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» Gonorrhoea
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Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium chlamydia trachomatis. In the UK, the number of new diagnoses has been steadily increasing each year since the mid-1990s, and it has now become the most commonly diagnosed STI.
Between 2004 and 2005, the number of confirmed cases of chlamydia rose by 5%, from 104,733 to 109,958. Sexually active women aged under-25, have a 1 in 10 chance of getting chlamydia, and men who are aged between 20 and 30 are most at risk of becoming infected.
As chlamydia sometimes has no symptoms, in both men and women, it can often go undiagnosed, unless it leads to complications. However, once the infection has been diagnosed, it is treatable.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (which used to be known as 'the clap'). It is caused by a bacterium called neisseria gonorrheoae or gonococcus. The bacteria are found mainly in the semen of infected men and vaginal fluids of infected women, so gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through sexual contact.
Gonorrhoea is most commonly spread through:
having unprotected sex - including oral and anal sex, and sharing vibrators or other sex toys, that have not been washed or covered with a new condom. Gonorrhoea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK with over 19,000 cases reported in 2006. Young men aged 20-24 years and women aged 16 - 19 are most commonly affected.
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a simple and reliable method of contraception. It is sometimes known as male sterilisation. Although a vasectomy is reversible in many cases, it is not possible in all cases. Therefore, vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of contraception.
The procedure works by preventing sperm from the testes reaching the semen that is ejaculated during sex.
A vasectomy has no effect on your sex drive or ability to enjoy sex. You will still have erections and ejaculate normally. The only difference is that the semen you ejaculate will not contain sperm. The body continues to produce sperm after the procedure, but the testicles naturally reabsorb the unneeded sperm.
In some parts of the UK vasectomy is available free under the NHS, but in others you may have to pay for it privately.
Drug Testing
Drug addiction is when you become dependant on a drug, and it forms a central part of your life. Misusing drugs can lead to physical dependency, or psychological dependency.
Physical dependency means that your body has become so used to a drug that you get physical withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. This means that you have to keep taking the drug to stop yourself feeling ill.
Psychological dependency means that you take the drug because it has formed a large part of your life, and you take it to make yourself feel good. You may feel that you cannot stop taking the drug, even though you are not physically dependant. Some drugs can make you both physically and psychologically dependent.
As you take more of a drug, your body becomes tolerant to it so it doesn't have such a strong effect. This means that you need to take larger amounts to get the same effect as when you started taking it.
Drug misuse is when you take illegal drugs, or when you take medicines in a way not recommended by your doctor or the manufacturer. Taking medicines in very large quantities that are dangerous to your health is also an example of drug misuse.
Examples of drugs that are commonly misused include:
:: illegal drugs
:: alcohol
:: tobacco
:: prescribed medicines including painkillers, sleeping tablets, and cold remedies
:: khat (a leaf that is chewed over several hours)
:: glues, aerosols, gases and solvents
Illegal drugs are drugs that have been banned, by law, for use in this country. It is illegal to possess or supply banned drugs.
Some illegal drugs have been categorised as prescription-only, meaning that they may only be used legally if prescribed by a doctor, but are illegal to use, possess, or supply, in any other circumstances. Illegal drugs are categorised into three classes: A, B and C.
Class A drugs are considered to be most dangerous to health. They include:
:: cocaine (including crack; nicknamed charlie, coke, snow)
:: dicanol
:: heroin (nicknamed smack, H, gear, scag, brown )
:: LSD; (lysergic acid diethylamide; nicknamed acid, trips, blotters, tabs)
:: mescalin
:: methadone
:: morphine
:: opium; PCP (phencyclidine; nicknamed angel dust)
:: pethadine
:: poppy straw
:: psilocybin
:: STP (amphetamine; nicknamed serenity, tranquility and peace)
:: Magic mushrooms (nicknamed liberties, shrooms)
:: MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine; nicknamed ecstasy, E, pills, XTC, disco biscuits, Mitsubishis, Rolexs, dolphins)
:: Cannabinol
Class B drugs are also considered to be dangerous, but less so than class A drugs. They include:
:: amphetamine (an ingredient of ecstasy; nicknamed speed, whizz, dexies )
:: codeine (in concentrations above 2.5%)
:: DF118 (dihydrocodeine)
:: methylamphetamine (crystal meth) (due to be reclassified as a class A)
:: ritalin
:: barbiturates
Class C drugs are considered to be the least harmful to health but they are still illegal to possess and give or sell to other people. They include:
:: cannabis and cannabis resin (marijuana, grass, pot, weed)
:: methaqualone
:: anabolic steroids (nicknamed roids)
:: ketamine (nicknamed special K, vitamin K, green)
:: GHB (gammahydroxybutrate; nicknamed GBH, liquid ecstacy and sometimes referred to as date-rape drugs)
:: benzodiazepines including valium
:: rohypnol (nicknamed roofies and sometimes referred to as date-rape drugs)
Some of these drugs are legal when prescribed by a doctor and can be used for pain-relief or to relieve the symptoms of certain medical conditions.
Illegal drugs are classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which can only be changed and added to by the Home Secretary.
Alcohol
Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol will not do you any physical or psychological harm. However, for some people, social drinking can lead to heavier drinking, which can cause serious health problems.
It is estimated that 1 in 13 people in the UK are alcoholics, with several million drinking excessively, to the extent where they are putting their health at risk.
Heavy drinking is linked to suicide, murder, fatal accidents, and many fatal diseases. It can increase your chances of developing cirrhosis of the liver, and it has been associated with many different types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, mouth, larynx (voicebox) and liver.
As well as being directly related to many serious diseases, drinking large amounts of alcohol can also lead to poor sexual performance, and it can harm an unborn baby.
If you have an alcohol related problem, there are many ways in which you can get help to reduce your drinking, and there are also many services that you can use that will help you stop altogether.
Veterinary
We offer a comprehensive veterinary diagnostics service. Please click here for more information.
Sexual Health
Genitourinary medicine (GUM) is the branch of medicine concerning the male and female sexual organs and the urinary system (that stores and removes urine from the body). In medical terms, this is known as the genitourinary system.
Genitourinary medicine includes urinary system infections such as cystitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, and other infections of the genitals such as thrush (candida).
Many hospitals have a genitourinary medicine department, or clinic. It is usually called the GUM clinic, but may also be referred to as the sexual health centre or department. You can find your nearest GUM clinic by visiting the Family Planning Association's web site at the link below:
Family Planning Association's (FPA)
Pathology Services
Human Diagnostics is the primary division of Gordon Laboratory Group.
The management has provided high quality pathology services to the private and public sectors for over 18 years. By working with clients and their management teams it is our aim to provide effective local and national laboratory management and services. With the support of our International Reference Laboratory, we are able to facilitate the delivery of a professional, value for money and customer-orientated service to our clients.
With this background, Gordon Laboratory Group is regarded as a leading provider of pathology services in the following sectors:
INDEPENDENT & PRIVATE HOSPITALS
In todays highly competitive private healthcare market, high standards of support services are required to compliment the clinical core. Gordon Laboratory Group has proven expertise to manage effectively on site laboratory services working with the hospital Management Team to continue to improve services to their clinical users. Gordon Laboratory Group will take over all aspects of the management of the laboratory allowing hospital management to devote more time to other business developments. Our full range of laboratory management services can be all inclusive; capital outlay, all staffing costs, pathologist fees and all other operational costs, as well as central management support. Our Services can include the following:
:: Payment for all laboratory costs including staff / pathologists
:: Provision of capital requirements
:: Central management support services
:: Support from our International Reference Laboratory
:: Introduction of laboratory information systems
:: Marketing of service if required, promoting the hospitals laboratory
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Working alongside Occupational Health organisations Gordon Laboratory Group will provide laboratory services to suit you and your client's exact requirements. Our Marketing Team, Customer Service Department and Logistics Team will work with you to resolve all possible difficulties which may be encountered. Our flexible service includes customer defined profiles, arrangement of sample transport and negotiable pricing arrangements. Our occupational health clients provide services to a comprehensive variety of industries including heavy chemical companies, transport providers and service industries. Our range of tests cover all of our client's requirements.
PRIVATE GENERAL PRACTITIONERS AND PRIMARY CARE GROUPS
Gordon Laboratory Group provides the flexibility in their service to meet the needs of the Private General Practitioner. The service will be tailor made to meet the requests of the physician. We guarantee that your service will be affordable and provide value for money. We offer personalised request and report formats delivering reports most suitable for your practice e.g. Fax, E-mail or Data Link.
Gordon Laboratory Group has successfully negotiated contracts with PRIMARY CARE GROUPS
A FULL PATHOLOGY MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Gordon Laboratory Group offers an entire Pathology Management Service and not simply a testing only service.
:: Logistics Management Unit
:: Quality Assurance Unit
:: Customer Care Teams
:: Marketing Teams
:: IT Specialists
:: Laboratory Management Teams
:: Development of new methodologies
Our full Management Service enables us to offer the following benefits:
:: Simple requesting procedures
:: Reliable courier transportation
:: Accurate and timely analysis guaranteed
:: Pathologist advice and support available at all times
:: Integrated management information systems
:: Electronic data transfer facilities
:: Education and training programmes
:: Appropriate Recognised Accreditation
:: Control of Infection procedures
:: Effective monitoring
:: Financial accountability
:: Performance guarantees
:: Quality Assurance
We believe you need a service that manages the complex issues as well as taking care of small but important details - Gordon Laboratory Group provides that service.
Private Medical
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