STIs, sexual health worries and HPA data – what you need to know

By Dr Petra | Published: 25 August, 2010
The Health Protection Agency has released its most recent figures on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (including HIV) today. This is based on data collected from GU clinics across the UK annually. You can read the main report here. Those who’re of the more thorough/geekier persuasion may also want to look at the data summaries of STIs (including breakdown by region, ethnicity and age) available at… Read more
Posted in Condom(s), Contraception, Drug/alcohol, Epidemic, HIV/AIDS, Sexually transmitted infection(s), Teenager(s) | Comments closed

Smile, you’re on my phone’s camera!

By Dr Petra | Published: 17 August, 2010
This post is based on a true story. I've altered identifying details, but the events described are real. I wrote it a while ago as a training activity for healthcare practitioners to consider some of the fuzzy boundaries that exist around mobile technology and our working practices. In an era where we're eager to use new technologies to improve healthcare and health education there can also be hidden… Read more
Posted in Case studies, Child(ren), Ethics | Comments closed

How to be an Agony Aunt (or Uncle)

By Dr Petra | Published: 10 August, 2010
agony aunt mug I’ve been working as an ‘Agony Aunt’ (advice giver) in print, online and in broadcast media for the past eight years. I’ve written advice columns for magazines like Grazia, Beauty Zambia and Men’s Health; for websites like mykindaplace and mansized; and presented on radio programmes on national and regional stations in the UK and worldwide. I’ve also advised broadcasting organisations internationally on how… Read more
Posted in Agony Aunt | Comments closed

11 years old, on the pill and sexually active? The media loses the news again

By Dr Petra | Published: 2 August, 2010
Parents across the UK are understandably being made anxious by news reports today suggesting: Rise in 11 year olds on the pill (Sunday Times) One thousand girls on Pill at 11: Huge rise in contraceptive prescription for pre-teens without parents knowing (Daily Mail) Huge rise in 11-year-olds on the pill (Telegraph) The UK appears afflicted by ‘soaring’ numbers of sexually active girls, who… Read more
Posted in Contraception, Menstruation, Reproductive health, Teenager(s) | Comments closed

Sexual pleasure empowers women!

By Dr Petra | Published: 1 August, 2010
The e-journal Contestations is a cross cultural and cross disciplinary publication which tackles diverse issues around women's health internationally. It seeks to create a platform to explore and discuss core issues around development, politics and health. The current issue debates the statement 'Sexual pleasure empowers women!' and opens with an outline of core issues relating to women, development, health and empowerment in relation to sexual
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Posted in Activism and Open Access, Critical appraisal, Gender, HIV/AIDS, Health/care, Human rights/law, International | Comments closed

Age of consent, underage sex and media panics – what you need to know

By Dr Petra | Published: 19 July, 2010
Over the past couple of years we’ve seen a particular preoccupation with Western media about underage sex. This has included the media frenzy over 13 year old ‘teenage dad’ Alfie Patten through to frequent media features on teenage pregnancy, abortions and parenthood, to more recent documentaries like Channel 4’s ‘Underage and Having Sex’ or ITV This Morning’s debate on the age of consent which I participated in
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Posted in Parents, Sex education, Teenager(s) | Comments closed

A blog by any other name

By Dr Petra | Published: 16 July, 2010
name badge Recently I’ve been asked to talk about why I blog through activities like the ‘Bloggers Behind the Blogs’ series on psychology/neurology blogs or at Science Blogging Talkfest 2010. Talking about why I blog or being introduced at any event as a blogger involves mentioning the name of my blog. ‘Dr Petra’. Or ‘Dr Petra’s Blog’. Which I find a bit… Read more
Posted in Uncategorised | Comments closed

Trading Standards closes AMI – but where does this leave their customers?

By Dr Petra | Published: 12 July, 2010
A few weeks ago I asked you to challenge the Advanced Medical Institute. An organisation who specialised in selling medication for men's psychosexual problems (erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation) who caused concern over their advertising method and sales techniques which bullied and humiliated vulnerable men. Following complaints from men, an investigation by Trading Standards in Westminster has led to AMI ceasing trading. The company still practices… Read more
Posted in Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation | Comments closed

What do we want from sex and relationships education?

By Dr Petra | Published: 28 June, 2010
Last week I was asked to speak at Channel 4's Education Annual Conference, which was live blogged by Joanne Jacobs here and can be followed on Twitter via hashtags #c4ed and #c4edconf. The event included highlighting different educational interventions (fascinating), debating technology in education (talked about perhaps too much), discussing free schools (not debated enough) and showcasing forthcoming educational programmes/games (like this
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Posted in Sex education | Comments closed

NICE Consultation now open: PHSE Education Focusing on Sex and Relationships and Alcohol

By Dr Petra | Published: 22 June, 2010
The NHS National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has just opened a consultation inviting feedback on Personal, social, health and economic education. They are focusing on sex and relationships and alcohol education and inviting consultation on the draft guidance. The consultation is open from 17 June to 15 July 2010 and you can access all the relevant documentation here. If you are working in the area of PHSE… Read more
Posted in Sex education | Comments closed