Click on Central Sexual Health
A new website has been launched by NHS Forth Valley to provide information on local sexual health services and advice on sexual health and wellbeing. The initiative is a joint project between the sexual health team and health promotion.
At the click of a mouse people will be able to find the closest sexual health clinic to where they live and access information on a wide range of topics including sexually transmitted infections, contraception, pregnancy, and use provided links to other recommended sites.
There are specific sections for young people, adults, parents and carers with relevant topics such as puberty, accessing chlamydia testing and condoms.
Health professionals will also be able to log in to access protocols, good practice guidance provided for GP's, research and relevant reports which could be invaluable to those in education.
NHS Forth Valley Consultant inGenitourinary Medicine, Kirsty Abu-Rajab said: "This is an exciting and optimistic time for sexual health services in Forth Valley. The sexual health service has just been re-branded as 'Central Sexual Health' and is undergoing major changes to improve service accessibility and quality, particularly for young people and men who have sex with men.
It is timely and appropriate given a local 20% increase in the number of Chlamydia diagnoses in the last year together with at least a three-fold increase in the number of infectious syphilis cases diagnosed and treated. In addition, alongside a current national campaign, we are promoting long-acting contraception, such as implants and coils which are more reliable than more traditional forms such as the pill."