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FDA cracks down on phony STD treatments

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

by Courtney Jones, Care Advisor

Let’s face it: we’re a society with seemingly infinite information at our fingertips. With a mouse-click, we can access Wikipedia articles and YouTube videos on just about any topic…posted by just about anyone who thinks of themselves as an expert.

But some things are best left to professionals…like getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

That’s why, earlier this year, the FDA cracked down on 11 companies selling unevaluated cures and treatments for STDs. The FDA stepped in because STD treatments require a prescription from a real doctor. Without it, people could be putting themselves and others at risk.

Direct and to the point, the FDA summed up their efforts this way: “there are no over-the-counter or online drugs or dietary supplements available to treat or prevent STDs.”

Why is this reminder from the FDA important to you? I know that when I’m in pain or worried about my health, I want an answer yesterday. And I wish I could find a quick fix for my problem online…without needing to talk to a doctor. But that would be putting my health at risk.

Because when it comes to health, there’s no substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis.

That said, we understand that it can be feel uncomfortable to talk to your primary care doc about your private sex life…and the possibility of STDs. That’s why, if you test positive for an STD, we offer you a free and confidential phone consultation with one of our physicians.

I’m a Care Advisor here…and I’m human, just like you. And if you call me or another of our STD-certified advisors, there’s no need to be uncomfortable or embarrassed. We’re just here to listen to your situation, and we’re trained to provide you the answers you need for your peace of mind.

We’ll help you decide if STD testing makes sense for you. And if you test positive for an STD, we’ll make sure you’re connected to a real doctor to discuss your treatment options…and in a lot of cases, our docs can prescribe the treatment you need.

Remember, all common STDs are treatable and manageable…and some are even curable. Just be careful to heed the FDA, and don’t be tempted by any potentially bogus cures or treatments found online.

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New treatments offer hope for people with hepatitis C

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

by Courtney Jones, Care Advisor

When it comes to STDs, there are some that everyone knows about…and some that are lesser known.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual contact, but also through exposure to the blood of an infected person: for example, unsterilized tattoo needles, razorblades, blood transfusions, IV drugs…even toothbrushes. So a lot of people don’t think of hepatitis C as an STD, but they should.

Hepatitis C kills almost 10,000 people every year in the United States alone, causing liver cancer or other severe liver damage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further estimate that about 3.2 million people have hepatitis C in the United States…but they don’t know it. Interestingly, an estimated two-thirds of hep C carriers are so-called Baby Boomers.

Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band recently spoke out about his battle with hepatitis C. Like most people with the virus, he didn’t find out that he had the infection until decades after he’d contracted it from an unsterilized tattoo needle. Following 30 years’ damage to his body and ineffective interferon treatments, Allman needed a liver transplant to keep fighting the disease.

Two decades ago when hepatitis C was first discovered, Allman’s circumstances would likely have been fatal. While interferon treatments can suppress hep C symptoms, it wasn’t until recently that a cure for hep C (in up to 21% of hep C cases) was known. With celebrity figures like Allman speaking up and taking action to fight the virus, and given the thousands of people with liver damage in need of transplants, the medical community was hard-pressed to find a solution…and find a solution they did in the form of new medical advancements that bring new hope for a cure.

In the last few months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two new drugs – Incivek (telaprevir) and Victrelis (boceprevir) – to help treat and cure hepatitis C. Either one, in combination with the two standard treatment drugs (peginterferon and ribavirin), has shown a cure probability of 70% in half the time (24 weeks) of the original therapies. A recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine also notes the effectiveness of the new treatments in cases where previous therapies have failed.

If you’ve never been screened for hepatitis C…testing online is one way to do it, ensuring a quick, painless and reliable process. Especially when the virus is caught early, the new treatments are likely to cure the infection.

Of course, preventing a hepatitis C infection in the first place is the best option for your health. So if you’re sexually active – especially if you’re not in a mutually monogamous relationship with someone whose STD status you know – annual testing and safer sex practices go along way to avoid spreading infections.

And if you’re wondering about your hepatitis C risk, check out our interactive Test Recommender. Lisa Oldson, MD, will help guide you through a set of easy questions to determine your risk and whether you should consider testing.

And remember, we’re available 7 days a week to answer your questions and help you choose which tests are right for you.

So don’t be a statistic…be smart, know your STD status, and help eradicate hepatitis C!

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Posted in STD awareness, Test, hepatitis C | 5 Comments »

What’s new in HIV testing and prevention?

Monday, June 27th, 2011

by Lisa Oldson, MD, Medical Director

There’s always something new in the world of HIV research…and in recognition of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, I’d like to tell you about a fascinating new study that was recently published about HIV screening for MSM (men who have sex with men).

The research project began three years ago when the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System interviewed and tested more than 7,000 men for HIV…in the year prior to the study, 61% of those men had tested negative for HIV, and the remaining participants had not been tested at all. Based on their interview responses, participants were divided into groups depending on whether or not they participated in high-risk sexual behaviors (e.g., MSM who have multiple or anonymous sex partners, sexual activity in conjunction with illicit drug use, etc.).

It was found that 7% of those who reported high-risk sexual behaviors were HIV positive, while 8% of those who practiced safer sex were also HIV positive. What does that tell us?

Well, until now, we thought that high-risk sexual behaviors correlate to a higher risk of becoming HIV positive…which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that people who participate in risky behaviors get screened for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections more frequently (every 3 to 6 months) than those who don’t.

But the current research shows us that MSM who engage in risky sexual behaviors are at the same risk of contracting HIV as those who play it safe…and that more frequent testing may be a good idea for all sexually active MSM, regardless of the sexual behaviors.

A significant number of participants in the study were found to be HIV positive…even those who had tested negative within the past 12 months. So it follows that, by being tested more often, MSM can reduce the time from HIV infection to diagnosis, which helps reduce overall transmission of the virus.

What’s the bottom line? Although this study hasn’t led to a change in the CDC’s current guidelines just yet, it conveys a very important message: all MSM can benefit from being tested for HIV more frequently, even those who do not engage in risky sexual behaviors.

What’s new in HIV prevention?
It turns out that Truvada, a drug approved in 2004 as part of a multidrug regimen to treat HIV, may also be effective in preventing HIV infection in high-risk populations. A recent study by Dr. Robert Grant of the Gladstone Institutes of Virology and Immunology showed that – when taken as instructed – daily use of Truvada alone stopped HIV in over 70% of cases.

Asa  a result, the CDC issued new guidelines stating that Truvada should be prescribed to men who are at a high risk of contracting HIV. While this is exciting news, Truvada costs about $13,000 a year…which leaves condoms as the #1 way to help prevent HIV.

HIV remains a serious public health challenge. The CDC reports that there are 1.1 million Americans living with HIV and as many as 21% don’t know they’re are infected. Let’s work together to improve those statistics…use condoms and, if you think you might have been exposed to HIV, don’t delay testing. Because the earlier HIV is diagnosed, the better it can be treated and managed.

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HBO’s “Entourage” and STD Testing

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

We’re fans of the HBO’s series “Entourage” and STD testing so imagine how thrilled we were that last week’s episode finally focused on sexual health! After five (six?) seasons of Vince and the boys bedding young Hollywood with nary a mention of safe sex, one of the main characters, Eric, gets nervous after finding out his most recent sexual conquest has an STD.

E in the doctors office

We applaud the writers and actors of “Entourage” for showcasing how important STD testing is and accurately depicting the emotional stress people can experience during the testing process. Unfortunately, the show failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to help people learn how fast, easy, and relatively stress-free STD testing can be. As a result, it perpetuated 2 ongoing STD myths.

Myth #1: Men need to get swabbed in order to get an accurate STD test. Not true! Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be detected using a urine sample with the NAAT DNA-based tests. No undressing, no painful swabbing in places you just don’t want to get swabbed. On Entourage, Eric ends of getting swabbed and complains of “feeling violated”. Why wasn’t this Drama’s plotline? Or Ari’s?

Myth #2: You need to visit a doctor in order to get your STD results. Also not true! We can help you get tested today and in 3 days, you can view your results privately and securely online. You don’t need to go the airport to pick up your tickets and you don’t need to go to your doctor to pick up your STD results.

We love this show, but concerns about swabbing and embarrassment prevent people from taking control of their sexual health and getting tested for STDs. We know what it’s like to worry about getting tested. That’s why you can get tested today and skip the swabs and the embarrassment.

Posted in STD Myths, Test | 5 Comments »

STDs: Not For Teens Only

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Think STDs are for the MTV generation only?  Think again.  The Viagra generation is, shall we say, rising.  It turns out that older men who have recently lost their spouses have a higher risk of being infected during the 6 months to a year after their wives passed away.

Harvard researchers Kirsten Smith, Ph.D., and Nicholas Christakis, M.D., studied 400,000 American couples between 67 and 99 years old.  Of the men who were widowed in the 9 year study, the likelihood of receiving an STD diagnosis rose by 83 percent for recently bereaved men from 1998 onward, when Viagra hit the market.  Gonorrhea was the most common STD among men in the study with syphilis, herpes, and HIV close behind.

Makes sense, but there’s a lesson here.  While birth control may not be an issue, all older people with new sexual partners need to practice safe sex.   Interested in reading the study?  Smith KP, Christakis MA. Association between widowhood and risk of diagnosis with a sexually transmitted disease in older adults. Am J Public Health 99(11), 2009.

We would love to hear from you.  Share your thoughts, comments, feedback, stories, rants, and raves.  America needs to dialogue about sexual health.  Join the conversation.

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Posted in Privacy, Test | 28 Comments »