Sex Documentary Sparks STI Fears

If you’re unsure what happened after Timepiece Friday last week, it may be time to drop into Exeter’s famous sexual health centre.

The Sidwell Street clinic is featuring in BBC3 documentary “Unsafe Sex in the City” over the next few weeks, and calls into the walk-in centre have increased since its launch last Wednesday.

The show, which features both the Exeter-based genitourinary medicine and sexual health clinic and a clinic in Leeds, is a six-part series examining how doctors and nurses tackle STIs among young people.

The Exeter clinic sees around 30,000 patients on an annual basis, and is receiving more requests for help with STIs and use of the contraception service.

Between 2008 and 2013, patient demand has increased by 50%, with numbers rising from 10,000 to 15,640.

The most common STIs seen at the clinic are chlamydia and gential warts, with 550 patients in 2008/9 increasing to 967 and counting as of 2012.

Dr Bush, contraception lead at the clinic, said: “Screening for STIs has become easier in recent years. It’s often a case of a simple swab or urine sample rather than a full examination.

“The message we wanted to get across in the programme is that we are here to help in a entirely non-judgemental way and everything is confidential.”

The next episode airs on Wednesday 9th October at 9pm. More information can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01g3zs0

Details for Exeter Walk-in Centres can be found at http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2290