lead and get yourself an appointment too?

What happens at a GUM clinic?

Ordinarily you will be asked to fill in your name and details on one of the clinics confidential forms (if it’s the first time you’ve visited), you will be asked questions about your sex life and then given an examination. You may opt for a blood test if you wish to rule out HIV too, although this is not compulsory. Your doctor will then tell you how long to expect to wait for results and run through the different ways in which you can receive them.

Who can use these services?

Anybody regardless of creed, color, sexuality, age or religion.

Is it confidential?

100%. Nobody outside the service can see your results without your prior consent, even if you are under 16.

Is it embarrassing?

Whenever it comes down to your bits and pieces, going to the doctors with a problem 'downstairs' is always going to be embarrassing there’s no two ways about it, but ultimately you must remember that the doctors and nurses that you see are trained to deal with ‘down there’ complaints and that they really have seen it all before – about a million times a day!

Don’t forget that many STI’s can make you infertile and so ignoring the problem just because you feel a bit stupid could present a whole host of other issues that could potentially be utterly heartbreaking in later life.

Even if you don't think you have been 'caught,' before you start a sexual relationship with a new partner, go and get tested. Make it a date night special if you have to and both take that trip to the clinic!!
Don’t bury your head in the sand, take responsibility of your own health today!

For more information about your local GUM Clinic and what to look out for when it comes down to STI’s visit http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/STIs