***STI Of The Week - Week 6... CHLAMYDIA!***

I know, I know, I'm pretty rubbish and my STI of the week blog is turning into STI of the fortnight, I will catch up eventually, things are all too busy at 'No Risks' HQ with all you freshers wanting merchandise and many other exciting things going on...

So I'm on catch up and I thought I would attempt to redeem myself with a really really important topic.. Chlamydia.. and it's so important because it is now the most commonly diagnosed STI in the UK.

The scary thing about chlamydia, is that it doesn't always show any symptoms and the scariest fact?? It can cause infertility if it is left untreated.

You lovely people of Suffolk are very lucky, we have a really great Chlamydia Screening Team who visit schools and colleges and also, when 'No Risks' are out and about we usually have testing kits with us too.. its SO easy to get tested, for the guys, you just pee in a pot and for the girls its just a really simple quick swab which you do yourselves and seal up in a postal kit which we send off to the lab.

If your results are negative you get a text within 7 - 10 days and if they are positive one of the lovely nurses will give you a call and arrange your treatment, which generally is a course of antibiotics.

Unfortunately chlamydia is easily passed around through sexual contact, so if you do have it then you will need to let your sexual partners know so they too can be tested.

Of course what you SHOULD be doing is using condoms... and considering they are **FREE** to anyone with a C-Card you have no excuse at all!

For more information on Chlamydia, or any other STI please visit the 'No Risks' website.

Take care & stay safe!

No Risks x

Sexual Health Week, Freshers & New Friends!

Whoa.. What a manic couple of weeks it has been here at 'No Risks' HQ!

So lets start at the beginning... Last week was Sexual Health Week, as organised and promoted by our lovely friends at FPA. We decided to take their theme of 'Facts of Life - talking to your children about sex' and produce our own survey, to find out from the people of Suffolk how they have, or intend to talk to their children about sex, and also how young people have found sex education in their schools. Results of the surveys are going to be released very soon so watch this space!



UCS Freshers Fair!



This week has been another chaotic week with various outreach events going on - We kicked the week off with a day at University Campus Suffolk 'Freshers Fair'. It really was an amazing event with SO many students who were all keen to grab themselves some 'No Risks' merchandise! The bendy pencils went down a storm, as did the lollipops which we were dishing out!

Suffolk New College Freshers Fair!

We followed the Freshers Fair events onto Suffolk New College - It was a really busy day and the stand was really popular. We worked alongside our friends at the Chlamydia Screening Team and chatted to lots of really lovely young people and tried to advertise the 'No Risks' brand, together with the wonderful C-Card scheme.

In the middle of the week we took a break from the Freshers Fairs to attend a Health & Well-being event at Genesis Orwell Mencap - We met some great young people from all different walks of life who sometimes have to overcome more difficult challanges than others do. The stand was a great hit with young people and parents/carers alike and lots of information was given out. We were also really impressed to witness these young people make their own smoothies by powering the blender with an excercise bike! Very cool!

We really REALLY do appreciate everyone taking the time to come and say hi when we are out and about with the display and everyone who did so really made this an awesome week, so thanks to each and everyone of you!

If you missed out on seeing our stand this week then fret not, we are very frequently out and about and I'm sure you will see us soon!

Take care & have a good weekend!

No Risks x

Sexual Health Week 2011!

SEXUAL HEALTH WEEK
12th - 18th September 2011

It has been a few really busy days at 'No Risks' HQ, with the approach of Sexual Health Week next week it's all systems go! My bags are packed and the car is loaded ready for a week jam packed with outreach events, starting with Morrisons pharmacy in Felixstowe on Monday! We are then moving onto Suffolk One on Tuesday to register some of their new young people on the 'C-Card' scheme and showing off some of our wonderful new pieces of merchandise. Wednesday we are off to Morrisons in Ipswich to publisise the FPA Sexual Health Week's theme of 'facts of life - talking to your children about sex', and lastly Thursday we will be setting up our stand in Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre in Ipswich to talk to everyone about Sexual Health and the kind of Sex Education they received.

During the course of the week we will also be surveying as many people as we can, so if you live in Suffolk please take our survey; here for young people, and here for adults.

Whatever you will be doing make sure you stay safe, and if you live in Suffolk and have any questions about Sex, Relationships or STI's make sure you visit the 'No Risks' website or call our friendly call centre staff to make an appointment at one of our clinics on 0300 023 3650.

Have a good weekend, and stay safe!

No Risks x

**STI Of The Week - Week 5... Non-Specific Urethritis!**

This week's STI of the week is Non-Specific Urethritis!

Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.

Urethritis is usually caused by infection, although this is not always the case. The term non-specific urethritis is used when the cause of the urethritis has not yet been identified, but it is known that gonorrhoea
Urethritis is one of the most common reasons for men to visit their local clinic . There are around 80,000 cases of urethritis diagnosed in men visiting GUM clinics every year. It is more difficult to diagnose urethritis in women because it may not cause as many symptoms.

It is usually treated with antibiotics and the symptoms usually go away within two weeks. It is important that past and current sexual partners are also treated to prevent any infection spreading to other people.

Women often have no symptoms, but if it is caused by chlamydia it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease if it is not treated.

It is important to remember to use condoms, anyone in Suffolk who has a 'C-Card' already has access to them for FREE! For those of you who are yet to get your 'C-Card' you can find out how by visiting 'No Risks'.

Have a good weekend every and remember to take care!!