Valentine’s Day – Be Prepared. Be Ready. Be Safe.

Randox PR February 11, 2021 No Comments Pillow Talk

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality – it is not just the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Your sexual health is just as important as your physical health.

This Valentine’s Day, we’re encouraging you to take control of your sexual health and safety.

Here are our top tips so you can be prepared, be ready & be safe on this annual day of love.

1. Be Prepared – get tested

If you are sexually active or have been in the past, it’s important you are checked regularly for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Some diseases that are contracted through sexual encounters do not cause significant symptoms or signs until several weeks, months, or even years after you’ve contracted them. In fact, around 50% of women and 10% of men with gonorrhoea do not have symptoms.

True intimacy means talking openly about how to have good safe sex. Don’t be afraid to have an honest chat with your partner(s) to figure out when was the last time each one of you was last tested, and for what.

2. Be Ready – know the risks

You can relax and enjoy sex once you have a healthy awareness about the risks of penetrative sex and non-penetrative skin-to-skin contact. The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) also provides advice and guidelines on STIs including symptoms and prevention of passing on viruses or bacteria. STIs that spread through skin-to-skin contact (and are tested through the Confidante Home Testing Kit) include:

Syphilis
Herpes

3. Be Safe – use contraception

The more people you are sexually involved with, the more likely you are to get an STI or to get pregnant. The best way to practice safe sex and lower your risk for getting an STI is to use contraception correctly every time you have a sexual encounter. The effectiveness of your contraception is dependent on the type you use and whether you use it correctly. The NHS advises that you follow the instructions and use your contraception carefully for it to be as effective as possible.

There are widely available options for contraception, including:

Natural family planning
Condoms
Contraceptive pill
Contraceptive injection
Contraceptive patch
Vaginal ring
Contraceptive implant
Intrauterine device or system (IUD/IUS)
Diaphragms and caps

Testing with Confidence

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Take a urine / swab sample & post back to us using the pre-paid envelope provided

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Your confidential results will be available 7 working days from receipt of your sample

Unlike other standard STI home testing kits, Confidante will test for 10 of the most common STIs and will detect even those infections that do not show any symptoms, providing a comprehensive profile of your sexual health. All for just £45.

Results are available within 7 days by telephone, electronically or in person at Randox Health Clinics.

It’s a completely private service, no appointment needed, and no waiting room delays.

We test for the following STIs:

Testing for STIs during Lockdown

Randox PR February 10, 2021 No Comments Pillow Talk

The UK government released an ‘Impact of COVID-19’ report at the end of last year which showed that there was a “resurgence in HIV, STIs and hepatitis tests and diagnoses, and an increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiations observed from June 2020, following the easing of national lockdown restrictions” in England. But overall, the report stated that the numbers of tests, diagnoses and treatment of infections in the summer of 2020 was significantly lower than the same time period in 2019.

This reduction in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be associated with people’s compliance with social distancing measures with experts hailing it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to drive down infections permanently as people aren’t having sex with new partners and passing on diseases.

Dr John McSorley, a sexual health doctor and president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (Bashh), told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, “If we could test and treat everybody for their infections now, that would be a game-changer going forward as people slowly move towards normality.” Most STIs can be successfully cured with the correct antibiotics and Dr McSorley wants people to get tested now, even if you aren’t showing symptoms.

With 54% of UK sexual health services currently closed and 38% of sexual health staff redeployed to other parts of the NHS, Confidante can help you with any STI advice, diagnoses or treatment.

Confidante avoids any embarrassing examinations, allowing you to take a test in the privacy of your own home. It is specifically designed to be straightforward to use, with all you need included in our discreetly packaged kit. We have made the entire process as convenient as possible with pre-paid envelopes, user-friendly instructions and more to ensure a simple, hassle-free process.

THE PROCESS