LGBT Stay healthy with regular checks

July 30, 2012 - PRLog -- Gay men, lesbians and bisexual people have the same health needs as straight people.
However people in same-sex relationships are at a higher risk of contracting certain conditions and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) than heterosexual people and therefore need to be extra careful. It is a well known fact that gay men are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, but did you know that lesbians have a greater risk of developing breast cancer?

Sexual health checks aren’t that pleasant but having them regularly is really important so a clean bill of health is maintained – allowing you to play hard but play safe.
If you have unprotected penetrative sex you are putting yourself at risk of catching an STI and you might not be aware that this is the easiest way for infections to be transmitted. Cases of HIV in the UK are on the rise so having unprotected is more risky than ever.  

Gay men should use a condom to protect themselves and their sexual partner from STIs, Hepatitis C and HIV.  Latex condoms are the most reliable and are readily available.  Some condoms are lubricated but if extra lubricant is needed it is best to use water-based lubes as these won’t break down the latex that the condom is made of.  

Condoms come in all shapes, sizes and flavours so why not have an experiment and find out which is best for you! Just be sure when using condoms that they are within their sell-by date.

Lesbians are less at risk than men but can still catch and pass on STIs – so ladies don’t be complacent about getting tested! Sometimes, lesbian and bisexual women are told they don't need to be tested for STIs. This is not the case.

Women can catch STI’s such as herpes and genital warts when exchanging bodily fluids and when both women are menstruating the risk is even higher.  Lesbians can protect themselves by washing their hands before and after sex, washing toys with soap and water between sessions and keeping any mouth sores away from the genitals or use a dental dam (very thin square of plastic which covers the genitals and anus) for protection during oral sex.

All women in the appropriate age groups should have regular cervical and breast screening, and men are eligible for screening for certain cancers, as well as sexual health screening.

You may be reluctant to tell your GP that you’re gay, or you may think it’s irrelevant. But not doing so could mean you miss out on important services. If you are worried you may have an STI, don’t stall - speak to your GP or visit a GUM clinic as soon as possible.

Regular check ups are a good idea to maintain a healthy sex life and gay men should make sure they are tested every six months as some infections don’t show any symptoms.  Remember that all NHS services are free – so there is no excuse to put yourself at risk.

Visit : http://www.essexhealth.co.uk