DA Jeff Foster is The Sun on Sunday’s resident doctor and is here to help you.
Dr Jeff, 43 years old, divides his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his practice, H3 Healthwhich is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.
To see h3health.co.uk and email drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.
Q) I’m 24 and going on a boys’ holiday in July.
I think I’m allergic to condoms.
My penis has been sore and itchy when I have used them in the past.
Is there an alternative contraceptive method I can try that protects against sexually transmitted diseases?
name withheld, Farnham, Surrey
A) Sexually transmitted infections or STIs are a common holiday risk, and the fact that you are thinking about how to deal with it is very important.
We often think of STIs as the classic chlamydia, gonorrhea or genital herpes, but other serious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis B, can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
There has been a recent increase in the number of syphilis cases and this may, in part, be due to a reduction in the use of barrier contraceptives such as condoms.
Condoms are the most effective way to minimize the risk of getting an STI, but many people with latex allergies worry that they will make sex unpleasant or trigger an allergic reaction.
However, there are a variety of latex-free condoms that have been around for a while that should allow you to enjoy safe sex without an allergic response.
How to avoid STDs
In general, sexually transmitted infections are highly preventable.
The only guaranteed method for preventing STIs is to avoid any type of sexual contact, but this method probably won’t appeal to everyone!
There are things you can do to limit your risk of exposure to infections while still enjoying an active sex life.
The best way to avoid most STDs is to use a condom during sex. Below are some other things you can do to reduce the chances:
- Limit the number of people you have sex with
- Talking honestly with potential partners about your sexual history
- Take the test, together with your partner, before having sex
- Avoid sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- People who are drunk or using drugs often cannot have safe sex
- When appropriate, be vaccinated against HPV and hepatitis B
Q) I have had a fungal infection in my toenails for a long time.
But two tests in the last four months have been clear.
I’m using an antifungal cream called clotrimazole, which seems to work, but for the last few days my middle toe has felt worse and is red and hot.
Do you have any suggestions please?
Gordon Smith, London
A) Fungal nail infections are very common and are caused by the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot.
We often find that nail clipping studies do not show positive fungal growth, but this is a flaw in the sensitivity of the test rather than the underlying cause being something else.
For most fungal nail infections, treatment is a long and drawn-out process.
This is because you have to wait for a new, healthy nail to grow.
If you stop treatment too early and there is still some fungus on the nail, the fungus will come back and the entire nail will become infected again.
Although clotrimazole is common in creams, it is not often used to treat infections orally, as there are other antifungals that tend to be used as first line.
Untreated nails can cause infections and discomfort in the nail bed.
Because treatment can take six months, it’s important to talk to your doctor about getting the right treatment in the future.
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