Researchers Warn Against Buying STI Treatments Online
According to researchers, people with STIs, or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, risk jeopardising their health by acquiring treatments for their condition off the internet. In a study into the situation, the University of East Anglia discovered that fewer than 25 per cent of vendors online provided information in respect of the side effects associated with the products they were selling. A comparable number also neglected to inform users of whether the treatment could potentially conflict with other medications.
The university's study was published in the Biomedcentral Public Health journal.
The research team found that only a minimal number of vendors provided guidance on whether the products being sold could place pregnant or breastfeeding women at risk. Less than 25 per cent of them gave advice on avoiding a reoccurrence of the STI.
STI Stigma Means Many Prefer Self-Medicating Over Visiting Doctor
Since STIs have a certain stigma attached to them, many patients choose a route of discretion over a traditional visit to the doctor - ordering treatments and self-medicating without needing to leave home. The research team, warned, in this regard, of the importance of obtaining complete advice about the side effects involved, as well as about the need for sexual partners to undergo the same treatment.
Certain types of STI - gonorrhoea and chlamydia among them - can result in those affected by them becoming infertile, unless given proper treatment.
Online STI Products Included Gonorrhoea, Herpes, Chlamydia Treatments
The East Anglian researchers discovered, altogether, 77 STI-related treatments online, produced by 52 companies. They included products designed to treat gonorrhoea, herpes, chlamydia, and genital warts.
Dr Roberto Vivancos - one of the researchers involved - stated: "It may be easy and convenient to buy your own treatment on the internet but we think that people are taking significant risks in doing so." He added: "Treatment of sexually transmitted infections is not a simple one-off step of popping the pills or slapping on the creams."
Another factor identified by the team was that, in nearly 50 per cent of cases, the vendors highlighted the effectiveness of their products, but offered very little in the way of supporting evidence.
"Patients nowadays can easily buy kits from the internet to test themselves for sexually transmitted infections and they may be tempted to do the same when they need treatment", Dr Vivancos added. "But the NHS offers a professional, confidential treatment service that is likely to be far better and cheaper than taking chances on an unproven internet remedy."
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is presently looking into a number of cases, related to the internet, involving potential breaches of medicinal law.
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Health Reporter
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