Warning over web STI treatments

People with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been warned not to buy medications online as they are putting themselves at “significant” risk.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia found that some people are using the internet to buy drugs costing from ?50 to ?145 to treat conditions including genital warts, herpes, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

They argue that people are attracted to the anonymity of the internet as they may be ashamed of seeking treatment for their STI.

A total of 77 treatments from 52 different countries were identified on the internet, including the auction website eBay.

The study, published in the journal Biomedcentral Public Health, revealed that less than a quarter of internet vendors provided information on potential side effects of their treatments or gave details about whether the products might interfere with any prescription medicines that patients might be on or if they could harm women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

More than three-quarters failed to provide advice on how to avoid transmission and becoming re-infected.

As well as these risks the researchers warn that proper medical advice should be sought, as if sexual partners are not treated at the same time then the treatment is bound to fail because the patient will be infected again and again.

“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,” said Dr Roberto Vivancos.