“Every gay man should take the pledge… and mean it”

Count Me In is about real guys making real choices to make a difference in their own lives and the health of our community.

Kristian is 31 and from London. He tells us why he wanted to get involved in the campaign.

Meet the other CountMeIners here.

How scared should we be of HIV?

Where Are We Now?

The way we view HIV has changed dramatically since the eighties but a diagnosis can still lead to feelings of uncertainty and cause difficulty when making long-term plans. Should these concerns put tomorrow on hold? We answered some important questions to determine what living with HIV means today.

This year has seen some important milestones in the AIDS timeline. It is over 30 years since AIDS was first reported and 15 years ago, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was used for the first time to successful manage the virus. A lot has changed in that time and the outlook for someone diagnosed today is constantly improving, but there are still challenges. Although HIV is no longer the death sentence that it once was, questions and concerns remain. Some of the questions can help to give us a clearer picture of what it means to live with HIV today and the impact it has on a person’s life.

How long will I live?

Perhaps the most difficult question to answer is,. Questioning life expectancy was born from a time before effective treatment was available, when someone with HIV was given only eight – 15 years to live from initial infection. Today all this has changed. Exactly how HIV will affect a person’s life span is still unknown but experience and clinical studies have helped to give an insight into this important question. By looking at those who have been living with the virus for well over 20 years, it is clear that a long life is possible. Studies have proven this by showing that, where treatment is effective, people with HIV no longer die of causes related to the virus. HIV specialists in the UK now tell patients that, providing they take their medication as prescribed, they can expect to see old age and live a normal lifespan. It is difficult to say just how long someone with HIV can expect to live because it increasingly seems that the answer is the same as everybody else.

Why do people still get ill?

HIV is now treated as a long-term manageable illness and many people will never experience AIDS related symptoms. Even so, people with HIV still get ill.

Early diagnosis is an important factor in staying healthy and reducing the likelihood of developing AIDS. Although the incidence of AIDS has dramatically decreased in recent years, occasionally, even with the use of treatment, some people with HIV still progress to this stage. This is often because HIV is diagnosed so late that HIV treatment does not have an opportunity to work. Many people do not realise they have the virus for many years because they do not experiencing symptoms. Regular sexual health screening can detect HIV before it has caused serious damage to your immune system. Without testing, it is often illnesses caused by the onset of AIDS which first alerts people to the fact that they may have HIV. At this point it is much more difficult to successfully treat HIV, although it is still possible.

Increasingly, HIV is being diagnosed early thanks to routine testing and this is helping to prevent much of the illness that affects people with HIV today.

Side effects of drugs are another cause of illness for people living with HIV. Most of the time, antiretroviral therapy works without any major problems or setbacks as most side effects are well documented and doctors know what to expect. Some side effects are quite common and can cause problems like headaches, tiredness, bad dreams, nausea and rash but these often pass with time as your body adjusts to medication.

Others side effects may only become apparent after the drug has been use for many years. Long-term side effects can manifest in many ways including problems with the kidneys, liver or heart or changes in body or facial shape. Doctors now have extensive experience with many of the treatments available and because these side effects are well documented, it can reduce the risk of unexpected problems.

HIV is a relatively new virus and there is still a great deal to learn. It is difficult to explain all illness that may occur in someone living with HIV, just as it is difficult to explain many illnesses in those who are HIV negative. As we continue to find out more about HIV and its treatments, so too will we continue to see improvements in health and survival. Overall, the long-term outlook has greatly improved. Many of the issues related to ill health are now preventable or manageable. Staying informed about the causes of illness and side effects of drugs is the best way to stay healthy.

Why should I be more concerned about Hepatitis?

Infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C poses a greater risk to health for people living with HIV. It leads to liver damage more quickly and may also affect the treatment of HIV infection. It is important for someone living with HIV to know whether they are also infected with Hepatitis. If they aren’t, they can take steps to prevent infection by practising safe sex. Hep C can be treated but it is not always successful and treatment can cause unpleasant reactions. Hepatitis can also be contracted through injecting drug use and sharing anything that may be contaminated with blood.

When should I start HIV medication?

If HIV is diagnosed early, treatment may not be needed straight away. The decision to start treatment is based on the likelihood of illness occurring due to the virus if treatment is not started (risk of disease progression) versus the potential risks of starting treatment earlier, such as long-term side effects and the possibility of developing resistance to treatment. Doctors can determine the risk of disease progression by taking blood samples and measuring the amount of virus present (viral load) and how the virus is affecting your immune system (CD4 count). Your age is also taken into account.

Why do I need to take medications every day?

Current HIV drugs only stay within the body for a certain amount of time and regular doses are needed to ensure that the medication remains potent enough to control the HIV infection. If drugs are not taken as prescribed, it can result in strains of HIV that have reduced sensitivity to the drugs. These HIV strains are called drug resistant. Resistance is an important reason why anti-HIV treatment can fail.

Resistance occurs because HIV is naturally prone to making slight mistakes when it multiplies so that each new generation differs slightly to the one before. These small differences are called mutations. Some mutations can occur in the parts of HIV which are targeted by anti-HIV drugs.

Just missing a few doses could cause drug resistance, so taking your medication regularly is very important. Taking combination treatments as prescribed reduces the risk of resistance occurring.

Will I need to be on HIV medications forever?

While there are a number of medications available to treat HIV, there is currently no known cure and no vaccine.  It is impossible to predict what advances we will see in the future, but currently, when anti retroviral therapy is started, it needs be taken for the rest of your life in order to be effective. A long-term plan is needed in order to keep you healthy for years to come. You may not be on the same medication for ever though. You may develop resistance or experience unexpected side effects that will mean you have to switch to a new combination, sometimes several times over your lifetime. The choice of medications is not endless though and it is important to try to stay on the same medications for as long as possible. This means taking each medication for many years and that is why it’s important to discuss the possibility of side effects with your doctor in order to find a medication which is right for you.

Some studies have tried to determine if taking a break from continuous therapy is possible. It was hoped that these so called ‘treatment holidays’ would allow people to stop medication for a short time if the virus had been suitably controlled for a long period. These studies showed that the risks of treatment interruption were great and so this is not currently recommended.

Should I make plans for the future?

In the past, there have been many barriers preventing people living with HIV from thinking ahead. Concerns around health have been coupled with legal uncertainty but, thankfully, this is changing and planning for the future has become an important part of living with HIV and can help some people to achieve peace of mind.

The biggest barrier to planning for the future is still life insurance, but with data showing increased life expectancies, we should see a shift in favour of those living with HIV. Mortgages that do not link endowments to life insurance are also available for those living with HIV. Civil partnerships have helped to make things easier with benefits seen in areas like inheritance tax. Pensions are also possible. Improved treatments are helping people to live well beyond a pensionable age and HIV is no barrier to this; you can get a long-term disability pension or a payment may be made to your next-of-kin, as with any long-term condition.

HIV requires medication to be taken for many years so it’s important to think about the future here to ease any concerns you have. There is no reason why people with HIV cannot live long and fulfilling lives and knowing what to expect from your medications can make planning easier, helping you to avoid unexpected problems.

Every year we see new improvements for people living with HIV but there are also new problems faced. HIV is still a life threatening virus but one that can be managed. HIV no longer has to limit your future but does involve lifelong treatment. The outlook is improving in terms of medications, as side effects are better understood and the number of pill required is decreasing, but we should not be complacent. As individuals we can help to improve the outlook for gay men by focussing on prevention and reducing the risk of transmission.

 

Warning over HIV home test kits

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15464418

Illegal home testing kits for HIV are giving people incorrect results, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned.

It said there were issues with other tests for sexually transmitted diseases which were legal but might also be inaccurate.

The body is investigating a UK website which is selling the tests.

The Health Protection Agency has written to some of those affected to say the tests are unreliable.

Sales records gathered during the investigation showed that about 500 tests for sexually transmitted diseases – such as HIV, chlamydia and syphilis – had been sold.

It warned that as well as home HIV tests being against the law, the other tests did not meet European regulations.

Read the full story here… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15464418

 

 

 

 

Why I stood up to be counted…

This article was taken from Positivelite.com. Denis is one of our CountMeIners who now writes as a guest blogger for Positivelite.com.

Almost from the day of my diagnosis I was faced with a choice, I would either disclose my status to everyone or keep it as my ‘dirty little secret’.

I have known and loved and lost too many people over the years who have had own their battle with HIV for me to ever have kept it to myself. And also like many, I needed the love and support of those around me to get through the transition from thinking myself invincible to realising I was all to human – not superhuman.

Of course being so honest meant that there were causalities, people I had considered good friends suddenly vanished from my life never to be seen or heard from again. I was resigned to this happening and didn’t really allow it to concern me. I believe we all should have the people around us who we can lean on as much as allow them to lean on us.

For the first year or so I managed to slip it in to most conversations or just explain to those close to me how my reality had changed. And what that meant to me. I am fortunate enough to have some truly wonderful and inspirational people in my life who were hugely supportive as I adapted and started to understand this virus.

I have lived my life according to my personal motto. Inspiration. Motivation. Education.  Innovation. And as I adjusted and came to terms with HIV I began to consider how best I could shape it to fit my mantra.

In early 2010 I was diagnosed with depression and ultimately I had a complete nervous breakdown, being hospitalised in October of that year. I had lost my way and totally lost any sense of self and on the October I presented myself at the local emergency room. The depression was not solely linked to me being HIV+ but it certainly had played a part in it.

But on that night I was faced with a choice, and that was to live or to die. And thankfully with the help (bullying some might say) of friends I went to the right place. And thus began my journey back to being me.

I entered long term therapy. I fought my inner demons hard and with fire. Knowing how close I had come to ending my life made me realise there was no time to waste.

One of the first things to become clear to me in therapy was my need to do something positive with being positive. I felt that there had to be more I could do – in part to honour those before me, but also to help educate the community I lived in.

I am a firm believer in the universe supplying what we need when we need it. Around the time I was questioning what I could do, I came across a Facebook page, requesting people to participate in a new campaign by GMFA called ‘Count Me In’. The page explained what they wanted to achieve and outlined the pledge. They were looking for ambassadors who would take part in a print campaign and also shoot videos for their website and YouTube.

I emailed them explaining my circumstances and volunteering myself as an ambassador. It turns out the communications guy from GMFA was an old friend I had not seen in years; we bounced some emails back and forth and agreed that I would get involved.

My thinking was ths: the campaign had INSPIRED me to take part, I felt my MOTIVATIONS, would help me as well as others, it was an opportunity to EDUCATE people about the reality of living with HIV and the campaign and pledge was INNOVATIVE. So for me it was a no brainer. It perfectly fitted my philosophy.

The shoot date was booked and along I went, careful to choose an outfit that would look good on camera (vanity vanity always vanity). It was an easy enough thing to do; the shoot went quickly and the video, although awkward (hate the sound of my own voice) was relatively painless.

To be honest, I hadn’t completely thought through how it was going to impact on my life. Soon after the shoot I got a text from a friend saying “I have just seen you in a magazine and wanted to let you know how proud I am of you”. And that was just the beginning. I had people I barely knew coming up to me in bars to congratulate me on the campaign, and also people wanting to know more about the pledge. My face was all over facebook and the campaign appeared in every gay magazine within a few weeks. One evening just after Christmas I went out wearing the same outfit I wore in the shoot. only to be stood next to a poster of me in the GMFA campaign. I have never worn that red hoodie again.

Pretty quickly, life went back to normal excepting the occasional “I recognise you’ from a comment in bars (but maybe that’s just guys trying to chat me up – I am useless at being able to tell when a guy is interested in me)

In autumn this year, GMFA decided to take the campaign national; in the first stage it had been London-based only. I saw the announcement on facebook about it, and the link to the new website for youcancountmein.org. I visited the site to see my face splattered all over the homepage, which was surreal. Over the next month or so I got many texts and emails from friends around the country saying they had just seen my face staring at them out of a magazines like Gay Times or Borderline.

Since all of this has taken place I have found myself in a new place in my life. The dark days of depression and feeling suicidal seem very dim and distant. I continued with my therapy up until a point when both my therapist and I felt I was doing well enough to go it alone. But that’s when I started to write. I had been spending a lot of time looking at blogs, not just related to HIV but many different topics. I realised that my voice might be able to make a difference. So I started a blog www.halfalifetime.blogspot.com as a way of continuing my therapy personally and with the hope that it might be stumbled across by someone who it will help.

I have discovered the power of social networks and the blog, even with its small readership, seems to have resonated with a number of people’s lives . It has also created opportunities for me to get involved with other people that I would never have either taken the opportunity or had the chance to meet. Most recently I was invited to be a guest speaker at the Samaritan’s National Conference to an audience of 500. And the feedback I have had is that it made a difference for many people there.

So deciding to be counted was a huge step I took, possibly too lightly, but it has given my own personal healing a momentum I could not have hoped for.

And if any off my story make one person stop and think about HIV, whether in a way that makes them more careful with themselves or makes others more mindful of those who live with the virus every day, then I am truly blessed in having shared it.

Visit www.Positivelite.com for more articles.

Is it time to test?

We all have an HIV status: it’s either HIV-negative (you don’t have HIV) or HIV-positive (you are infected with HIV). When you take an HIV test it won’t change your HIV status, it just tells you what your HIV status already is. But lots of guys put off HIV testing, not realising the damage they could be doing. If you do have HIV, the sooner you find out, the better. The earlier you get tested, the more problems you can avoid.

Live longer

Not knowing is no good

Even though it’s recommended that you take an HIV test every year (or every six months if you’re having sex with lots of different partners) many guys don’t. In fact, as many as one in five gay men who find out they have HIV only realise after they’ve had the virus for many years. By then it has already caused serious damage to their health. If you do have GIV, the sooner you know, the better.

You can make better choices

If you know you are HIV-negative, you can take steps to stay HIV-negative. If you test HIV-positive, you can make sure you’re getting the right medical care to keep you healthy. If you do have HIV, you’ll find out eventually. You could find out now by testing, getting your health monitored and getting anti-HIV drugs at the right time to protect your health, or you could find out in years to come when your body has already taken a major battering from the virus and you get sick.

Take control

Guys who know their HIV status – whether it’s positive or negative – say that it puts them in control. It gives them a chance to make positive decisions about their life, health and relationships. As well as getting your physical health looked after, an early diagnosis can help your mental health in the long term too.

If you know you have HIV you can get support from family, friends or the many charities and groups devoted to helping people with HIV.

It’s easier than ever

It’s easier than ever before to have an HIV test. Many clinic are now open in the evening or on weekends. There are places you can test that are separate from hospitals and GUM centres. And the test give results faster and can tell you if you have HIV sooner after any risk you may have taken.

For more info on HIV testing, visit www.gmfa.org.uk/testing

HIV and Me … Tim.

HIV has been part of gay men’s lives for over 30 years and more gay men in the UK have HIV than ever before. Thankfully gone are the bad old days highly toxic treatments and almost certain death, but what is it like to be a gay man with HIV today? We meet some men who are living with the virus to find out. Next up… Tim

How did you view HIV-positive guys before you were diagnosed with the virus?

I had a boyfriend back in the early Nineties who was HIV-positive so that really opened up my eyes to the HIV world. He unfortunately died at the age of 30 and I found out that I was HIV positive about five months later.

Where you expecting to be diagnosed with HIV?

No, I was extremely surprised as my boyfriend and I always practised safe sex… always. He suspected he was infected many years before by a previous partner, I assumed the same for me as well when I found out.

What has life been like since you’ve been living with HIV? How has it changed your life?

I have to say that HIV has not really changed my life that much. When I discovered I was HIV-ositive I thought that I would be stuck in the dead end job that I had at that time, but two years later I got the job of a lifetime that paid very well and allowed me to do so many things I would’ve never done. It did not matter whether I was HIV positive or not, I just wanted to do it, and did!

 What’s it like to be a gay HIV positive man on the scene?

I think there are so many guys out there who are HIV-positive but don’t know it, and so many who know it but don’t identify themselves that way. Having said that, I do identify myself as HIV-positive as I feel 100 percent more comfortable in dating guys who are the same and I don’t think HIV negative guys get what we have been through, especially guys my age who lived through the eighties and nineties and saw lots of people die at such an early age, not just friends, but relatives as well.

What advice would you have for HIV negative men?

My advice to HIV Negative men is to assume ALL partners are HIV positive, no matter what they tell you.

What do you wish you knew before you caught HIV that you know now?

There was not much to know back in the Eighties about HIV, so you had the lucky ones – the ones who did not get HIV, and the unlucky ones - who did. You also have the ones who caught HIV and died before triple combination therapy came out. I consider myself lucky to still be alive.  When I was in my twenties and living in NYC, I had so many close friends (and a partner) who died of AIDS, and everyday I try to live my life like I am living a life for them, a life they were never able to finish.

 HIV Fact

Almost a third of gay men with HIV don’t know they have it, so if you ask them if they HIV they may say no. And men in the early stages of infect and not on treat are often highly infectious, so if a HIV-negative guy has risky sex with them, the chances of catching HIV from them is higher than if they had risky sex with an HIV-positive guy on treatment. The best way to protect yourself and others from HIV is to used a condom for fucking.

 

HIV and Me… Leo

HIV has been part of gay men’s lives for over 30 years and more gay men in the UK have HIV than ever before. Thankfully gone are the bad old days highly toxic treatments and almost certain death, but what is it like to be a gay man with HIV today? We meet some men who are living with the virus to find out. Next up…

LeO, 21

How did you view HIV-positive guys before you were diagnosed with the virus?

Having an ex who was HIV-positive made me slightly more understanding then I probably would have been. My fears of HIV made it hard for me to go and get tested and when I tested HIV-positive, I just didn’t know how to handle my fears and emotions.

How has it changed your life?

Before I was diagnosed I would work all hours God sends and then go out and party. Now, I take time out to sleep and unwind as I am often so tired. The treatment I am on means my eating habits change constantly.  One minute I the thought of food makes me feel sick and the next I can’t eat enough.  So eating a healthy diet when I can is important to me.
The treatment I am receiving is good. It doesn’t involve lots of tablets which is good as swallowing tablets is a pet hate of mine. I do sometimes feel a little bit nauseous or dizzy but that isn’t very often. I do have bad days when I feel sick or ill and sometimes the best thing to do is to just stay at home and try to relax.What has been your experience of treatment?

What do you wish you knew before you caught HIV that you know now?

The one thing I wish I knew before I caught HIV was that PEP was available in an emergency when you think you have come into contact with the virus. If I had known that I would of got on it straight away. PEP isn’t a pleasant thing to take. I know two people who have taken it and they some of the worst side effects but it worked for them.

HIV Fact

PEP is a treatment you can have if you think you have been exposed to HIV which can stop you from becoming infected. PEP is available from GUM clinics and A&E Departments. Obviously PEP is not a replacement for condoms or a morning after pill, but if you have been exposed to HIV, it is there for you. For more information visit www.gmfa.org.uk/pep.

 

 

HIV and Me…

HIV has been part of gay men’s lives for over 30 years and more gay men in the UK have HIV than ever before. Thankfully gone are the bad old days highly toxic treatments and almost certain death, but what is it like to be a gay man with HIV today? We meet some men who are living with the virus to find out…

Name: George

How did you view HIV-positive guys before you were diagnosed with the virus?

I was wary of them and remember backing off in a not very cool way from one guy who I met on holiday when he told me.

How did that change when you found out you were HIV-positive?

Well obviously I was one of them now! Though I suppose I have always been determined not to flake out and fall to pieces. I had a bad week at first thinking ‘my life is over’ and so on and then I got on with it. But I had a strong family and friends network to support me and I had counselling which all helped a lot and I know many people aren’t so lucky.

When were you diagnosed? Were you surprised?

I was diagnosed in 2001 and I couldn’t believe it to start with. I couldn’t work out how it had happened as I had been using condoms and then I remembered a drunken night in Ibiza when there was no lube and things got a bit rough and I guess it was then and I was just unlucky.

What has life been like since you’ve been living with HIV? How has it changed your life?

Life has gone on. There have been some amazing times and some rough ones. Starting meds wasn’t much fun but now it’s just another part of the daily routine- and they work and they’re free on the NHS and how incredible is that?

What has been your experience of treatment?

I have very good treatment at the Bloomsbury clinic. The nurses and my doctor are great and extremely well informed and good at shutting me up and making me feel better when I go off on a hypochondriac panic.

I honestly don’t think about it all that much. It certainly isn’t running through my mind when I’m out with my mates. I have a good buddy who is HIV-positive too which is helpful for talking about things. And when I tell guys I’m interested in and they don’t react positively I move on quickly: I always say it up front because for me it’s easier to deal with when I haven’t really invested any time or emotion in a situation.What’s it like to be a gay HIV positive man on the scene?

What do you wish you knew before you caught HIV that you know now?

I don’t know really. I think the things I’ve learned since have been as much about getting older and a little bit wiser from life experience as they have been about having HIV. And I regret the way I acted with the HIV-postive guy I backed away from on holiday!

What advice would you have for HIV negative men?

I wouldn’t presume to hand out advice. I’d hope people keep having safer sex and use lots of lube! I would prefer people not to say they were looking for ‘disease free’ men on their online profiles too. Something about that just makes me feel a bit grim. Maybe just HIV-negative would cover it?

HIV Fact

Not using enough lube or the wrong kind of tube is one of the main things that cause condoms to break or slip off during sex. For latex condoms (which is most of them), only use water- based- or silicon-based lube. Lube with oil in it like Vaseline or baby oil will eat into the latex and make them more likely to break. Polyurethane condoms like Avanti can be used with any lube, including oil-based ones. Spit is a very bad lube as it dries up quickly causing more stress on the condom and making it more likely to break.

 

 

HIV life expectancy rises in UK, study finds

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15264972

Life expectancy for people with HIV in the UK has increased by 15 years in the past decade, thanks to modern drugs and earlier treatment, a study suggests.

Health authorities should consider more widespread testing for HIV, given the benefits of early treatment, UK researchers report in the BMJ.

The Terrence Higgins Trust says people at risk should get tested now.

Figures suggest 80,000 people in the UK carry HIV, and about 25% are unaware they have the infection.

A team led by Dr Margaret May, of the University of Bristol, looked at the life expectancy of the average 20-year-old starting treatment with anti-retroviral drugs between 1996-1999 and 2006-2008.

During that time average life expectancy increased from 30 to almost 46 years, according to the data, reported in the BMJ.

A woman with HIV could expect to live a decade longer than a man with HIV, perhaps because women are tested for HIV during pregnancy and are likely to start treatment earlier, the study found.

Co-author Dr Mark Gompels, of North Bristol NHS trust, said: “These results are very reassuring news for current patients and will be used to counsel those recently found to be HIV-positive.”

The HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust said it was good news for people with HIV, their families and friends.

Chief executive Sir Nick Partridge said: “It also demonstrates why it’s so much better to know if you have HIV. Late diagnosis and late treatment mean an earlier grave, so if you’ve been at risk for HIV, get tested now.

“Of course, it’s not just length of life that’s important, but quality of life too, and having HIV can still severely damage your life’s chances.

“While so much has changed 30 years on from the start of the epidemic, condoms continue to be the best way to protect yourself and your partner from HIV in the first place.”

The data

• Data on 17,661 patients, of whom 1,248 (7%) died between 1996 and 2008
• Life expectancy for the average 20-year-old with HIV increased from 30 to almost 46 years between the periods 1996-9 and 2006-8
• Life expectancy for women treated for HIV was 10 years’ higher than for men
• Starting anti-retroviral therapy later than guidelines suggest resulted in up to 15 years’ loss of life

Why should you go to a sexual health clinic?

Lots of us can hard be bothered to brush our teeth in the morning, much less go for a sexual health check-up. So why should you bother? Frankie McPolin find out…

If you’ve ever had sex, you could have picked up a sexually transmitted infection, or STI, including HIV – bad news not just for your health, but for the health of anyone you’ve slept with too. Even if you’re having safer sex, you run the risk of coming into contact with STIs. “Some of them are far more infectious than HIV, so they can be passed on more easily by oral sex, or even from skin to skin contact.” says Matthew Hodson, Head of Programmes at GMFA, the gay men’s health charity.

The scary thing is, STIs are massively on the increase. “Gonorrhea cases have gone up 83% in the last ten years, chlamydia is up 250% in the same time period and syphilis 800%,” explains Dr Nneka Nwokolo, a consultant in Genito-urinary medicine at Dean Street clinic in London’s Soho “There is a lot of infection out there nowadays and having an STI increases the risk of passing on and catching HIV.”

With all this in mind, FS looks at some of the best reasons to visit a clinic today…

 Everybody needs a sexual health MOT (and it’s free!)

“If you’re sexually active, even if you think you’ve been safe and you’re not aware of any symptoms, it’s still worth getting regular check-ups,” says GMFA’s Matthew Hodson.

A general check-up will quickly reveal whether you have any infections that need to be treated. “Different clinics offer different services, so it’s a good idea to check out what your local one offers before you visit it,” says Matthew. Some offer walk-in services and others may require you to make an appointment. Most will test you for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV.

You may have an STI and not know it

Not all STIs display noticeable symptoms, chlamydia is one example, so the only way you’ll know if you have it is to get checked out.

You can also get tested for Hepatitis A, B and C as well as vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B. “If you get Hepatitis B it can cause long term liver disease and liver cancer,” says Dr Nwokolo, “so it’s good to know you can walk into a clinic and get a vaccination against it.”

Some results are available on the day, and others are usually given via text or a phone call a few days later. Although most clinics will be able to treat you immediately, others will need to refer you elsewhere – don’t worry it’s all very easy.

It’s convenient and easy

A visit to a clinic should only take about an hour or so and it’s very straightforward. When you arrive at the clinic, you simply go to reception and check in. You’ll be asked to fill in a simple form while you sit in the waiting room.

“Depending on whether or not you have symptoms, you’ll be seen by a doctor or nurse,” explains Dr Nwokolo. “You’ll then be asked some questions about your sexual history, have an examination and then have the tests. If you don’t have any symptoms, you can leave after your tests and get your results by text or phone a few days later. If you have symptoms, your tests will be looked at under the microscope in the clinic, and if required you’ll get some treatment on the day.”

There are also more and more places outside hospitals where you can test for HIV and other STIs. They can be in bars or gay community centres. Check the listings at the back of the magazine for more details.

It’s best to know your HIV status

The Health Protection Agency believes that one in four people in theUKare living with HIV but have not been diagnosed. This means they’re potentially transmitting infection without being aware.

So if you’re diagnosed as HIV-positive, this is likely to stop you spreading the virus. “There is clear data that diagnosed HIV-positive people tend not to transmit the virus as they tend to have safer sex,” explains Dr Nwokolo.

It’s wise to know your status for another reason too. “The way HIV works, it slowly chips away at your immune system until you can’t fight off infections such as simple colds and flus,” says Andrew Evans, Director of Health and Medical Services at the Metro Centre inGreenwich. “Therefore it is always better to know your status because the medications these days are very good at boosting your immune system and repressing the virus so that it can’t take hold.” The sooner you know you’ve got HIV, the better it will be for your health, because you can get HIV medication. If you choose not to find out, yet you are HIV-positive, your immune system is constantly being damaged.

It won’t hurt

Advances in testing means there is less emphasis on swabs – which go up your arse or into your cock – and needles. “We are aware that some guys avoid clinics because they don’t like swabs being taken so we are trying to move away from invasive tests,” advises Dr Nwokolo. “We can do a lot of urine-based tests rather than swabs. We would never force anyone to have a particular test and we always advise people on the best tests and explain everything we’re going to do.”

There’s good news for anyone who’s nervous of a scary needle, too. “Our rapid HIV test is taken from a spot of blood we get from a small finger prick, says Andrew Evans. “We put this on a testing strip and leave the sample to give us a result in 15 minutes.”

You won’t be judged

Nobody who works in a clinic will judge you on your sexual history or behaviour, so you shouldn’t be nervous about going to one. “The staff at clinics are usually really helpful, and pretty much unshockable, so people shouldn’t feel embarrassed,” says GMFA’s Matthew Hodson.
Most clinics understand that some guys might still be nervous and will go out of their way to be welcoming. “The nursing staff and volunteers are fantastic at working with the all the guys who come to the clinic to reduce their fear and make them comfortable,” explains Andrew Evans.

It’ll help you feel better about yourself

“I’m not suggesting that a check-up at a sexual health clinic is going to be a fun outing,” says Matthew Hodson, “but the best case scenario is that you’re given the all clear and you don’t have to worry.”

And what’s the worst case scenario? “Simply that they’ll find something and be able to treat it,” he explains. So if you get regular check-ups, you’re going to be a winner either way – result!
It’s a responsible thing to know your sexual health status before you have sex with anyone. And when you’ve been to a clinic you can rest assured and feel confident that you’re up to date with that side of your health, and can make appropriate decisions based on that.

You’ll get advice

Want to know what that funny-smelling stuff is coming out of your cock? Or simply how to stay HIV-negative? You’ll find all the answers at a clinic. “When you visit, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, you’ll also be given advice about safe sex and advice on the risks of certain sex,” says Dr Nwokolo

She adds: “Having a negative test is an opportunity for us to advise on safe sex and how to remain negative. This is important because we’ve found that 40 percent of people who have a positive HIV test, have had a negative result in the previous year. People who test negative might think, ‘I’m negative and I’ve taken risks,’ so they continue to take risks, but this is the wrong way to think”. Guys need to take all the necessary precautions to remain negative year after year with each test.

 There’s free condoms on offer

Most clinics have plenty of condoms on hand to give out – so make sure you stock up when having a check up. “At the Metro Centre there are plenty of condoms on offer and staff can make you up a bag with your particular preferences for size, flavour or non-latex,” says Andrew Evans.

If you’ve put your self at risk, you might be able to get PEP

Post Exposure Prophylaxis, known as PEP, is a month long course of HIV medication which, if accessed in time, can prevent someone from becoming HIV-positive if they have been exposed to the virus. “It’s more likely to be effective the sooner you start taking it, so if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, it’s important to get yourself to an A&E or a GUM clinic as soon as possible,” says Matthew Hodson.

It’s important to remember that it won’t be prescribed if the exposure was more than 72 hours ago and that PEP isn’t an easy option. Lots of guys have difficulty taking the drugs due to their side effects, so safer sex should always come first. But it’s better to take PEP than to become HIV-positive.

Everything is confidential

Special laws exist to protect personal information at clinics, so nobody will found out you’ve been. “Your GP doesn’t have to know you’ve been to a clinic and nothing will be passed to your doctor or to anyone without your written consent,” adds Dr Nwokolo. You can even use a false name if you want – but there’s no need to really as everything is confidential. Now, there’s a relief.

To find a clinic near you visit www.gmfa.org.uk/clinics or ring THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200.