HIV Transmission

At Citydoc we offer a premium 60 second HIV test in London and as such receive a large amount of enquiries every day on the subject of HIV risk and whether a particular activity, sexual or otherwise, might lead to infection with HIV. Most of these enquiries are questions about very low risk to zero risk activities, some not involving any sexual activity at all.

One of the most common questions is about the risks associated with having oral sex. It seems from current knowledge and reporting that oral sex represents a very small to zero risk of HIV transmission. However, this is limited to the risks involved with HIV and we must stress that there is still a risk from Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis which are much more easily transmissible. At Citydoc we offer private GUM clinics in London and Brighton for you to monitor your complete sexual health.

Oral sex represents a negligible to very low risk of transmission of HIV due to a number of different complimentary factors. These include the fact that cells lining the mouth and throat tend to be resistant to HIV infection; that saliva contains HIV inhibitory enzymes; and that the chemical composition of saliva interferes with the chemistry inside cells which do become infected.

Of course, there are factors which may increase the likelihood of infection and these include poor oral hygiene with lots of damaged areas inside the mouth; a high viral load in the semen of the male being ingested (this is highest usually when primary HIV infection is present - i.e. in the few months after initial infection); presence of other diseases, particularly diseases which damage the oral lining.

So visit Citydoc for a quick and private hiv test London.

Prince William Proposes in Kenya

Last week Clarence house released the news that Prince William had proposed to Kate Middleton. The couple met at the St Andrews University, Scotland. When they were both undergraduates and the have been together (apart from a short break) ever since. The Prince proposed on a private holiday in Kenya, using his mother’s ring. The pair has visited Kenya several times prior to this momentous occasion. With both Prince William and Kate being well travelled, they are more than likely up to date with their travel vaccinations.

If you are thinking of travelling abroad to propose to your other half we advise that you check out which vaccinations you will need to protect yourselves. For example if you were to follow in the Prince’s footsteps and pop the question in Kenya, you would require several vaccinations. Including, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow fever, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus-diphtheria and Hepatitis B. For more information about vaccinations for specific destinations contact a travel clinic, who will be able to help you.

City doc is a London based clinic which hosts travel clinics in London, as well as in Superdrug stores across the country. They offer pre-travel consultations are with experienced staff that will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. They are also a registered yellow fever centre, which means that they can dispense anti-malarials on site. This is a service that many of their competitors cannot provide. CityDoc offers exemplary levels of service at all of their facilities and pride themselves on treating patients as individuals.

Now that the wedding date and venue has been announced, the next big thing to wonder about is where the royal pair will honeymoon. Kate has already announced that the dress will be a closely guarded secret. Probably, due to the pressure of competing with the iconic dress worn by Princess Diana. There have been rumours that the pair are seriously considering the islands north of Queensland as the destination of their romantic getaway. Other bookies favourites include a return to Kenya, the Seychelles or Scotland. For more information on getting your vaccinations for a tropical getaway visit Citydoc London Travel Clinic.

HIV tests and the recent American scare.

HIV testing has hit the front pages of the news again after the American clinic that treats most of the adult entertainment businesses on-screen "talent" revealed that one of its patients had tested positive for HIV. This preluded a frantic search to identify other actors who may have been exposed to the virus on set. Neither the name nor the gender of the infected performer was being revealed. With innovations in the procedures same day HIV tests are available. So unlike the 2004 outbreak, there should be no need for whole studios to shut down. However, as these tests are based on antibodies the virus may not show up until 3 months after infection. Current federal law requires that porn actors are tested for HIV up to 30 days before showing up for filming. So when the source is identified, it should be a simple way to reduce the amount of people out of action

Not everybody is surprised about the new scare and it comes on the heels of repeated warnings from health advocacy groups that a new outbreak was almost bound to happen, in part because state rules that mandate the use of condoms on set to protect actors and encourage safe sex practices among the public are widely disregarded.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has estimated that workers in the adult film industry are 10 times more likely to contract some sexually transmitted disease than members of the general public. However, this does not mean that the disease is limited to those in the profession. While they are more likely to catch it, it is also more likely to be diagnosed early and treat effectively. With the public, the risk of not identifying the disease early leads to less effective treatment plans available to treat the virus.

City doc offers private STD testing in London, for anyone to get a check up on their sexual health. Taking regular sexual health check-ups is an important part of a sensible health plan for anyone who engages in sexual relations outside of a monogamous relationship on a regular basis. It is worth bearing in mind that no contraception is a 100% effective and accidents do happen. City doc offer discreet service undertaken by professionals in a modern surgery. They utilise London’s most prestigious laboratory for all their testing, so you can be sure to receive and accurate diagnosis within the given time frame.

HIV Tests because its best to know.

In August 2010, German Pop star Nadja Benaissa was handed a 2 years suspended sentence and 300 hours of community service for two accounts of inflicting grievous bodily harm. These allegations are in relation to her infecting her partner with HIV. In this instance Benaissa had undergone a HIV test back in 1999 after becoming pregnant. This is the reason why this case became known throughout Europe, as she actively chose not to pass on this critical information. If you aren’t in a monogamous relationship, getting regular sexual health check-ups is a prudent move. HIV Tests are an important part of a sensible sexual health plan. While there is no cure for HIV, there have been several innovations in the last year that make it possible to live a relatively normal life. If you suspect that you may have caught an STD, it is your responsibility to get tested so that it can be ruled out. While the thought of going to the clinic may be daunting, in reality it needn’t be. At the Moorgate Clinic in London, every effort is made to make you feel at ease. The offer fast results, private clinics and a number of opening times and venues across the city. As exemplified by the case of Miss Benaissa, HIV doesn’t just affect the person who initially has the virus. It has ramifications for every one of their future sexual partners. The stigma of the virus may well put people off telling potential partners, however, if both partners know they can enjoy various forms of safe sex practices.

There is a "window period" which is the time it takes the body to produce antibodies after HIV infection has begun. For the vast majority of those who will test positive, antibodies to HIV will develop within 4-6 weeks after exposure. Some will take a little longer to develop antibodies. To make certain that you receive a reliable test result, it's necessary to wait at least three months (13 weeks) after your last possible exposure to the virus before being tested. The test itself is a simple and fast procedure, with the time it takes to receive your results being dramatically reduced from in the past.

Moorgate MD offer HIV test London, visit their website to find out more.

Instant HIV Test London

City Doc is proud to offer instant HIV Tests in London, providing a private walk-in service. They also offer an array of complementary sexual health checks and procedures including the revolutionary cervical cancer vaccine-Gardasil.
The instant HIV test London allows us to give results in 60 seconds for patients seen more than 90 days after contact. We use the HIV Duo test as our gold standard test and provide results within 3-4 hours at our GUM clinic London. The HIV Duo test includes HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies and the p24 antigen and is one of the most accurate HIV tests available. Our HIV testing service is extensive and includes the 10 days post contact HIV pro-viral test, which is the most accurate early test. Pre and post, test counselling is offered to all our private patients. At our private std test London, we have a philosophy of providing quick, accurate results using cutting edge lab technology and providing pre and post test support.
It is estimated that around 83,000 people were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2008, of whom more than a quarter (27%) were unaware of their infection. Globally, more than 30 million people are infected with HIV and two million die of the disease each year. While ARVs have been a huge success in preventing the virus from causing full-blown Aids, scientists estimate only 12% of those living with the infection receive the drugs. This figure obviously takes into account countries such as South Africa and as such not wholly representative of western cultures such as the UK and America. What it does highlight is the development of vaccinations and treatment plans for those diagnosed with HIV. Early detection is an important step in providing long term support for those diagnosed with the HIV infection.
As highlighted recently in the pink paper - One in seven gay men in London has HIV and two-thirds of undiagnosed men think that they are negative, so it is essential that people understand the importance of regular HIV testing. Late diagnosis is one of the biggest contributing factors to illness and death for people with HIV and data shows us that testing early can add 16 years to someone’s life.
Which is ironic as testing for HIV has never been this fast or easy. With Instant HIV Tests readily available in London. The Citydoc chain has clinics located in Moorgate, the West end and Canary Wharf you can walk-in off the street and are open six days a week.

Travel Clinic London. 5 common Travel Illnesses.

Citydoc offers a variety of travel clinics in London, offering a wide range of vaccinations and professional advice. They are partnered with Superdrug to offer a selection of walk-in travel clinics in London and around the Uk.

It is advised that you take the precautions before departing on your holiday, such as visiting a professional to assess your vaccination requirements. However, there are several common travel illnesses that cannot be vaccinated against.

Norovirus

The Norovirus tends to strike when there are large concentrations of people in a confined area. For example cruise liners or long haul flights. It exhibits symptoms very similar to influenza, including a raised temperature, headaches, stomach cramps and aching limbs. Unfortunately there is no vaccination on offer for Norovirus. The best course of action in preventing the virus is a good hygiene regime including not sharing flannels and towels. Another tip is to avoid eating raw or unwashed produce and ensure oysters come from a reliable source.

Chikungunya

This virus is spread by mosquito bites and has now begun to spread across the world, rather than being limited to destinations around the Indian Ocean. Chikungunya (CHIKV) causes similar symptoms to Dengue fever although only lasting for two to five days. The symptoms include a maculopapular rash on the body and limbs and aching joints. Persistent headaches are also associated with the virus. The best way to protect against CHIKV is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Malaria

Malaria is a tropical disease, again carried by mosquitoes. While there is no immunisation against malaria, you should take a course of anti malarial pills, available from travel clinic London. Symptoms are similar to the flu, including fevers, sweats and chills, muscle aches and diarrhoea. IN conjunction with the medication, the best method of prevention, is too avoid being bitten. The use of netting around sleeping areas is especially useful.

Sun Poisoning

One of the most avoidable travel illnesses is also one of the most common. For some reason, common sense leaves the minds of many when they are faced with an alluring tropical beach setting. Even those who are conscious enough to use sunblock don’t understand the differences between the power of the sun in tropical locations versus their home towns and they tend not to use enough or forget to reapply.

Symptoms of sun poisoning include red skin, blisters, itchiness, and overwhelming nausea. You can prevent sun poisoning by remembering to frequently reapply suntan lotion, wearing a large sunhat, and by wearing long sleeves and pants. If you do get sun poisoning, make sure you use cold compresses to alleviate the itching and welling, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

For more information about travel clinics in london visit: www.moorgatemd.co.uk