It’s important that people living HIV continue to have healthy sexual lives with their partners. Our services focus on equipping patients with the knowledge necessary to protect themselves from new sexually transmitted infections, and providing easy access to the testing and prevention facilities which can help keep them healthy. In addition, there are some legal implications of onwards transmission of which patients should be aware – and which we can help you understand and negotiate.
The effects of an HIV diagnosis on a person’s health are wide-ranging. Aside from the obvious physiological symptoms which can be managed via drug therapy, all sorts of other areas, including emotional and sexual health, can be affected. That’s why we have developed a very strong support service, which offers relevant, sensitive information and help in this key area.
Learn More About Your Sexual Health
[peekaboo name=”sh”]
[peekaboo_content name=”sh”]
From sexual dysfunction to an increased likelihood of having contracted sexually transmitted infections (such as syphilis, or hepatitis B and C), people living with HIV can benefit from open-access, confidential sexual health support and treatment. Our highly qualified team can provide counselling and other services, such as screening and preventative vaccines, to ensure your sexual health is cared for as much as any other element of your health. That’s why a sexual health assessment will be a regular part of our wider monitoring of your health.
Part of maintaining a healthy sex life is disclosure – and our qualified support staff are experts in handling partner and contact notification. These often difficult conversations are crucial to prevent further transmission of HIV (as is effective ARV treatment), but must also be carried out with the proper attention paid to confidentiality and safety. Modern medication, such as prophylaxis, can help prevent HIV in partners or contacts who are negative – and, of course, early diagnosis and treatment is vital in the case of positive test results.
It will be your choice as to whether these conversations are undertaken by you, with our support, or on your behalf by a health worker. We’ll regularly check on how partner notification in particular is getting on, and of course any children you may have together should, with your permission or that of your partner, also be tested for HIV.
[/peekaboo_content]