I’m a sexual health nurse, AMA!

[WhackingPhoenix]

As it says in the title

What has shocked you the most?

Probably how easy people find it to lie to your face when they know that you know, that they are lying! 🤥

How long have you been working in this profession for?

Do you get irritated if you see the same people again and again?

Whats the worst thing you have seen?

What's the most common 'complaint' you see coming in?

do you find it frustrating that your services aren’t as accessible as they used to be?

How long have you been in the job? Have you found things have got worse for your patients over the years in terms of risky behaviour since the advent of online porn, online dating and social media?

@WafflesOrIceCream I’m quite ‘new’ still, in the grand scheme of things.

@Jonad not irritated, but perhaps mild frustration when it’s a repeat treatment of the same infection because they haven’t followed instructions during treatment (for example, not waiting a week before having sex again after being treated for gonorrhoea, and having to repeat the same testing and treatment process)

@hellosunshineagainx nothing awful, mostly thing that make me go ‘ooouch’!

@silkeyemask genital warts, I would say

@Danikm151 we've had meetings about this with client feedback and the overwhelming consensus is that GUM/contraception services in our area are more available than ever before, and we can offer so many things now. Have you found that the service is inaccessible?

Not long enough to see a shift in trends.

Online porn and social media, not really. Online dating/hookup sites (particularly Grindr), yes. They make anonymous sex a lot easier and there will always be someone willing to meet.

If you ask a question about if a patient engages in a particular sexual practice and they've never heard of that sexual practice does that irritate you? Asking for a friend

Not at all sometimes it eliminates a whole load of risk for the client and saves me a lot of hassle during assessments!

I’d much rather hear ‘what’s that?’ when I ask about chemsex, for example, than ‘oh yep, I smoke meth every weekend!’ as I then have to start thinking about risk of hepatitis, referrals to drug and alcohol services etc.

How is TV transmitted without sex? I caught it whilst not in a sexual relationship and am very confused as to how this happened. I didn’t get clear responses from the healthcare advisors I spoke to so would appreciate some clarification if possible please? Thank you.

Are people varied when it comes to inserting various objects into certain regions for the "thrill" of it and presumably the items can result in some 😲moments ?

It can take up to a month before symptoms are known
And

How do you get trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis.

In women, this parasite mainly infects the vagina and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).

In men, the infection most commonly affects the urethra, but the head of the penis or prostate gland – a gland near the bladder that helps produce semen – can become infected in some cases.

The parasite is usually spread by having sex without using a condom.

It could also be spread by sharing sex toys if you do not wash them or cover them with a new condom before use.

You do not have to have many sexual partners to catch trichomoniasis. Anyone who's sexually active can catch it and pass it on.

Not sure if that helps

@Hawkins001 It doesn’t unfortunately, none of the above apply to me.

@WhackingPhoenix Thank you. The questions I was asked before getting my Mirena changed were an education in themselves. :-)

@WhackingPhoenix Thank you. The questions I was asked before getting my Mirena changed were an education in themselves.

Have you seen any cases of monkeypox?

I was told I had gonorrhoea but it was easily treatable with an antibiotics injection. Basically a prick in the bum. Which is ironic, because that's how I got it in the first place.

How often are you identifying cases of sexual exploitation or trafficking?

I just looked up Chemsex as had no idea but had heard of the practice of it but did not remember the name chemsex. Are people engaging in groups sex without condoms as know in some of those parties people pass out and god knows what is done to them when they are out of it. Are you seeing more cases of hiv and do you think there needs to be a new awareness of it as in tv ads again. Do you have many young women in or men who were drugged and did not consent to sex checking if they have any std's. Well done for doing the job you do as I just could not do it.

Any sexual contact puts you at risk form STI .Whats the point on asking all the details of who and what you did . You'd do the same test s just seems pointless.

So what do they lie about? Just curious 🙂

Why are non-hormonal contraceptives for women so difficult to find these days? I asked my GP for a diaphragm and she acted like it was impossible.