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Health Matters? Yes it does

We tend at times to forget about our general health and what can affect it. We may access our GP for back problems, colds and flu and general things along those lines. We tend not to access them for counseling or any gay specific issues as we can quite often feel they are ill equipped to deal with our needs or have no wish to deal with them. This affects the way we feel about ourselves and how we think others perceive us, we can then have low self-esteem and levels of confidence because of this, and actually put ourselves in risky situations just so that we can feel loved and accepted. Lesbians are often forgotten because they are perceived to have the same issues as women as a whole and therefore their sexuality is never discussed, and women are perceived to take better care of themselves than men.

Lesbians and gay men suffer from various kinds of mental health conditions such as anxiety, eating disorders and stress. Some of these can be directly attributed to issues around their sexuality.

Lesbians sometimes get mixed answers as to whether they should have smear tests or not. If their GP knows that they are lesbian there is an assumption that they do not have penetrative sex and therefore do not need to have a smear test.

Two common myths about lesbians are

1) lesbians have never had sex with a man and
2) women who have not had sex with a man are not at risk of cervical cancer.

So the answer to this situation is if you are not offered a routine smear test you need to ask for one and it is important that you have one regularly.

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HIV and STI's
HIV is still very prevalent among gay men. The national gay press and local publications mention HIV on a regular basis and therefore the information provided is readily available to everybody who access' gay venues both locally and nationally. The easiest way to get infected with HIV is by having unprotected sexual intercourse (not using a condom) both anally and vaginally. The lining of the rectum is very delicate and is damaged each time you have anal sex and therefore makes it easier for the HIV virus to be passed on if your partner is HIV positive. HIV is found in sperm and pre-cum. Oral sex is quite often questioned as to the level of risk involved. From a health promotion point of view you should always use a condom whether you are having anal sex or oral sex. Things that you can do to reduce the risks of oral sex if you do not use a condom, are to make sure that you have not just cleaned your teeth as your gums may be delicate and damaged when brushing your teeth, do not have oral sex if you have any ulcers in your mouth, generally make sure that your oral health is sound.

STI's are many and varied and include HIV, NSU (non specific urethritis), gonorrhea, syphilis, genital warts, herpes, hepatitis A and B, and chlamydia. Some of these infections do not show any symptoms or you do not notice any of them. If you regularly have different sexual partners then it is advisable to use you local GUM (genito urinary medicine clinic) to have a sexual health screening. If you are in a long-term relationship then it is still advisable to visit your local clinic and both be screened before you make any decisions about safer sex.

To reduce the chance of infection of HIV or any STI use a condom and a water based lubricant.
You should also use a condom for oral sex man to man or woman to man or a dental dam for woman to woman or man to woman. A dental dam should be placed over somebody's anus before orally stimulating it.
Lesbians need to be aware that they can pass the wart virus from one to another via their fingers and this virus has been linked to cervical cancer. Also there is a higher incidence of Bacterial Vaginosis between lesbian women compared to heterosexual women.
It should be remembered that if you have an STI you are more likely to contract HIV if you put yourself at risk.
This information is basic and more detailed information and screening is available from your local GUM clinic. or by phoning the gay men's development worker on 07801 629972.

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GUM Clinics
There are several clinics around the county. These clinics offer a confidential service. If it is your first visit you will be asked to fill in a form with basic information about yourself. Information given here is not passed on to your GP unless you want it to be. You do not have to give your correct details if you do not wish to, but remember what you did give. The service that they provide will also be non-judgmental and this makes it easier for you to be truthful about how you may have put yourself at risk.

They will not judge your lifestyle but they will advise you on how to keep yourself safer while having sex. If you do not tell the truth you may not get the test that you require to see if you any infections. Local ones in this area are listed below and phone them for clinic times.

CHERTSEY
Blanche Heriot Unit, St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey
Appointments: 01932 722669
Advice line: 01932 722390
Monday 10am - 2.30pm
Thursday 2.30pm - 6pm
Friday 10am - 12.30pm

FRIMLEY
Frimley Park Hospital , Portsmouth Road , Frimley
01276 604105
Monday 9am - 12pm
Tuesday 2pm - 6pm
Wednesday 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 2pm - 6pm
Friday 2pm - 4pm

GUILDFORD
Farnham Road Hospital , Guildford
01483 573852 - appointments and results
01483 537007 - advice and information
Monday 9.30am - 7.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am - 4pm
Thursday 9.30am - 12pm
Friday - emergency only 9.30am - 1pm with registration at 9am

LEATHERHEAD
Leatherhead Hospital
GUM Clinic
Tel: 01372 362845
Mondays 1.45pm - 4.30pm (Drop In)
Wednesdays 4pm - 7.30pm (By Appointment)
Fridays 9am - 12.30pm (By Appointment)

REDHILL
East Surrey Hospital
GUM Clinic
Tel: 01737 231725
Mondays 2pm - 5.15pm (By Appointment)
Wednesdays 2pm - 5.15pm (By Appointment)
Fridays 2pm - 5.15pm (By Appointment)

WEST SUSSEX
GUM Clinic
West Middlesex Hospital
Twickenham Road
Isleworth
Middlesex
Tel 0208 565 5718

All sessions walk in for men. For the first appointment they must attend at least ½ hour before the end of the session.
Ladies - by appointment only

GUM
Monday 9.00am-12.00midday and 2.00pm-6.00pm

GUM
Tuesday 2.00pm-6.00pm
Family planning only
Wednesday 1.30pm-3.30pm

GUM ladies only
Thursday 9.30am-12.00 midday

GUM
Thursday 2.00pm-4.30pm

GUM
Friday 9.00am-12.00 midday

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Cruising
This is where men meet to have sex with each other. A cruising ground is usually a secluded wooded area and may have a public toilet nearby. Cottaging is where men will meet and have sex in public toilets.
What needs to be remembered with these activities is that they are illegal. Local outreach workers go to the cruising sites but do not work within the cottages. When the workers are on these sites they distribute condoms and lubricants to the men who are using the site. They also like to talk to the men who use them so that they can tell them about safer sex, the various pubs that they can use or the support groups that they may be interested in. the main thing that is on the minds of the cruisers though is sex and they very rarely think of their own safety while using the sites, especially when it is dark.

Men have been attacked while using these sites and they have not reported the incident to the police because they are afraid that they would be prosecuted because of the reason they were using the site. Surrey police will take seriously any reports that are made to them. If you can it is advisable to tell somebody that you are going cruising, telling them where you are going and what time you are expected back, so if you are not then they can phone the police. You should always take some condoms and lube with you and if you use them then you should dispose of them appropriately, remember other members of the public use the sites also and do not want to be confronted with the litter left behind.

More information on cruising and condoms can be obtained from the gay men's development worker on 07801 629972.

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Married Men's Group (MMG)
This group runs in surrey and meets twice a month, once in Redhill and once in Woking . The group was set up because of the amount of men who were using the cruising sites who were either married or in relationships with women. The reason for the group being set up was so that safer sex and health promotion messages could be delivered to those men attending the group.

It also allows the men to meet others in a similar situation to themselves and helps to dispel the feelings of isolation, meet others who understand what they are going through and to be in an environment that is totally non judgmental, as this is very important to men in this situation.

There is a telephone help line for the female partners of men who are having sex with other men the number is 01737 770011.

For men who want to find out more about the group then they can either phone 01932 355533, 07801 629972 or e-mail ian.cole@surreypct.nhs.uk in confidence.

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