New center for sexual health

Model project at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum to combat HIV, Chlamydia and other venereal diseases

02/01/2014

Ignorance of venereal diseases such as chlamydia, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea (gonorrhea), herpes or genital warts has led to an unexpected renaissance of these sexually transmitted infections (STIs). At the University Hospital of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, therefore, at the initiative of Professor Dr. med. Norbert Brockmeyer „Center for Sexual Health“ which, with the involvement of various institutions, intends to put a stop to the advance of venereal diseases.

„We have a supply gap in the field of STIs“, Prof. Brockmeyer explains the establishment of the Center for Sexual Health. Also be that „The willingness to undergo sexually transmitted infections is still associated with a high inhibition threshold.“ In the future, therefore, as many institutions and contacts as possible should cooperate under one roof. „What we need are regional specialist centers that provide comprehensive information, diagnosis and treatment“, emphasized Prof. Brockmeyer, who already in 2009 the „Center for Sexual Health“ initiated at the Dermatology Clinic of the Ruhr University. It is important that a maximum permeable offer is created in which „people fall into it more or less.“

Cooperation in the fight against the advance of venereal diseases
According to the initiator, the Center for Sexual Health will adopt a holistic approach that addresses all aspects of sexual health. „These include u. a. a satisfactorily lived sexuality, openness to individual sexual orientation, pregnancy counseling, as well as help with sexual violence or health risks from infections“, reported the Ruhr University Bochum immediately after the institution was launched. The spectrum of actors to be involved ranges from the health department, through the Aidshilfe and counseling centers for prostitutes, to general practitioners and gynecologists. For a long time there have been too many breaks in care. With the bundling of the capacities this should now be put an end.

Spreading the STI a challenge to the health care system
As an HIV expert at the Ruhr University Bochum and President of the German STD Society (DSTDG), Professor Brockmeyer also spoke in favor of „a broad lineup in the area of ​​sexually transmitted diseases“ out. Here the offer of help should not only on „Focus on HIV / AIDS, but should focus on all STI and overall sexual health promotion“. The approximately 70,000 HIV patients and about 3,000 syphilis infections annually are only the tip of the iceberg. The epidemic spread of the STI is becoming a growing challenge for the health care system. Experts estimate, for example, that more than 100,000 women in Germany unintentionally remain childless due to untreated chlamydia infections, explains Brockmeyer. Also for hepatitis and human papillomavirus infections (HPV) is assumed to be a high number of unreported cases, which for the affected people at risk of liver damage, cervical cancer and other tumors.

Many institutions work together in the Center for Sexual Health
In Bochum, both the head of the health department, Ralf Winter, and the managing director of Aidshilfe, Arne Kayser, have already stated that their facilities will in future cooperate in the Center for Sexual Health and contribute their respective competences. Numerous other cooperation partners are under discussion and could also contribute to the success of the new model in the future. According to Prof. Brockmeyer, this also benefits the attending physicians, since after decades in which STIs were rather rare, many physicians lack the experience of a sudden new rise in infections. Also in communication, facilities such as Aidshilfe are certainly an enrichment, as they can draw on extensive experience with counseling sessions. This also applies to the prostitute counseling or the psychosocial counseling center for homosexuals who have the appropriate routine in communicating with the respective target group. (Fp)

Image: Martin Gapa