Page 35 - 2024 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus

MINERVA IN FOCUS Health Matters

Precautions against STIs
Vaccination against hepatitis B is strongly recommended.
Preventive vaccines against types of human papilloma-
virus (HPV) prevent cervical cancer in women. Safer sex
reduces risks.

The most important ways
to reduce risk are:

• Keep your partner’s body fluids out of your vagina,
anus, or mouth. The body fluids to be most care-
ful about are blood, cum, pre-cum, vaginal fluids,
and the discharge from sores caused by sexually
transmitted infections.
• Don’t touch sores or growths that are caused by
sexually transmitted infections. Safer sex also
means protecting your partner.
• Don’t allow your body fluids to get into your part-
ner’s body.
• Don’t have sex if you have sores or other symptoms
of infection.
• Have routine checkups for infections.
• Condoms are the best protection when enjoying
sexual intercourse.
• Careful handling and disposal of sharp objects (nee-
dles or other sharp objects).
• Handwashing before and after a procedure.
• Use of gloves, gowns and masks for direct contact
with blood and other body fluids.
• Safe disposal of waste contaminated with body
fluids and blood.
• Proper disinfection of instruments and other con-
taminated equipment.
• Proper handling of soiled linen and clothing.

Basic safety rules

• Condoms have to be available free of charge on
board, especially when arriving in port for seafarers
who go on land. The officer in charge of medical
care on board has to make sure that seafarers
have access to free condoms in a discrete way,
with respect to their privacy.
• People who are at increased risk of catching an
STI (for instance, people who change sexual part-
ners frequently) should have a regular checkup
at a clinic.
• Patients under medical care who require frequent
injections should carry sufficient sterile needles
and syringes for the duration of their trip and a
doctor’s authorisation for their use.
• Unsterile dental and surgical instruments, needles
used in acupuncture and tattooing, ear-piercing
devices, and other skin-piercing instruments can
likewise transmit infection and should be avoided.
• Remember! The safety rules listed above are of-
ten ignored when drinking is involved. A lot of un-
planned and unsafe sexual contacts occur while
under the influence of alcohol!

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