At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 217

WORDS: KIA HANSEN, PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY IMAGES, SOURCE: *PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND 2016 **BUPA ***WEBMD

W

hen you think about
health risks, what do
you worry about
most? Cholesterol
levels? Cancer?
Probably sexually
transmitted diseases are at the
bottom of the list. But they shouldn't
be. While those affected are mostly
young people under the age of 25
and men who have sex with men,
older people are also at risk - and
increasingly so.
A 2015 report from Public Health
England found that for people in their
40s, 50s and 60s, the rate of STIs
such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and
syphilis has gone up by almost 50%.
This could be because an increasing
number of older people are having
risky sex lives - often with several
partners. For some, this is because
they're returning to the dating scene
after separating from long-term
partners. Some older adults may not
have used a condom for years when
having marital sex, so don't consider
using them with new partners.
A spokesperson for the Family
Planning Association (fpa.org.uk)
says: 'The problem is that lots of older
people, single or dating, don't think
safe sex applies to them. If you've been
in a long-term relationship, it may
not be something you've had to
factor in for years.
'And, after the menopause, when
pregnancy isn't a concern, using
condoms can be easily forgotten
about. Result? STIs are making a
comeback in a new generation.'

NEW DANGER

Reports have recently focused on
a 'new' infection that we need to be
aware of. The infection - mycoplasma
genitalium (MG) - causes few, if any,
symptoms. MG is a bacterium that
researchers say might be linked to
genitourinary diseases in both men
and women. It is unclear whether it
could trigger further complications,
such as infertility.
A number of recent medical articles
have described MG as a new infection,
but it was actually discovered in
1981 - however, at the time, it was
unclear if it was a sexually transmitted
infection (STI). But new research
suggests it could be.
A study found that around one
in 100 men and women aged 16-44
living in England, Wales and Scotland
are infected with MG, and that it
is likely to be transmitted by sexual
contact. The STI doesn't lead to
symptoms in the majority of men
and around half of women. The study

S E X UA L H E A LT H ▲

FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR 40S, 50S AND
60S, THE RATE OF STIS HAS GONE
UP BY ALMOST 50%
wasn't able to tell if the infection was
causing disease, but there were tentative
signs that it might. For example, more
women with MG infection reported
vaginal bleeding after sex than those
without MG - a possible sign the
infection may be causing disease.
Male prevalence of MG was highest
in those aged 25 to 34, at 2.1%. In
women, it peaked earlier, in those aged
16 to 19 years, at 2.4%.
Black men and men from deprived
areas were most likely to carry the
bacteria, while infection risk increased
for those with more sexual partners and
those who did not practice safe sex.
At the moment, the NHS says more
studies are needed to clarify the risk
and long-term effects of this infection.
But even with limited knowledge, it's
simple to minimise personal risk.
Preventing MG infection is likely to
be the same as preventing other STIs,
so that means using a condom during
oral, anal and vaginal sex.
You only need to have unprotected sex
once to get an STI or to pass one on to
someone else. The more sexual partners
you have, the greater the risk.
These infections don't always have any
symptoms, which means you might not
know if you've caught something. But
symptoms can include an unusual or
smelly discharge, sores or a rash around
the genitals, bleeding or pain during
or after sex, and itching or burning
around your genitals.
If you think you might have an STI,
or are at risk of having one, you can
get tested at a sexual health clinic or
genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.
Even if you don't have symptoms,
regardless of your age, it's a good idea
to go for an annual check-up if you
are sexually active.
It's also advisable to have a sexual
health check if you've started seeing
someone new, or if you and your
partner want to stop using condoms.

GET CHECKED OUT

To visit a GUM clinic, you don't need a
GP referral, or even to tell your doctor.
The clinic won't write to your GP either,
unless you ask them to.
At the clinic, you'll be asked about
your sexual history, habits and lifestyle.
Some of the questions may seem
embarrassing, but it's important to be

honest - the clinic staff will have heard
it all before. Everything that happens at
the clinic is strictly confidential, and your
details will not be passed on to other
doctors, members of your family or to
insurance companies.

SELF-TEST KITS

If you don't want to attend a clinic,
home-testing kits are available for many
infections, including warts, chlamydia,
gonorrhoea and HIV. These can be very
helpful, however the NHS advises that
self-test kits are not 100% reliable and
cannot replace receiving advice from a
healthcare professional. It's important
to be prepared for a positive result and
have the emotional support around
you that you may need.
If you get a positive result at a clinic,
the staff will explain the treatment
options and offer advice on how to avoid
infections in the future. Most STIs can be
cured with a course of antibiotics. Some,
such as HIV have no cure, but treatment
can be given to prevent it getting worse.
If you get the all-clear, ensure it stays
that way. Limiting your sexual partners
will reduce your risk of catching any
STI. Using a condom properly every
time you have sex is still the most
effective protection against infections so,
whatever your age, get into the habit of
unwrapping before you undress.

DID YOU know?
Think you're pretty clued up on STIs? These
statistics may take you by surprise
Around 418,000 STIs
were diagnosed in
England in 2016.*
The most commonly
diagnosed STI was
chlamydia, with
202,546 diagnoses
made in 2016.
Around seven in
10 women and half
of men infected with
chlamydia don't
have any signs or
symptoms.**
Around one in
10 men and half
of all women who

are infected with
gonorrhoea don't have
any symptoms.**
There were 5,920
diagnoses of syphilis
reported in 2016, a 12%
increase compared to
2015 and the largest
number of diagnoses
reported since 1949.*
You don't have
to have penetrative
sex to get an STI.
Some, such as warts,
and herpes, can
be spread by close
contact only.***

www.athomemagazine.co.uk FEBRUARY 2018 | 217


http://fpa.org.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home with Chris Jessen 2018

At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 1
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 2
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 3
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 4
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 5
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 6
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 7
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 8
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 9
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 10
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 11
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 12
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 13
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 14
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 15
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 16
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 17
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 18
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 19
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 20
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 21
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 22
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 23
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 24
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 25
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 26
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 27
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 28
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 29
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 30
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 31
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 32
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 33
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 34
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 35
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 36
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 37
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 38
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 39
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 40
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 41
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 42
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 43
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 44
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 45
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 46
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 47
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 48
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 49
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 50
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 51
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 52
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 53
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 54
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 55
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 56
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 57
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 58
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 59
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 60
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 61
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 62
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 63
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 64
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 65
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 66
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 67
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 68
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 69
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 70
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 71
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 72
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 73
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 74
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 75
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 76
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 77
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 78
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 79
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 80
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 81
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 82
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 83
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 84
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 85
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 86
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 87
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 88
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 89
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 90
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 91
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 92
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 93
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 94
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 95
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 96
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 97
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 98
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 99
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 100
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 101
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 102
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 103
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 104
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 105
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 106
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 107
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 108
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 109
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 110
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 111
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 112
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 113
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 114
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 115
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 116
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 117
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 118
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 119
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 120
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 121
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 122
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 123
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 124
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 125
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 126
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 127
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 128
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 129
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 130
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 131
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 132
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 133
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 134
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 135
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 136
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 137
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 138
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 139
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 140
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 141
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 142
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 143
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 144
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 145
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 146
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 147
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 148
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 149
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 150
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 151
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 152
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 153
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 154
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 155
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 156
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 157
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 158
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 159
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 160
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 161
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 162
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 163
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 164
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 165
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 166
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 167
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 168
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 169
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 170
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 171
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 172
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 173
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 174
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 175
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 176
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 177
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 178
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 179
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 180
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 181
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 182
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 183
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 184
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 185
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 186
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 187
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 188
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 189
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 190
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 191
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 192
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 193
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 194
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 195
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 196
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 197
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 198
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 199
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 200
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 201
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 202
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 203
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 204
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 205
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 206
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 207
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 208
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 209
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 210
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 211
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 212
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 213
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 214
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 215
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 216
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 217
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 218
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 219
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 220
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 221
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 222
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 223
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 224
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 225
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 226
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 227
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 228
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 229
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 230
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 231
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 232
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 233
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 234
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 235
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 236
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 237
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 238
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 239
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 240
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 241
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 242
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 243
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 244
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 245
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 246
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 247
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 248
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 249
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 250
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 251
At Home with Chris Jessen 2018 - 252
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/yourbusiness2021
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomewithchrisjessen2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomewithsarahbeenyautumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomewithlorrainekelly2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomeparentingwithJoFrost2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/SarahBeenySpring2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AskTheDoctorWithDrJessenFebruary2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithTessDaly2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithGloriaHunnifordOctober2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithSarahBeenyAutumn2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithJoFrostJune2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithSarahBeenySpring2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeWithDrChristianJessen2016
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AthomeWithTessDaly2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/YourBusinessWithJamesCaanAutumn2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AthomeWithSarahBeeny2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AthomeWithGloriaHunniford2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHomeLorraineKelly2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/JoFrost15
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/SarahBennyMay2015
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/OrthopaedicSupplementMarch2015
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/DrChristianJessenFeb2015
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomewithtessdaly
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/jobsandcareers2014
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/yourbusinesswithjamescaan
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/athomewithsarahbeeny
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/parentingjofrost
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/drchristianjessen
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Athomelorrainekelly
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Athomesarahbeeny
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Cheers_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Christmas_New_year_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Exclusive_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Jo_Frost_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Carol_Vorderman_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Christian_Jessen_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Sarah_Beeny_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Lorraine_Kelly_2013
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_James_Martin_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Jo_Frost_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Dr_Chris_Steele_Sept_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Sally_Gunnell_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Sarah_Beeny_Aug_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Lorraine-Kelly_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Christian_Jessen_2012
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_James_Martin_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Sarah_beeny_winter_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Lorraine_Kelly_Nov_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/At_Home_Marco_Pierre_White_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/AtHome/Jo_Frost_July_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Lorraine_Kelly_June_2011/Lorraine_Kelly_June_2011
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/AtHome/Sarah_Beeny_May_2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com