In his typical style, Hancock posted a video talking about the recent data from Public Health England that shows HIV transmissions have been on the decline in England – particularly amongst gay and bisexual men (GBM).

Indeed, without a shred of irony, Hancock stated that an ‘injustice’ was being reversed through the government’s efforts of reducing HIV transmissions by 73%.

Of course, without context, this figure sounds commendable, if not outright positive. The reduction in transmission rates comes from the rise in use of PrEP – a drug which is readily available in Scotland and has been attributed to reducing the risk of transmitting HIV by over 90%. Out of 2,000 people in Scotland, less than 0.25% contracted HIV after taking PrEP. Some experts say it’s 100% effective at stopping HIV transmission.

However, NHS England only started supplying PrEP in limited quantities through clinical trial sites – which now have major waiting lists – in 2017. And this was only after NHS England lost a high court battle regarding the commissioning of PrEP services.

The reason for NHS England’s complacency has been funding. Against my better judgement, I took a look at some of the opinions of Twitter users and regrettably found pockets of people who think that funding a proven HIV drug is somehow morally irresponsible.

It’s easy to see where these comments on social media are borne from. Take a look at the media coverage for topics relating to HIV and you’ll see hordes of articles talking about its impact on the LGBT+ community without any mention of its heterosexual impact.

For instance, many have argued that funding PrEP will reduce the rates of condom use amongst GBM communities. A valid concern, though it must be said that condom use is actually higher for gay and bisexual men compared to heterosexual males.

Sustaining condom use is of course important, but an awareness scheme that educates people about the need to use a condom alongside PrEP usage could be one answer to stemming any worries people have.

And it’s not like heterosexual communities wouldn’t benefit from a fully funded PrEP service. The report states how late stage HIV diagnoses are particularly bad amongst heterosexual men – perhaps the stigma of the disease stops this section of society from getting tested. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s brilliant that less and less people are getting HIV, but when a clear and proven alternative is readily available, it seems hypocritical of the government to claim they’re doing all they can to stop the disease. In fact, read Hancock’s statement in the media and you’ll be forgiven for thinking that he’s solely responsible for helping tackle the rise in HIV.

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Following findings from a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) study outlining the wide-ranging toll of endometriosis, supporters — including Endometriosis UK — are calling for stakeholders from government, healthcare, and business to step up efforts to improve the lives of the 1.5 million women in the U.K. who have the chronic and debilitating disease.

Nearly all of the study’s 13,500 participants said endometriosis has badly affected their career, sex life, and mental health. In addition, most said the disease has adversely impacted their education, and that they rely on prescription painkillers, including opioids, for ongoing treatment. About half of the women respondents said they have experienced suicidal thoughts.

“This shocking new research is a stark reminder that both society and the NHS (National Health Service) need to wake up and accept that endometriosis is a chronic condition that cannot be brushed under the carpet,” Emma Cox, Endometriosis UK CEO, said in a press release. “The impact it can have on all aspects of a person’s life — both physically and mentally — must be recognized.”

The study, a survey said to be the largest of its kind, questioned women in the U.K. about how endometriosis has affected them. Endometriosis UK assisted the BBC in collecting survey answers.

Cox called for efforts to reduce the time to diagnosis — currently 7.5 years on average — for women with the disorder. Pelvic pain associated with endometriosis is typically indistinguishable from other causes, including menstruation, urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. That makes rendering a diagnosis difficult.

“Without investment in research, a reduction in diagnosis time and better access to pain management, women will continue to face huge barriers in accessing the right treatment at the right time,” she said.

Saying that endometriosis costs the UK £8.2 billion (about $9.1 billion) annually, Endometriosis UK is urging the government to fully implement the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Those guidelines, set forth in 2017 in “Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Management,” established minimum care to which patients should have access.

For her part, Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, said that while endometriosis awareness is increasing, more work is needed.

“Too often across society, women’s bodies are seen as an inconvenience, with their symptoms and health concerns not taken seriously enough,” she said.

By adhering to the NICE guidelines, clinicians can help erode stigmas around the disease, Dinenage said. She also called for employers to create supportive and flexible ways to help those living with the disorder.

As a result of the study, Members of Parliament are expected to launch their own inquiry into the disease’s effects.

Other advocacy groups also are calling for change.

“Health services need to wake up to the hidden and unspoken emotional pain too many women experience without the help they need to manage such a poorly understood and distressing condition,” said Sarah Hughes, CEO of the UK’s Centre for Mental Health.

Study participant Bethany Willis, 19, of the county of Essex in southeast England, said in an article on the BBC’s website that she started experiencing symptoms at age 9. However, despite having a mother and grandmother with the same disorder, she was not diagnosed with endometriosis until this summer.

“The pain is like barbed wire wrapped around your insides and someone’s pulling it away while at the same time an animal is trying to eat its way through you,” she said.

Willis said the pain was so severe that it caused her to take an overdose of medication. While recent surgery has helped her cope with the condition, she laments having dropped out of veterinary school and giving up her “dream career.”

According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, roughly 200 million women globally are affected by the disease, which occurs when bits of uterus tissue lining grow on other pelvic organs.

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Halsey has had some great news about her fertility following an an agonising battle with endometriosis. The ‘Nightmare’ singer has been extremely honest about her condition, which has caused her chronic pain. She has also donated and raised over $300,000 for endometriosis research and support.

Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a woman’s day-to-day activities and, according to the NHS, can cause difficulty getting pregnant. Research from Endometriosis UK suggests that the condition affects 10% of women world wide. 

Halsey has always thought she would struggle to have children because of the condition and had plans to freeze her eggs this summer. She has also previously spoken about how endometriosis could have caused her three miscarriages and it’s possible it could have stopped her from ever carrying a child full term.

Thankfully, Halsey (who has previously admitted to having had four surgeries for endometriosis) revealed that following surgery and some lifestyle changes her health has drastically improved and she no longer dreads her periods, that have hospitalised her in the past. 

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Halsey said that her doctor has advised that she doesn’t even need to freeze her eggs when she wants to conceive.

“I was like, ‘Wait, what did you just say? Did you just say I can have kids?’ It was like the reverse of finding out you have a terminal illness,” she explained. “I called my mom, crying.” 

Halsey, who is currently dating musician YUNGBLUD, has previously said in a since-deleted Instagram post she’s “dying” to have her own baby after spending some time with her manager’s adorable daughter. In the interview, she then joked with her assistant Maria that they had a “pregnancy pact” which means they have to get pregnant together.

She continued: “Never mind. I don’t need to put out a third album. I’m just going to have a baby.”

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A teenager suspended from a UK school after insisting there are “only two genders” has revealed he spoke out in protest at the “dangerous” views being forced on to pupils.

The 17-year-old sparked an international debate about transgender rights and free speech after a secretly filmed video clip of him being reprimanded by his teacher went viral.

He was thrown out of class after arguing that only two genders exist – male and female – a position which his teacher claimed was ‘not inclusive’.

The schoolboy has now been told he will be suspended for three weeks following the clash during a personal and social education lesson at his secondary school in Aberdeenshire.

According to friends, the boy spoke out to let people know what is going on in the education system.

One told The Mail on Sunday: “He decided to film the teacher because he wanted to show what was going on in schools today for simply stating there are only two genders.

“He has nothing against anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, but completely disagrees that there are more than two genders and that it’s a social construct.

“He believes telling kids that boys are girls and girls are boys is a very dangerous thing and wanted to get his views across to the teacher.

“His view is that scientifically there are only two genders. This new gender theory that there are unlimited genders is something that should be discussed and debated – not just thrown into a class discussion and if you disagree you get kicked out of the room.”

The incident took place when the teacher logged on to a website and found only male or female gender types listed as options, which he claimed was “old fashioned”.

When the schoolboy disagreed, he was ejected from the class. After being allowed back, he secretly filmed the teacher. In the video, which has been watched on YouTube more than 90,000 times, the teacher can be heard telling the pupil: “You’re entitled to your opinion.”

During an exchange, the pupil says: “I think it’s silly to have anything other than two genders, Sir.”

The teacher then urges: “Could you please keep that opinion to your own house? Not in this school.”

The three-minute clip triggered a furious debate online, with many saying the boy had been unfairly treated, while others insisted that the teacher was in the right. According to an education source, the boy was suspended for breaching school policy by secretly filming the teacher.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said the public sector has a legal duty to show “due regard” to certain “protected characteristics” – including age, sex and “gender reassignment”.

He added: “It is important to understand the context of any video clip taken without a person’s consent. In our schools, fostering good relations among different groups can be a real challenge but our aim is to support a fairer, inclusive environment for all.”

Earlier this month, London-based Pearson Edexcel exam board was accused of bowing to demands from transgender activists after swapping the word “sex” for “gender” in a UK GCSE biology paper.

Lincolnshire businessman and former police officer Harry Miller also found himself investigated by police for “hate crime” for “liking” a poem on Twitter questioning transgenderism.

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