STI Test is increasing worldwide for protecting STD
April 7th, 2011 by Stand Team
Seemingly there is a big difference in the quality of sexual health service from country to country across Europe. Most check-ups, for example, for men who have sex with other men, do not carry out physical examinations checking for rectal gonorrhoea, chlamydia or warts. Other startling differences were recorded in a recent survey including 38 countries in Europe, their GUM clinics, general practitioners and private health care services.
Countries boasting networks of sexual health clinics that are specialised and highly experienced get it right every time and there the figures collected from these areas are telling. Ireland, the UK, Malta and Sweden represented countries harbouring such a service and contrast with rich countries like France and Germany who surprisingly performed poorly. Men in Ireland were eight times more likely to have had an anal swab during a routine check-up and men in the UK were ten times more likely.
HIV testing was most common in Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France. The local GP and GUM clinic was the most frequented place men went for testing and in Central and Eastern Europe the most common places for men who have sex with men to visit are community services that have been set up by a gay community organisation.
33 of 38 countries were surveyed and out of these less than 40% of check-ups included an examination of the penile or anal areas. In over 50% of the European countries, less than 20% of the check-ups included this type of exam. In 32 of the countries, less than 40% of the check-up sessions included an anal swab.
It really is down to the individual in the end. One must be aware of their individual risk. If you do have anal sex then a swab will be necessary. If you have put yourself at risk by having unprotected sex, an STD test and HIV test will be necessary. Warts in women are an indication that they have the HPV virus which has a strong association with many types of cancer. Men are prone to some of these cancers also. HPV can be passed on even with barrier contraception and a standard STD test will not detect the virus, a blood sample must be taken in this instance. Where there is such inconsistency, one needs to take control of their sexual health and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
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