Sexual Health Clinic

The Sexual Health Clinic (also known as the Sexually Transmitted Disease - STD- or Genito-Urinary Medicine - GUM - Clinic) is based at Orchard House in St Martins. This used to be the old St Martins Health Centre and is opposite Valpys and next door to the St Martins car park in the Grande Rue.

Opening Hours

The Opening Times for the Sexual Health Clinic are as follows:

The Clinic operates an Appointment System and so you will need to ring and make an appointment. If the Clinic is closed when you ring there is an answer phone and you will be able to leave a message. The staff will then call you back once the clinic is open again. If it is an emergency, then you should ring the number for your Doctor's surgery.

Please remember that all your details will be kept confidential by the Clinic. The service is very discrete and you will be treated with sympathy and understanding. It is very much better to contact the clinic and be seen rather than to worry about some symptoms or a discharge. The staff are trained to be able to help and deal with even very personal or intimate problems.

The number for the clinic is 232626.

How to try and Avoid STDs

It is worth pointing out that like most of these things prevention is better then cure. Here are a few tips therefore to try and help you avoid catching an STD.

• Use a condom every time you have sex. The advantage of this is that they not only work as a contraceptive, but they do also significantly reduce the transmission of STDs.

• If you have an STD then avoid sex until you have been to the clinic and the course of treatment is complete. If you are not sure how long you are potentially infectious for then please ask the staff at the clinic. Also, remember with Herpes that it can easily be passed to your partner when the sores are present.

• If you are worried that you are at risk of picking up an STD (for example if you forgot to use condoms or if you have had a number of different partners recently) then go to the STD clinic for a routine check up. They will be pleased to see you, and it will help to put your mind at rest and reduce the chance of someone else getting infected.

• The same applies to gay men - you should always use a condom and never assume that it is safe not to do so. Please also remember that sex between gay men is more likely to transmit HIV due to the fact that a small amount of bleeding can occur. Neither partner can take the risk of picking this up.

HIV or AIDS

The difference between HIV and AIDS can confuse many people. HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Infection with this virus can then lead to AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AIDS as a disease entity was first described in the early 1980's. It was found in homosexual men in North America. It was not until 1983 that the cause (the HIV) was found. In actual fact, the HIV started in Africa. Like most other viruses it gets taken up into cells within our body, and so it can be difficult to treat as we have to kill the infected cells, but not the uninfected ones. Unlike other viruses, the HIV virus is actually taken up into the white cells which are the cells that are normally there to defend us from bacteria and viruses. It therefore strikes at the heart of our body's defences.

Transmission of the HIV

The virus is spread in many ways. People used to think that it could only infect a small number of groups of people (e.g. homosexuals, IV drug abusers, Prostitutes). In fact this is not true. HIV is most concentrated in blood, semen and secretions from the Cervix. Thus, anything that exposes people to these can infect them with HIV.

• Unprotected Sexual intercourse (heterosexual or homosexual). Some activities are more risky than others.

• Sharing infected needles (Intravenous drug abusers).

• Contaminated blood products

• From mother to unborn child across the placenta.

• From mother to infant through breast milk.

There are many myths about other ways that the virus was thought to spread. As far as we are able to tell at this time it does not spread with social contact (e.g. shaking hands, sharing cooking utensils or toilets). The virus is not spread in swimming pools or by mosquitoes or lice. There is still some discussion about kissing, but it is felt that this is unlikely to spread the virus.

HIV Tests

Some people are now routinely offered or asked to have an HIV test. For example, if you were to want to emigrate to Australia you would need to have an HIV test. Some insurance companies ask for the test before they will agree to sign clients up for a policy for either life insurance or loss of income. All pregnant mothers in the UK and also here in Guernsey are also routinely offered HIV testing. This will be discussed with you by your General Practitioner, Obstetrician or Midwife.
 

Progression of the Disease

In the early stages people may not be aware that they are infected with the HIV virus. Some people will experience flu like symptoms which seem to drag on somewhat longer than normal. They may then appear to get better. During this time the virus is replicating and infecting more and more T-Cells. This stage can last for many years depending on whether the patients is on treatment and what their general state of health is. Eventually, the virus has infected so many T-Cells that the person's immune system and defences are no longer able to cope. This can result in enlarged lymph glands (these are most often noticed in the neck, in the groin and under the armpit). Patients are then likely to become ill with common illness that most people would be able to fight off. A cold can progress to bronchitis and then pneumonia and may need urgent medical attention. Patients with AIDS can get infections that other people would not normally get. For example, they can develop a particular skin cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma. They may also get other cancers, for example lymphoma, cervical cancer.

Many other infection can prove difficult to treat in an AIDS patient. For example, chickenpox or Herpes can prove fatal. Patients therefore require medical supervision while they are HIV positive so that their white cell count can be monitored and if any additional treatment is required it can be given.

The treatment for HIV infection is now much better than it was in the 1990's. It is true that there is still no cure or vaccination, but these are being worked on. The treatment, however, can slow the progression of the virus and so delay the progression of HIV into AIDS. If you are HIV positive then you should try and lead a healthy lifestyle as well as taking the medication. This should therefore include regular exercise, reducing stress, no smoking and only small amounts of alcohol. Patients should also have a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many patients benefit from taking additional vitamins and minerals. These can be bought from the chemist or your doctor may prescribe some for you. If necessary to prevent weight loss, a high energy diet can be taken. If you have any questions about this then please contact your doctor or the Sexual Health Clinic.

If you are worried that you may have put yourself at risk of HIV infection then you should contact your Doctor or the Sexual Health Clinic. There is more information about HIV, AIDS and charities researching the disease on our Link pages.

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