Hepatitis A in Gay and Bisexual Men

In recent weeks there has been an outbreak of Hepatitis A (Hep A) among men who have sex with men in the Bristol Area.

Hepatitis A can cause a serious illness.
This means that if you are gay or bisexual you are at risk of contracting Hepatitis A, if you have had sex with any man in the Bristol Area, or with any man who has had sex in the Bristol Area and has returned into Wiltshire, Swindon or Bath, you are at risk.

What is Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. It is different from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and is spread in different ways.

How can I catch Hepatitis A
People with Hepatitis A have the virus in their faeces (Poo). To catch it you need to have direct contact with the faecal matter, or with things that have been in contact with faecal matter. 'Anal Play' is one of the main ways of catching this infection, when even tiny amounts can find its way into your mouth.

• Fingering
• Rimming
• Sex Toys
• Fisting
• Having Sex - Especially unprotected sex (Fucking)

People living or working with others who have Hepatitis A are at greatest risk. The most common way Hepatitis A spreads is on people's hands. This happens if they don't wash them after using the loo, which means food and various objects in the home or workplace get contaminated.

For example, you can get Hepatitis A by eating contaminated food, or by drinking water that has been handles by someone with Hepatitis A.

What are the Symptoms?
A few people have no symptoms but symptoms include:

• Flu – like symptoms
• Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain
• Pale Faeces
• Dark coloured urine
• Yellow skin (Jaundice)

People with Hepatitis A are infectious for about 2 weeks before their symptoms start and for up to a week after they develop jaundice. They can be ill for several weeks.

How do I avoid Hepatitis A
The best way to avoid Hepatitis A is to be immunised at your local Sexual Health Clinic/GUM Clinic. You'll need two doses, six to twelve months apart. The vaccine is safe if you are HIV positive. You can have the Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccine together, if you haven't had either of them before.

You may be able to cut down the risk by other ways as well:

• Always wash your hands after sex and using the loo
• Avoid rimming until you have been immunised
• Use gloves during fingering and fisting
• Wash your sex toys

What to do if you're worried that you might have Hepatitis A
Seek advice from your local sexual health clinic

For further information about Hepatitis A, you can call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (24 hours a day) or visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk.

Where can I get immunised

• The GUM Clinic at Royal United Hospital, Bath 01225 824617
• Sexual Health Clinic at Great Western Hospital, Swindon 01793 604038
• Sexual Health at Chippenham Clinic 01249 456502
• The GUM at Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury 01722 425120

This information has been released jointly by the NHS, THT and MSH

Posted: 28th May 2010

Chlamydia Screening Event at Mandalyns

Men's Sexual Health will be at Mandalyns on Thursday 4th March from 7.30pm onwards where we will be providing free chlamydia screening for anyone under 25. Alternatively, if you have questions or queries on sexual health, mental health, general health or wellbeing please drop in and the team will be happy to assist you. For further information please contact Alex on 07879 633824. Visit the Mandalyns website.

Updated: 28 February 2010

New! Chlamydia 'Worth Talking About'!

The Department of Health is launching a series of adverts across radio, television and magazine/newspapers about Chlamydia as part of the 'Sex "Worth Talking About' campaign. Launching this month it aims to raise awareness of Chlamydia amongst the general public with a particular aim at young people (those under 25) who are at the highest risk of this infection. In 2008 almost 210,000 people were diagnosed with Chlamydia with around three quarters of those being between 15-24.

Chlamydia is an often symptomless sexually transmitted infection with a national figure of one in ten under 25 year olds having the infection without knowing they have it. In a recent survey conducted with 2,000 adults over two thirds do not use a condom the first time they have sex with a new partner and were unaware that chlamydia can cause infertility in women and/or other complications. Of those young people questioned 14% said they felt they couldn't accept the test because they were unaware what it involved.

The Chlamydia Screening test for under 25's is simple, for men its a pee in the pot test and for women a self take vaginal swab; it's then sent to the laboratory and within 7-10 days you will be contacted by the Chlamydia Screening office who will tell you if your test was positive or negative. Should you be positive the adviser/nurse will tell you where to go to get treatment, which will be a one-off dose of antibiotics and abstaining from sex for 7-14 days (depending on the antibiotic).

If you would like further information on Chlamydia or to request a postal test, or for information on where to get a test please feel free to contact us on 07879 633824 or email info@banesmsh.org.uk or visit the National Chlamydia Screening Programme website.

Posted: 11 January 2010

World AIDS Day is on the way

Men's Sexual Health are involved with events and fundraisers in your area for this year's World AIDS Day. For more information about what we are involved in, please get in contact. To find out more about World AIDS Day and how you can get involved yourself, visit the WAD website.

Posted: 25 November 2009

Men's Sexual Health proudly supports
Swindon Pride 2009

On Saturday, 15 August, Men's Sexual Health will be at Old Town Gardens in Swindon, offering on site Chlamydia Screening, confidential advice and information. Everyone who takes part in the Chlamydia Screening on the day has a chance to WIN one of 5 iPod shuffles! We will also be giving out free condoms and lubricant. Come and visit us and see what we can do for you!
See our posters.

Posted: 30 July 2009

Gay West Picnic

The annual Gay West Picnic took place on Sunday, 19th July at Camers Garden, Old Sodbury from 2pm. It had a French theme with a boules tournament, raffle, teas and cakes plus Avenue Q Cabaret - Songs from the hit West End musical. See the flyer.

Updated: 30 July 2009

Introducing Alex ...

Alex Monahan has joined Men's Sexual Health as the development worker for Bath and North East Somerset. He comes from Oxfordshire where he has been working within the NHS. You can find out more about Alex and what attracted him to working for Men's Sexual Health in his biography.

Posted: 14 June 2009

Do you have questions?

Need advice about your health, sexuality or related issues? Post your questions on our new Q&A forum and we'll post an answer as soon as we can. Or if you're the sort of person who gives good advice, please join in with your answers! Comments about us or our website are very welcome too. All in our new Q&A section.

Posted: 25 May 2009

New service centre now open

Men's Sexual Health announces that it's new service centre at 31A The Brittox, Devizes, Wiltshire is now open. Services provided include one-to-one confidential advice and support, internet access, a counselling service, condom collection, Chlamydia screening, a weekly drop-in, a LGB&T youth group, education and training facilities.

For more information on these services and opening times, please telephone the Devizes office on 01380 801951 or alternatively email info@banesmsh.org.uk.

Updated: 25 May 2009