Outpatients East now offers a dedicated sexual health clinic session for men who have sex with men - this includes men who sometimes have sex with women as well as men who only have sex with men.

Page contents
>> The Clinic Session|
>> Who can be seen at this Clinic Session?|
>> What's Available?|
>> How often should I have a Sexual Health Check-up?|
>> Hepatitis A and B|
>> Vaccination Schedules|

The Clinic Session
The clinic session will be available on Wednesday evenings. The first appointment is at 4.45pm and last appointment at 6.15pm. We aim to offer the same good standard of care at each clinic session we provide, whichever day you have arranged to attend on – not just Wednesdays.

Who can be seen at this Clinic Session?
Individuals with a transgender identity are welcome at this session, although we advise you contact the clinic beforehand to ensure that we are the right service to best meet your needs. Individuals who are HIV positive are also welcome to attend this session.

In keeping with all services at this clinic, the session aims to be receptive to the needs of men from all social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds (including Black and Asian men for example), as well as men who have a disability or special need and who may find accessing a service of this kind more difficult than others.

There are no age restrictions. Younger males (under 16 years old) will require a quick assessment with a Health Adviser initially to ensure this is an appropriate service in which to have their needs met. Male and female staff are available.

What's Available?
• Sexual health assessment and check-ups.
• HIV testing (please note there are no facilities for 'while-U-wait' results).
• Hepatitis A and B vaccination (this is recommended nationally for all men who have sex with men).
• Treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
• Education and sexual health advice with access to related services for men who have sex with men.
• We routinely educate and promote testicular awareness among male patients which is a way of reducing your health risk for cancer in the testes or ‘balls’.
• Post-exposure Prophylaxis ('PEP') following risk of exposure to HIV.
• Free condoms and lube.
• In keeping with all services at this clinic, all care and treatment is confidential and free.

How often should I have a Sexual Health Check-up?
• If symptoms are noticed (such as a discharge from the penis or anus, a sore on the penis or other unusual change in the skin on your penis, surrounding genital area or anus, for example), a check-up is advised.
• If you have had sex without a condom that involves a risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections, a check-up is advised.
• Starting a new relationship is a good opportunity to have a check-up (ideally with your partner having a check-up too!).
• Some men have a routine, periodic check-up (six-monthly for example – assuming there have been no risks of sexually transmitted infection, HIV exposure or symptoms noticed).
• We can offer advice about when and how often to have a check-up and HIV test. You can speak to a Health Adviser or nurse at the clinic or by phone.
• Post-exposure Prophylaxis ('PEP') following risk of exposure to HIV.
• ‘But I haven’t got any symptoms!?’ Some sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), can be present without obvious physical signs and symptoms. A sexual health assessment and check-up will help you know for sure about your sexual health at present. Treatment, advice and support will be given if any infections are found.

Hepatitis A and B
• If you have been vaccinated against Hepatitis A and/or B (given as an injection in your upper-arm), in recent years, we offer a blood test to check your vaccination is continuing to be effective in protecting you against Hepatitis A and B exposure.
• If your blood test confirms you have immunity to Hepatitis A and B, you will not require further vaccination.
• If you have not received Hepatitis A or B vaccination in the past, or was unable to complete a course after your first injection, we can begin your vaccination again; starting with the first injection on the day you attend this clinic.
• Some individuals have ‘natural immunity’ against Hepatitis A or B following exposure to these infections at some time in the past. If you have had Hepatitis B infection in the past, you will be naturally protected against further Hepatitis B infection exposure in the future. If you have had Hepatitis A infection you will be naturally protected against further Hepatitis A infection in the future. We routinely arrange a blood test in the clinic to confirm that anyone who has had either Hepatitis A or B infection is immune and protected against these infections.

Vaccination Schedules
Vaccination involves an injection in your upper arm.

Hepatitis B Vaccine
• First injection – day 1 (could be your first visit to the clinic).
• Second injection – 1 week later (7 days after first injection).
• Third injection – 3 weeks later (21 days after first injection).

Hepatitis A Vaccine
• First injection – day 1 (could be your first visit to the clinic).
• Second injection – six months after first injection.

•Following the Hepatitis B vaccination, a blood test to check you are now protected is recommended. This this is arranged 8 weeks after you complete the Hepatitis B vaccination course.
• If you would like to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination, it is important that you ensure that you can return to the clinic for each injection, as above, in order to fully complete the course. We will provide you with the dates when each injection is due.
• We advise that you wait in the clinic for 20 minutes after receiving an injection of Hepatitis A or B vaccine. This is to confirm you feel okay afterwards.