HIV Myth Buster Special - Episode 16

Join Adele & Hilary for the final episode of Sex Talk. They invite our resident sexperts, Sexual Health and HIV Specialist, Dr Stuart Flanagan, and Sex Therapist Sarah Berry into the studio to answer your questions about sex. The team talk about the changes in sex and sexual health in the UK, and reflect on some of the best moments of the series.

Women make up a third of people living with HIV in the UK, and a quarter of new diagnoses, yet women are often invisible in the conversation around the virus. In this episode, Adele & Hilary are joined by Sophie Strachan. Sophie is the co-chair for women's HIV charity, Sophia Forum, who recently worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust on a report looking into women living with HIV called 'Invisible No Longer'. Sophie talks about the findings of the report and shares her own story of being diagnosed with HIV in prison. They're also joined by HIV specialist, Dr Laura Byrne, who talks about the reality of HIV and Pregnancy, and Dr Shema Tariq talks about the PRIME study which looks into women living with HIV and the Menopause.

The National guidelines for sex & relationship education in the UK haven't changed since the year 2000, but the way young people interact with each other has changed massively. In this episode, Adele & Hilary hear from three teenage girls who talk about their experience of sex education & put their questions to sexual health specialist, Dr Stuart Flanagan, & sex & relationship education expert Lizzie Jordan. The team also chat about what the new guidelines should look like when they're refreshed in 2020.

According to research by HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, 80% of people aged between 50 and 90 are sexually active, and between 2012 and 2016 there was a 9% increase in STI’s in over 45’s. New HIV infections in people over 50 are also rising faster than other age groups. In this episode, Adele and Hilary chat to Sue and Simon, who were both diagnosed with HIV later in life, and HIV specialist Dr Shema Tariq talks about the PRIME study focusing on HIV and the Menopause.

In this episode, Adele & Hilary delve into the world of Kink and Fetishes. They're joined in the studio by Zak, who's been involved in the fetish scene for 30 years, and London Kink Therapist, Sarah Berry. They chat about different kinks & fetishes, safety, and how to navigate the scene. Zak and Sarah also try their hands at Word Porn!

In this episode of Sex Talk, Hilary & Adele talk about sex and consent. They’re joined by George WX Barker, Director of Sexpression:UK, who talks about navigating consent and what it actually means. We also hear from Anna Sale, host of the podcast Death, Sex & Money from WNYC Studios, as she reflects on an episode they recently produced where consent became a big part of the conversation. Leasuwanna and Alex who’ve appeared in previous episodes of Sex Talk also share their own stories.

Discussion around HIV often focuses on ‘at risk’ groups, such as men who have sex with men and people in the black African community. In this episode of Sex Talk Adele and Hilary are joined by two people who had never even considered HIV would affect their lives before their diagnosis, Raj and Lizzie. They also chat with Yasmin who works for HIV charity Positive East, about why every person who is sexually active should regularly test for HIV.

Sex Talk is back for a final series! In this episode the conversation focuses on trans and non-binary sexual health. Adele and Hilary are joined in the studio by Aedan, one of the directors of CliniQ, a sexual health and well-being centre specifically for trans and non-binary people in London. They also chat with Juno Roche, author of the book ‘Queer Sex’ about her personal experiences of HIV care as a trans woman.

So Sex Talk is currently on a series break! We'll be back in September with episode 17 focusing on Trans & Non-Binary Sexual Health, but in the meantime, we want your questions about the birds and the bees! Our sexual health expert, Dr Stuart Flanagan and sexpert Sarah Berry will be joining Adele and Hilary for a special Q&A. Get any questions you have about sex, sexual health and relationships to us by September 21st.  In the meantime, stay safe, and keep talking!

Did you know that somebody on effective treatment for HIV can’t pass the virus on? Did you know that there is a daily pill you can take to prevent yourself from contracting HIV? In this HIV myth buster special of Sex Talk, Adele & Hilary are joined in the studio by Sexual Health and HIV Specialist Dr Stuart Flanagan, and Matthew Hodson, Executive Director of HIV charity, NAM. Stuart and Matthew separate fact from fiction when it comes to HIV, and Matthew gets involved with our favourite game, Word Porn!