There are about 15 common STI`s but we are told that the big problems are Chlamydia (often no immediate symptoms in men or women) Gonorrhoea (often no immediate symptoms in women, occasionally none in men) Herpes (often no symptoms for long periods) Hepatitis B&C and Candida. Plus HIV/AIDS of course. Hit the net for full

UK National Condom Week
Many countries have a National Condom Week, in the UK it falls in May. It`s organised by Durex, a condom manufacturer, but it has the backing of leading politicians, teachers and healthcare professionals, and has a LOT of media coverage. It is aimed mainly at young people. Why May? Well - spring is in the air and summer is coming....

symptoms/consequences, but basically Chlamydia can lead to infertility in women and possibly reduced fertility in men.

There are two basic options for getting an STI or HIV - public or private. Local health centres in the city do free testing for HIV and Chlamydia.

Local Health Centres

Pros: Free, anonymous. Reasonable environment. Cons: Only open once a week and one evening a month, so difficult for working people. Results takes a week. Language might be a problem, but see note.

Offers testing for various conditions. Clamydia and HIV/AIDS tests are free. but are the only ones done between those times. The following information is for the smart new AIREF Health Centre in Chuo ku. (The one with the funny orange sculpture on Taisho dori) but procedures should be similar elsewhere.

No appointment is necessary. Name/address not required. Waiting room is large, clean and modern. (JP Lang) form requests your sex, age, whether you live in Fukuoka, whether this is first test. Approach counter and again select test you want from simple form. (See p9 for katakana) and take a number. In the next room, you will be asked some questions in Japanese or possibly simple English. You are taken to a further room where a sample is taken. Return a week later for results given in a private room. If result is positive you may choose to be referred to a hospital (usually the Kyushu Medical Centre) but there is only very limited counselling, (in Japanese).


NOTE: - AIREF say they are actively working to create simple explanations in a range of languages for the application and results forms. (In our experience most medical staff have adequate vocation specific simple verbal English.) Note also that you should wait 3 months after a dodgy sexual contact before having an HIV test - and be particularly careful to practise safe sex in the interim.

Times: 09:00 ~ 11:00 Every Wednesday. Also, Third Tue night a month 18:00~20:00 Address: 5F, 2-5-1 Maizuru, Chuo-ku (see map). Closest subway: Akasaka.

Private Clinic

Fukuoka does not seem to have dedicated clinics specializing in Sexual Health. (You may know them as GUM clinics - "Genito-Urinary Medicine"). In principal, just go to any hospital, but men are probably best served by a Urologist, women by a women`s clinic (Maruki Yoko Women`s Clinic 092-733-0002 Appoint. only has been recommended to us

Dr Goto

as an excellent women`s clinic.) . Tests are covered by national insurance, but STI`s may NOT be by (UK/US) private insurance, CHECK FIRST. Exact prices vary by clinic, the condition being tested for and how well you respond to treatment. We gather around ¥10,000 for a consultation, ¥10,000 for a test and at least a few thousand yen for a course of antibiotics are ballpark figures. Rainbow Plaza has a book of English speaking doctors. However, we have had Dr GOTO of GOTO Clinic in Maizuru recommended to us on 092 714 3250. If you want a private HIV/AIDS test we can recommend Dr Yamamoto at National Kyushu Medical Centre, see the article on HIV/AIDS for his email address.®