The very first regional sexual health campaign in New Aquitaine started on May 30 until June 5. The Lot-et-Garonne and the hospital center of Agen Nérac participate in it.
“The COVID-19 epidemic has had an impact on other infections. Particularly in terms of HIV testing, which during the health crisis recorded a significant drop in the spontaneous use of self-tests, dedicated associations and testing centers “says Dr. Elise Klement Frutos, internal medicine doctor, infectious disease specialist and public health specialist at the Agen Nérac hospital center. . The same trend was observed for other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Carrier, while unaware of his HIV status
The observation is simple. “The health crisis has led to a drop in the discovery of new confirmed cases of HIV by 22% in 2021 and screening by around 14% between 2020 and 2021, which means that people were carriers of HIV without the On the other hand, there has been an increase in the number of cases of syphilis and gonococcal infections during Covid.
This week of sexual health is an opportunity to speak out with family and friends, and to fight once morest serophobia once morest HIV / AIDS and discrimination, whether in the environment or in the professional sphere. We must encourage people to get tested for HIV in a city laboratory, which is always possible without a prescription, and also strengthen screening for sexually transmitted diseases by pushing the door of the CeGIDD (Free Center for Information, Screening and Diagnosis of infections by the human immunodeficiency virus, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections), but also with gynecologists for women and gastroenterologists for men.
“Young people are not monitored regularly. Some adopt risky behavior. These centers offer support to detect these sexually transmitted pathologies. Professionals assess risk-taking, discuss modes of protection, prevention, contraception”, argues the doctor infectious disease specialist at Agen hospital.
Young people under 25 affected by HIV
Dr. Klement Frutos regrets that the diagnoses revealed following the latency period of the epidemic revealed “advanced stages of seropositivity, much higher than the early stage. De facto people, susceptible to developing symptoms and AIDS , whereas if they had been treated and kept HIV-positive with one pill a day and few side effects, there would have been no transmission of disease and viral load. less than 25 years old affected by HIV, but also appear patients of 60 years old”.
It should be noted that the anti-HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination plan is a means of preventing cancer of the cervix and other anogenital cancers caused by HPV infection. Vaccination is possible with doctors, midwives and nurses (on medical prescription). The vaccine is recommended for all adolescents from 11 to 14 years old, with a possible catch-up until the age of 19 or before the first sexual intercourse.
The Free Center for Information, Screening and Diagnosis (CeGIDD) of the Agen Nérac Hospital Center is part of these systems, in particular by offering screening for the various STIs, free of charge and anonymously.
Consultations are possible on the Agen site, but also on the Nérac site as part of a permanence held on Wednesdays. Contact: 05 53 69 70 25
