| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on your question to go straight to the answer below .
What tests do I need to have done?
Before you
start work, you need to have swabs for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia
and a blood test to check for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B.
back to top
Do you check for anything else?
Yes. In women
we perform a visual inspection for warts and other skin problems
and also check for Bacterial Vaginosis, Thrush and Trichomonas.
In men, we also test for NSU. If we think you may have a bladder
infection, we will check for that if necessary. However, none
of these conditions are entered on your certificate.
back to top
Will I have to
have extra swabs taken?
That depends on the type of sex you have
had while working. If you have performed oral (blow-job) or anal
sex, then there is a possibility that you have caught Gonorrhoea
in your throat or back passage. We would then advise you to have
a swab from those sites to ensure we pick up any infection there.
back to top
But
surely, if I have gonorrhoea in my throat or back passage wouldn't
I also have it in my vagina where it's going to show up anyway,
so why do I need the extra swabs?
That's not quite true. Around
1 in 20 women with Gonorrhoea may have it only in the throat or
back passage and nowhere else. Infection will be missed in those
women if they only have vaginal swabs. In men who have sex with
men, the figure is much higher: up to 1 in 3, in fact.
back to top
What happens if I am found
to have an infection?
If you have an infection we will give
you all the necessary and appropriate treatment. For a Chlamydia
or Gonorrhoea infection, you will not be able to work for at
least seven days from the start of your treatment. This is to allow
time for the infection to be cleared from your system. We would
defer issuing your certificate until then, or until we were sure
the infection had cleared. Sometimes this necessitates taking a
second swab as a 'test of cure'.
back to top
What about my colleagues?
If you are found to
be carrying Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea, it is very important that
you inform anyone with whom you have recently worked, so that they
also have an opportunity to receive treatment. Failure to do this
could result in a reservoir of infection persisting within the
local industry, resulting in people getting re-infected again and
again.
back to top
What is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a viral infection
which is around 100 times more infectious then HIV. It can cause
an unpleasant and prolonged illness if you catch it and in some
cases may lead to long-term liver damage. We test for infectious
Hepatitis B as part of a routine screen.
back to top
How can I protect myself
against Hepatitis B?
By getting vaccinated. Vaccination consists
of three shots given over 6 months. Once immunised, you are usually
protected for life. Another benefit of vaccination is that if we
know you have been vaccinated we do not need to test you for the
infectious form of Hepatitis B and that saves you money in the
long run.
back to top
How long do the results take to come back?
Results
for a standard screen are usually available within 24 hours. Throat
or rectal swabs may take up to three days to process, so it is
important to book your tests in good time.
back to top
Are my results confidential?
Totally. The confidentiality
of your records is guaranteed by law. No information about you
or your results is passed on to anyone unless you specifically
ask us to do so.
back to top
Can I treat myself for
a sexual infection by using medicines recommended to me by friends or
on the Internet?
There are a number of points to consider here. First of
all, you should be aware that many different types of medical problems
have very similar symptoms. For example, a vaginal discharge may
be caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection, or even
a retained tampon. Each of these will require different treatments,
so accurate diagnosis is very important. Even if you think you
know the cause of your infection, you should remember that antibiotic
resistance is a big problem. In the UK up to 20% of Gonorrhoea
infections are now resistant to the previous "standard" treatment
- so those tablets you are thinking of taking may not even work.
To further complicate matters, treatment for an infection in the
vagina or penis may not work for the same infection if it is found
in the mouth or bottom.
Your doctor can advise you on all these issues but only after
appropriate testing and diagnosis. If you self- medicate you are
putting yourself at risk of developing all the complications of
inadequately treated STDs as well as compromising the health of
your co-workers.
back to top
|
