The Better2Know Blog

Over one million sexually transmitted infections are acquired every day worldwide [1]. You can catch an STI through sexual contact, as well as vaginal, anal or oral sex. The likelihood of you catching or passing on an STI is higher if you do not practice safer sex, for example by wearing a condom.

More than 26 million people in the Middle East and North Africa region have curable sexually transmitted infections. [1] There is a stigma associated with STIs, particularly regarding the topic of who gets infected. This could be due to misinformation or a lack of education around sexual health. It is important to remember that STIs do not discriminate; anyone can be affected by sexually transmitted infections. [2]

Better2Know’s Instant STI testing services are available at selected private sexual health clinics throughout the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. With this popular testing option, you can receive rapid results for six sexually transmitted infections. These include HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Better2Know offers an extensive range of confidential STI testing throughout the Middle East. Along with private testing for individual infections, we also provide an assortment of sexual health screens in countries like Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Our screens comprise combinations of STI tests and have been specially designed by a panel of medical experts to ensure your total peace of mind.

You may be suffering from an outbreak of blemishes around the mouth, the genital or anal areas of your body. These can be in the form of sores, ulcers, lesions, warts, blisters or any other breaks in the continuation of skin. Herpes, Syphilis and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are common sexually transmitted infections that trigger these types of symptoms. The only way to know which STI you have contracted is to get tested as soon as possible.

The first thing anyone does when they notice a worrying symptom is to google what their symptoms might mean. Rather than scaring yourself into a state of denial and vowing never to see a doctor for fear of a diagnosis, it is much more productive to seek the advice of a qualified medical professional. This includes concerns about your sexual health.

The year of broadcasting your engagement on social media and to anyone who will listen is finally over – now you have to plan the extravagant one-day spectacle. Amongst trying on the entire racks of wedding dresses, the brutal selection of attendees, you may become lost in all the potential ways a napkin can be folded and forget the true purpose of the marriage: to become a family. Whether this means you want a hoard of children or – to quote Carrie and Mr Big from Sex & The City – quite content with being ‘Just Us Two’, a premarital health screen should be somewhere in your wedding to-do list.

Positive STI diagnoses are nothing to be embarrassed about, no matter how hard the shame and stigma surrounding sexually transmitted infections might try to convince you otherwise. It is usually considered illegal to knowingly or recklessly transmit an STI. For example, some countries have laws that require you to notify certain people or authorities if you are HIV-positive.

Are you worried about Chlamydia? Better2Know provides a range of different testing options at our private clinics across Saudi Arabia. All STD testing is performed in line with the highest international standards of care and quality. Our sexual health screens and tests are regularly reviewed by our panel of medical experts and supported by our team of 24/7 Sexual Health Advisors.

Better2Know is the UAE’s largest provider of private STI testing services. We have sexual health clinics across the country, including the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Our comprehensive range of STD tests and screens includes testing for Hepatitis A, B and C, in addition to an array of other infections such as HIV, Chlamydia and Syphilis.

You may be wondering, how common are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the Middle East? Despite cultural and religious norms, STIs and STDs remain prevalent across the Middle East. Better2Know is the largest private provider of sexual health testing. If you are worried, we can help you to get tested.

Dubai and Sharjah reportedly have the highest number of positive HIV cases in the UAE. There are several reasons suggested for this. If you are worried about HIV, Better2Know can help you. We provide confidential HIV testing in Dubai as early as ten days after potential exposure.

There are many misconceptions about Herpes. If you do have Herpes, you’re not alone. In MENA, the prevalence of HSV I is as high as 97.5% in some populations [1]. There are over 100 herpes virus types, of which eight can be found in humans. Types I and II are the most common [2].

The simple answer is yes. If left untreated, several STIs can pose health risks including loss of fertility. Whilst regular sexual health testing is advised despite your fertility plans, it is particularly important to be tested for STIs before conceiving. Here we explain which infections can impact your fertility and how.

It is often assumed that STI rates may be lower in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) due to certain religious and cultural norms which differ significantly to Europe and other parts of the world. However, the rate of Chlamydia infection found in MENA is parallel to that in other regions across the world.

As reported in The National, the UAE aims to significantly reduce the prevalence of Hepatitis C by targeting specific high-risk groups and communities [1]. The virus, which chronically affects around 71 million people globally [2], can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and is a major cause of liver cancer.

Better2Know’s range of screens and tests have been designed by our team of medical experts. It can be difficult to know which is the best option for you. Rest assured that we have a suitable test or screen for everyone. It is important to choose the combination of tests which will relieve any concerns you have about your sexual health.

As reported by The New Arab, Tunisia is set to become the first country in the Arab world to introduce sex education into schools. This is a positive sign of progress in improving awareness of sex and sexual health in MENA.

On 1^st December, World AIDS Day is held to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS worldwide, with the hope to end isolation, stigma, and, ultimately, HIV transmission. This year’s global campaign focuses on the importance of communities and how “communities make the difference”.

Maybe you have noticed unusual wart-like symptoms in your genital area, or maybe you are just curious. What are Genital Warts? Are they common? Why are they there? Can I get rid of them? How can I prevent them? Look no further, we have all the answers you need.

This year, a survey by the Arab Barometer indicated that individuals in the Middle East and North Africa feel less able to express themselves today than in 2013. In turn, this is negatively affecting sex education. It is important that people are educated about safe sex and sexually transmitted infections. Speaking openly about these topics is the way forward.

Things are changing all across our world. With cheaper and accessible travel, people are migrating faster and further. With these changes come new opportunities for cultural exchange, changes to diet, lifestyle and health.

Chlamydia is one of the world’s most common STIs, according to a recent report published by the World Health Organisation. One of the big reasons for this is that many people have no symptoms when they have Chlamydia. Over 80% of women and 50% of men will not know they have the infection.

The Middle East has one of the lowest prevalence rates for HIV in the world. Despite this, progress towards the UNAIDS 90 90 90 targets is low. There is still deep stigma across the Middle East towards people with HIV and how they are treated.

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. If left untreated it often leads to AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which can lead to death. However, there have been a lot of advances in medication. HIV is no longer the life-threatening condition it once was. With regular medication, most people should lead a normal length of life.

Protecting your health is really important. Your healthcare routine includes (or should) regular trips to the dentist and optician, as well as pre-cancer checks as we get older. If you have different sexual partners you should also include STI tests.

Most people who have an STI do not have any symptoms. However, there are some signs and symptoms to look out for. If you do notice any of these in you or your partner, then getting tested is a good idea.

Since the 1980s, HIV/ AIDS is one of the sexually transmitted infections that instils the most fear in people. With the threat of death, many people remain unaware of available HIV treatments (both pre and post exposure) that can help reduce the amount of damage to their system – enabling healthy long lives – as well as the risks of transmission to future sexual partners. The best way to combat HIV is to engage in safe sex, fight stigma, know your own risk and take preventative measures, understand how the virus is transmitted and what the symptoms are.

In some parts of the world, women who experience partner violence are 1.5 times more likely to be affected by HIV than women who do not. Amongst neglected populations, including transgender women or sex workers, higher rates of violence are linked with an increasing prevalence of HIV infections.

More and more people in Oman are ditching old-school views on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and getting tested. Thanks to the government’s campaign to address and dispel stigma surrounding the condition – the barriers around HIV testing are no longer preventing as many people from testing for the virus. Despite this, rates of new HIV infections are still increasing – with the majority of cases resulting from unprotected sex – and there are various challenges yet to be addressed.