Sexually Transmitted Infections are soaring across the country. An STI is diagnosed every 70 seconds in England, according to a recent study conducted by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), in partnership with HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust. We are seeing an increase in STIs, with gonorrhoea up by 249% and syphilis 165% in the last decade. These statistics are mostly associated with a rise in demand and decrease in services due to cuts. The average waiting time can often be as long two to three hours as the norm, even when you do manage to get an appointment.
With many clinics closing down due to a lack of funding, and home test kits now available as an alternative, my concern is that testing at home means patients do not get the professional input they need to help them deal with concerns and more complex issues.
Home testing has many benefits. It means you can save on time and is a perfect solution if you just want a routine STI MOT with no issues or concerns. What is not considered, however, is the correlation between sex and self-confidence, anxiety and depression when it comes to testing on your own. Often the dilemmas and situations that bring people into a clinic in the first place can be complicated and, often, patients need professional support - whether it be better education around safe sex and risk reduction or emotional support and reassurance.
We often think of sex as something our bodies are doing – but our sex lives are often in our brains.
There is a growing need for more counselling services. Sexual health can impact on your body confidence and self-worth and these services are crucial in providing a safe space for people to talk about these sensitive matters that can impact your general wellbeing and mental health. Often people will be worried about something for weeks – months, even – before plucking up the courage to book an appointment, only to then have to wait for days or weeks before they can get one. Regular testing means you are keeping both yourself and your partner(s) safe.
The rise in dating apps and social media in general has seen a shift in culture with the way we approach sex. People are hooking up more than ever before, which is contributing to the rise of STIs. This rise is also in part to do with a decrease in stigma, particularly when it comes to female sexuality. There is a lot less shame for women owning their sex lives - which is a great thing.
But we often think of sex as something our bodies are doing – and our sex lives are often in our brains. Our thoughts and feelings play a pivotal role in how we view our bodies and can have a knock-on effect on our sexual wellbeing, so it is paramount that we are able to access clinics and seek professional help and support.
This is why I’m proud to be involved with a show like Sex Clinic, as it helps raise awareness of having a safe, sexually active lifestyle, while also giving a platform for young people’s stories to be heard that may resonate with viewers and hopefully encourage them to get tested as well.
The second series of The Sex Clinic airs on E4 tonight, at 10pm.
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