Sexual health
The GP at our private north London clinic offers discrete and confidential consultations for men. Erectile dysfunction is a common issue and is always addressed with sensitivity. Routine STD checks and sexual health checks are available for men of every age, including teenage boys. You may also have a fertility consultation.
The first step is for you to meet our GP and discuss your concerns. Dr Laila Kaikavoosi is a specialist in supporting men and has many years experience in this field.
STD tests (sexually transmitted diseases)
Common STDs (also referred to as STIs or sexually transmitted infections) can be checked at Viveka by our GP, so there is no need for you to go to a GUM (genitourinary medicine clinic) or visit a sexual health clinic. Not all STDs lead to symptoms, so if you are sexually active it’s important to be tested. Many men choose to be tested on an annual basis. You can request one or more of the following tests:
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
- HIV
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
- Hepatitis B & C
Your GP will talk through each test with you in detail. You can choose to receive the results via email, telephone or mail. Depending on which tests you have had the results can take up to 5 working days. There are results e.g HIV which are ready within 24 hours. A full STD testing entails a blood sample, a urine sample and some swabs. Majority of STDs are treatable with antibiotics. In cases of more serious STDs a referral can be made to a specialist.
What about HPV? You may have heard that HPV (human papilloma virus) is sexually transmitted, and has strains that are responsible for cervical cell changes and cervical cancer in women. HPV causes several diseases in men including genital warts, throat cancer, penile cancer and recto-anal cancers. In a large study the HPV vaccine reduced the total number of men who experienced HPV infection and for men who were infected with HPV virus, the HPV vaccine helped them clear the virus faster. This all suggests that vaccinating men with HPV virus could have practical uses for directly improving men’s health as well as possibly reducing the burden of HPV disease (particularly cervical cancer) in women.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a common issue but unfortunately many men do not seek help because they are embarrassed. Dysfunction may range from the penis not becoming erect (can’t get a hard on) to losing stiffness during intercourse. There are numerous causes for erectile dysfunction which can be divided into physical and psychological. A simple blood test can eliminate diabetes, thyroid disease and other hormonal imbalances as a cause.
At times a certain event in life has resulted in this problem, other times there may be multiple factors. All of this can be made more clear when your doctor takes a detailed history, and we have specialist therapist who can help reduce the impact of psychological issues in your sexual life.
Male Fertility
Your GP can provide a range of tests to assess your fertility, including sperm count and motility. If you would prefer more in depth fertility investigation, your GP can refer to our fertility specialist gynaecology consultants at Viveka.
