OutUK's eight week series on Sexual Health for gay men continues. It's brought to you in association with the NHS. We will have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. There's also advice on dealing with Ejaculation Issues, the Male Menopause and protecting your mental health. For this second week you can find out about the risks of getting a sexually transmitted infection and the benefits of vaccination. The MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea can help protect against catching gonorrhoea and help to stop it spreading. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious problems if it's not treated. These include:
You may be offered the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea if you're a man who has sex with men and are at higher risk of getting gonorrhoea. This includes if you:
It may also be offered to other people who are at increased risk of getting gonorrhoea, for example, sex workers having unprotected sex. A sexual health professional will decide whether you should have the vaccine. The MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea is available in sexual health services and is being offered to men who have sex with men who are at increased risk of getting gonorrhoea. A sexual health professional may recommend you have it when you attend a sexual health clinic appointment, for example, for testing or treating an STI. Contact a sexual health clinic if:
The healthcare professional you speak to can check if you're eligible.
Most people who have been recommended it can have the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea. You cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine. There is 1 type of MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea available in the UK. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflet: Bexsero MenB vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website; PDF only, 144KB) The MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea is given as an injection in your upper arm or thigh. You'll have 2 doses, which need to be given at least 4 weeks apart.
Having the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea at the same time as other vaccinesYou can have the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea at the same time as other vaccines offered in sexual health clinics, including the mpox vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine and HPV vaccine. Like all medicines, the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea can cause side effects but not everyone gets them. Common side effectsThe most common side effects of the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea are mild and do not last long. They can include:
Allergic reactionsMore serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately. More about vaccine safetyFind out more about why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself After 2 doses, the MenB vaccine for gonorrhoea provides around 30% to 40% protection against gonorrhoea. This means that the vaccine does not protect against all gonorrhoea infections.
You should continue to use condoms after having the vaccine to help protect yourself from gonorrhoea and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Sexual Health AdviceThroughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The other topics covered in this series include:
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| This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: N - Nail Problems. |
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