Sexual health and blood borne virus action plan: 2023 to 2026

Glossary of terms and acronyms

BBV – Blood Borne Virus - are viruses that some people carry in their blood and can be spread from one person to another. In the context of this document, we mean HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.

Chemsex - Sexual activity mostly between men while under the influence of drugs, often taking place with one or multiple sexual partners.

CONUNDRUM - CONdom and CONtraception UNDerstandings: Researching Uptake and Motivations research project¹⁸

HCV – Hepatitis C - a blood borne viral infection that causes liver swelling, called inflammation. Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage.

HIS – Healthcare Improvement Scotland - A non-territorial NHS Board wit ha remit to regulate independent healthcare and inspects NHS care in Scotland.

HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus - a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, if untreated it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

LARC – Longer Acting Reversable Contraception - highly effective forms of birth control that can last for years at a time. LARC includes the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD), hormone containing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD), the contraceptive implant and contraceptive injections.

LGBTQ+ - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and more. These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

MSM – Men who have sex with men - this refers to sexual behaviour alone, regardless of sexual orientation (e.g., a person might identify as heterosexual but still be classified as MSM).

NaSH - NHS Scotland's National Sexual Health electronic patient record and online booking system

NHS – National Health Service

NMARG - National Monitoring Assurance and Research Group

OPSS – Online postal self-sampling service

PHS - Public Health Scotland – A non-territorial NHS Board responsible for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all of Scotland's people.

PoP - Progestogen-only pill - a method of contraception that contains the hormone progestogen but doesn't contain oestrogen

PrEP - Pre-exposure prophylaxis - medicine that reduces the chances of contracting HIV.

RSHP - Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood - taught as part of Health and Wellbeing, which is one of eight areas of the Curriculum for Excellence.

SHPN - The Scottish Health Protection Network - an obligate network co-owned by its stakeholders from across the health protection community in Scotland

SLWG – Short life working group

STI - Sexually Transmitted infection – an infection spread predominantly by unprotected sexual contact