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Free & confidential sexual health services for black and minority communities
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Public lice are very small, crab like insects which live in pubic hair.
Pubic Lice are not necessarily sexually transmitted, but are passed on through close body contact.
They can be spread by having close body contact with someone who has them and will crawl from hair to hair. They can also be passed through close body contact including vaginal, anal, or oral sex and may be passed on by sharing towel and bed linen.
Condoms and other forms of contraception will not protect you from pubic lice.
If you get them, you can prevent them being passed onto other by:
You may not notice you have pubic lice, but people usually experience the following symptoms:
Treatment is through either a prescription or over the counter cream, lotion or shampoo. The treatment is applied to affected areas.
Avoid having close body contact with partners until you and your partner have completed treatment. This includes any sexual activity.
If left untreated the lice may spread to other body parts. Pubic lice will not go away without treatment.
If you think you have public lice, you will need to visit a GUM, or sexual health clinic, or your local GP surgery.
There is no test for pubic lice but it’s easy for a health professional to diagnose by examining the area.
The Passionate about Sexual Health (PaSH) Partnership) is a collaboration between BHA for Equality, George House Trust and the LGBT Foundation. The PaSH Partnership will deliver a comprehensive programme of interventions to meet the changing needs of people newly diagnosed with HIV, living longer term with HIV or at greatest risk of acquiring HIV.
Free & confidential sexual health services for black and minority communities
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Free and confidential support, advice and advocacy services for people living with HIV
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Providing advice, support and resources for LGBT people to take control of their sexual health and wellbeing
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