Travel and sexual health

Common diseases

According to the World Health Organisation, every year an estimated 333 million episodes of curable sexually transmitted infections occur throughout the world. These are a major cause of infertility, illness and death, and a significant proportion result from international travel.

HIV and hepatitis B are more prevalent in some parts of the world than in the UK, and the risk of infection is therefore much higher. In the UK, for example, HIV is principally a disease of high-risk minority groups, but in sub-Saharan Africa it's spread through a much larger population, mainly through heterosexual intercourse.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A and B and the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes conditions such as genital warts and cervical cancer, are the only sexually transmitted infections for which there is a protective vaccine.

If you think that you may become involved in unsafe sex, you may want to talk to your doctor about vaccination before you travel.

Prevention

Avoid sexual intercourse with multiple partners or with people who have had multiple partners themselves. Don't judge by appearance - most infected people look healthy and have no symptoms of disease.

Men should always wear a condom from start to finish, and women should make sure their partner uses one. Women can also protect themselves by using a female condom.

Take condoms with you, as those purchased abroad may not meet UK standards.

Try not to let your alcohol intake get out on hand. Being drunk and disinhibited often leads to unsafe sex, both on holiday and at home.

HIV and AIDS

HIV/AIDS is usually transmitted sexually or via infected needles, blood or blood products. There's no evidence to suggest it can be spread by direct non-sexual contact or insect bites.

Unless necessary to save your life, you should avoid having a blood transfusion in developing countries. If it's essential, request blood that has been screened for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.