The journey to making the HIV prevention drug, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) routinely available on the NHS in England has been a fraught one, from blatant homophobia in parts of the media, to being subject to legal proceedings.

But this battle is still not over, as capped access to PrEP remains.

This cannot continue.

Today marks the one-year anniversary since the start of the three-year PrEP Impact Trial in England.

Despite the clear need for PrEP to be made fully available to everyone who could benefit from it, the decision was made to cap the trial at 10,000 places in England.

From the start, we at Terrence Higgins Trust have been unequivocal in our belief that a capped trial would never ensure that everyone who needed PrEP could access it and the only answer was giving this method of HIV prevention a long-term home on the NHS.

Less than 10 months into the three-year trial, our fears were realised, when of the near 9,000 places that had been allocated for gay and bisexual men, several trial sites were having to turn people away due to being completely full.

We know PrEP works. In Wales, there have been no new HIV infections among people accessing it as part of the national study.

This saw the UK Government include a commitment to extend the trial by 3,000 places as part of the LGBT Action Plan, and NHS England take action to make this a reality.

Those additional places have now been distributed, but a number of clinics are either filling up quickly or not providing immediate access to PrEP by placing people on lengthy waiting lists.

We now face the crisis situation of the trial being full for gay and bisexual men – likely as soon as January 2019.

This means that as things stand, no one in this population – which still accounts for more than 50% of new HIV infections – will be able to access PrEP on the NHS, potentially until the end of the trial in late 2021.

While England dithers, the other UK nations have accelerated ahead with rolling out PrEP. Scotland made it available via the NHS in July 2017, and both Wales and Northern Ireland have uncapped access.

This means the part of the UK which accounts for the highest rates of HIV infections is withholding a drug that could help to put an end to this epidemic.

We know PrEP works. In Wales, there have been no new HIV infections among people accessing it as part of the national study.

It’s also been shown that PrEP provides a unique opportunity to engage people, who may have never done so in the past, in sexual health services.

This is good for diagnosing and treating potential sexually transmitted infections and also ensures people can make informed choices about their sexual health.

We currently have a situation in England whereby our NHS is perpetuating health inequalities by leaving people behind in accessing PrEP. And we currently have a situation where by our NHS is perpetuating geographical inequalities with a postcode lottery in where people can access the drug.

This is not acceptable.

But it doesn’t have to be like this and the solution is very simple: we need to give PrEP a proper home on the NHS.

To get there, two things must happen.

The first being an immediate removal of the cap on the trial; there is no reason why this cannot happen and it would remove the artificial scramble that has ensued across clinics.

The second must be action by NHS England and local government to agree to provide it on the NHS to all who need it, agree a funding solution and create a system that engages all groups who could benefit from PrEP.

The battle to get PrEP into the hands of all people who could benefit from it is not yet won, but Terrence Higgins Trust will continue to keep fighting to end this injustice.

Until then, we wish the PrEP trial a very unhappy first birthday.

A spokeswoman for NHS England tells Metro.co.uk: ‘While it would be wrong to pre-judge the PrEP Impact trial, it is already expanding with the number of places available increasing this year by 3,000 to 13,000. The NHS will look at evidence from the trial to expand prevention services in the most effective way.’

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Oh, we do love a thing that unintentionally looks like genitals.

Yes, it’s immature. Yes, it may be one of the lowest forms of humour. But it’s funny, okay? It just is.

Remember that vulva-esque ASOS dress? That clitoris inspired necklace? Great times.

Today’s thing that looks like another thing is Fendi’s ‘touch of fur shawl’. It’s a pale pink scarf with a border of fox fur (yep, real fox fur, which we’re not impressed with).

When you fold it up just so, it looks like a lovely set of labia with a border of pubic hair.

Seriously. Look at it.

The likeness was brought to our attention by a very wise woman names Sharon, who shared a photo of the shawl on Twitter with the rather appropriate caption: ‘Omfg… it’s rather , ermmmm ..’

Indeed it is, Sharon.

Even better, someone noticed that if you flip the image upside-down it becomes even more evocative of vulvae.

The shawl also comes in blue and red, in case you wanted to see a vagina scarf in a concerning shade.

We’ve reached out to Fendi to see what they think of the comparisons (yes, this did involve emailing serious fashion people the word ‘vagina’), and will update this article if we hear back.

In the meantime, if you’d like to wear a vagina scarf but don’t fancy splashing out £750, you can recreate the look by grabbing any skintone scarf, folding it in the vulva style you desire, and sticking on some faux fur around the edge. Easy.

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Very sad news indeed for geographers everywhere, or perhaps just anyone who cares about London’s sense of history.

Stanfords – the shop Londoners will have visited whenever they fancied gazing at fancy travel books – are closing their Long Acre store, which has served at the venerable company’s base since 1901. That’s a significant old chunk of time, right there.

Founded by Edward Stanford in 1853, it’s described as the home to the world’s largest collection of maps, travel books and globes, as well as stocking a host of maritime charts and travel-inspired gifts.

In truth, it’s never been the most inconspicuous of buildings, with an enormous vinyl National Geographic map on the floor and mounds of guidebooks stocked high just inside the front doors. It wouldn’t be easy to calculate just how many have been inspired by their first trip to one of the city’s great retail institutions.

It’s not all doom and gloom, as their relocation will only take then down the road to nearby Mercer Walk.

‘It’s hoped that the new premises will retain the joys of the Long Acre site, but will also add an outdoor space and a larger ‘back of store’ area for the rapidly growing online business’, said Vivien Godfrey, Chairman and Chief Executive of Stanfords.

‘Our customer base is very loyal and many people tell us they make a pilgrimage to Stanfords when in London, so we hope they will be delighted with our new premises’.

There’s further good news for enthusiasts, as a wealth of new material has been uncovered during the move, set to go on display for the first time from March next year in a six month long exhibition at the Mercers’ Covent Garden Estate, a few steps from Stanfords’ new home.

Including letters from Captain Scott and Florence Nightingale as well as items belonging to contemporary explores, the exhibition will also be free of charge.

See history buffs? Change doesn’t always have to mean dilution.

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Oh, student housing.

Two words that make us think fondly back on times of shared shower cubicles, worryingly stained carpets, and empty vodka bottles lined up on the windowsill.

But while all that might have felt like a quintessential part of going to university, our experience of student digs isn’t actually universal.

Around the world students depart the cosy nest of their parents’ house and head off to the homes that’ll serve them throughout the studies.

For some, that’ll mean grotty kitchens and a mouse problem. For others, a flat shared with like-minded people who’ll work on creating a world-changing app with you.

To capture all those differences, photographer Henny Boogert, as art of his project ImagesConnect, has traveled the world snapping photos of student housing in different countries.

Take a look at what he found.

Cuba

Antonio is studying electrical engineering and electronics at the University of Havana.

Cuba

Leticia studies acting, Claudia studies sound technics.

Nairobi, Kenya

Victor, 23, spends his spare time writing scripts and short stories.

Nairobi, Kenya

‘I’m hoping to be able to change people’s attitude on the issues of current media and improve the quality of future productions,’ says Beatrice.

‘I am still a student and planning to be a film maker in the documentary production in the near future mostly working with issues that affect informal settlement dwellers all over the world.’

Nairobi, Kenya

Vinnick is studying Mass Communication

Delft, Netherlands

Cathaline Meloen studies Technology at the Technological University in Delft.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

25-year-old Davy Limpens is studying medicine at UVA.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Jessie is studying Communication Science.

Delft, Netherlands

Moldova

Anna Oparina, Mihaela Solovei, and Ann Filatova.

Moldova

Alexander is studying History and Philology, Sergui is studying French.

Russia

Dariko is at university for European studies.

Cologne, Germany

‘I study Banking and Finance in Cologne since 2011,’ says Kai, 22. ‘I still live with my parents and I am happy that I still have a good relationship to them.

‘Apart from my studies I’m very interested in languages, I speak English and Spanish fluently, and I have furthermore advanced skills in French, Chinese, Russian and Bulgarian.

‘In my ”leisure time” I get involved in politics as a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany by supporting my party during election campaigns and monthly meetings.’

Mumbai, India

‘I want and I must become a top leader in Indian business before 2030,’ says 22-year-old Pankaj. ‘I’m interested in opening a travel agency and doing the business of petrol and estate.

‘Right now I finish my study and I am looking for foreign investors for my business. Feel free to contact me and I will send you my business plan.’

Mumbai, India

Lalnunpuia and Rossi are studying architecture.

Hong Kong

Douglas, Bosco, and Eric are all studying at Hong Kong University.

Italy

Allesandro Manco is a student from Naples. He lives with his parents, but often stays in Marta’s student housing.

Marta is studying Russian.

Italy

Caroline is in her third year of studying medicine at the University of Naples.

Thailand

Beon and Danai are studying masters in Christian studies at Payap University Chiang Mai.

La Paz, Bolivia

‘I live together with my mother and brother,’ says Daniela, who’s studying pharmaceutical technology. ‘This means I don’t have expenses at the campus of the university.’

Bolivia

Cinthia is studying Accounting.

Bolivia

‘My future profession will be as a nephrologist (kidney specialist),’ says Jacqueline.

Philippines

Bengielyn and Karina are both just 16 years old. They’re both studying Engineering.

Philippines

Studying English, 16-year-old Bryan is one of the youngest students at the Far Eastern University.

Philippines

Abigail, far left, is studying English.

Thailand

Both men are studying humanity at Maha Chulalongkorn, Buddhist University at the Wat Suan Dok grounds.

Photographer Henny is looking to explore more student housing. If you’d be keen, get in touch through the Images Connect website.

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Powerful critique of art world late capitalism? Perhaps. A slightly jarring, transparent publicity stunt? Equally plausible.

What’s certain is that last weekend’s latest addition to the Banksy myth kitty achieved the required goal, as even your nan must have heard about it by now.

The anonymous art bad boy apparently destroyed his own work as it went up for auction at Sotheby’s, with Girl With Balloon spontaneously shredded itself via a shredder built into its frame immediately after being sold at auction for £1,042,000.

Yet the story doesn’t end there, in the literal bin.

In fact, you’ll be able to see the mangled art work in the flesh, at least until tomorrow, up until 5pm. That’s right, what was once Girl With Balloon is now ‘Love is in the Bin, 2018’. And it’s being displayed at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries today, 13 October, and tomorrow, 14 October.

Just to clear up any confusion, it was revealed on Thursday that the sale will still go ahead, even with the work in radically altered form. Banksy’s authentication body, Pest Control, has given the work a certificate of authenticity, which is good of them.

Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s Head of Contemporary Art, Europe, said: ‘Banksy didn’t destroy an artwork in the auction, he created one.

‘Following his surprise intervention on the night, we are pleased to confirm the sale of the artist’s newly-titled Love is in the Bin, the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction.’

Wouldn’t have gotten away with it at GCSE though, would you?

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Oh dear, some potentially devastating news for the vegans among us.

Though it’s probably the best time in recorded history to be vegan, with a profusion of awareness and options, there’s no disguising that this is a big blow to all that hard earned progress.

That’s right: it turns out avocado might not be vegan after all.

At least, that’s according to a recent episode of BBC’s comedy quiz staple, QI.

It’s not just the ubiquitous supergreens that are under threat, with kiwi, butternut squash and melon also coming under the spotlight

Contestants were asked which of the items were vegan, before getting a shock when host Sandi Toksvig revealed that none of them were.

It turns out that bees are the root cause.

‘It’s the same reason as honey’, said Toksvig. ‘They can’t exist without bees, and bees are used in, let’s call it an “unnatural way”.

‘Because they are so difficult to cultivate naturally, all of these crops rely on bees which are placed on the back of trucks and taken very long distances across the country.

‘It’s migratory beekeeping and it’s unnatural use of animals and there are lots of foods that fall foul of this. Broccoli is a good example. Cherries, cucumbers, lettuce. Lots and lots of vegan things are actually not strictly vegan.’

Although it’s maybe not time to bin all that pricey avocado oil just yet.

The Vegan Society has come out against QI’s findings in pretty unequivocal terms.

‘Vegans avoid using animals as far as possible and practicable’, spokesperson Dominika Piasecka told Plant Based News.

‘We are aware that many forms of farming involve indirect harm to animals but it is unfortunately not possible or practicable to avoid the destruction of other animals in most farming at this time.’

Though that’s not the same as saying it’s a total pass.

‘However, we do not consider that just because it is not possible to avoid one hundred percent of the cruelty, suffering and exploitation to animals that we should not bother at all.

‘Vegans make a huge contribution to the reduction in suffering and death caused to animals and we would welcome any changes made to farming practices that support this.’

So there you have it – it might not be ideal, but there’s no need to cancel those credit card straining brunches any time soon.

Avocados aren’t vegan in the strictest of terms, but hardly anything is. Do your best, even if that means avo on toast.

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A dad had a disgusting surprise when he realised the Capri Sun meant for his three-year-old daughter had turned into solid lumps of mould.

Cameron Hardwick grabbed the juice drink, intended as a treat for his little girl, but realised it didn’t feel quite right. The pouch was unusually deflated, so he decided to investigate further.

When he cut into the packaging and poured the contents into a glass, he was appalled to find that the drink had turned into a solid, grey mass.

Not exactly what you want your child to be drinking.

Hardwick, from Indiana, took to Facebook to warn other parents of the potential health hazard of faulty packaging in Capri Sun drinks.

It turns out the package contained a tiny puncture, which allowed oxygen to penetrate and mould to grow inside the container.

The hole was discovered only after Capri Sun sent a representative to Hardwick’s house to find out exactly what had gone wrong.

In a statement, manufacturers Kraft Foods said: ‘Although rare, it is possible for mold to grow inside containers of preservative-free juice drinks if the pouch is punctured in any way on its journey from our facilities to people’s homes.

‘We understand it’s unpleasant, but the mold is naturally occurring, just like if you left an apple on your counter for too long and mold begins to grow.’

On its website, Capri Sun does acknowledge that this kind of thing has happened before, although they are keen to point out that it is very rare.

The site says, ‘That’s why we have invested millions of dollars in our packaging, quality and manufacturing processes to make our pouches even stronger and more resistant to air leaks.’

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When I was in my early teens, I couldn’t wait to be in my twenties.

I mean being a teenager was great and all, but I knew my twenties would be better. Maybe it had something to do with the thick magazines, the crisp book pages or the sleekly-designed websites that I consumed on a daily basis.

They all said the same thing. Your twenties were the time to find yourself, be amazing, make new friends and travel the world. And I couldn’t wait to get there.

Then I lost my mum when I was 20. She died of a heart attack.

I’m wary of calling her a strong woman, even though she was, because that’s not the first thing I think of when I think of my mum.

She was warm and funny, and in our three person household (my mum, my older sister and I), there was usually something to laugh about.

My mum was supportive, and I say this because after telling her I wanted to be a writer, she encouraged me rather than pushing me to do something else; something more ‘practical’ and stable. She never said no to my dreams.

Maybe I was an easy child but really I was the lucky one. I got to hear about her about boarding school life in Nigeria and tales from the diaspora here in London during the ’80s. She’d watch Nollywood movies alongside EastEnders and Once Upon A Time (and I’ll let it be known that she was the one who got me into Pretty Little Liars).

That was the kind of home she made it, the kind where you eat jollof rice on Christmas but a roast on Boxing Day. She had an easygoing nature about her that meant no topic was off limits, even if it meant having to listen to talk about relationships and sex. In her words, ‘better you hear it from me than from some boy’.

Losing my mum was sudden and devastating. There I was, a 20 year old on the cusp of the adulthood that I had anticipated so much and suddenly it meant nothing to me. My life had changed and inevitably my priorities had shifted.

For a while my early twenties weren’t about figuring life out, they were about keeping my head above water. I had to be on top of finances, my studies and making sure I got enough experience to get a job after uni. All the while I was grieving the loss of my mum.

I got an internship a few months after and worked part-time. I went back to uni that September and graduated as planned the next year. I wrote for a few online publications, and got paid for my writing for the first time ever.

Instead of finding myself, I had this unwavering sense of responsibility for most of my early twenties. I felt like I had to keep going. At least that way something positive would come out of this.

Already two years and few months have passed. I think about how I felt then and the things I wish someone had told me, and offer those words of advice now.

I’d stress that grief isn’t linear. It comes in waves, on some days the feeling of grief is stronger than on others.

Grief is personal and for the most part, is a process that takes months, if not years to heal. There is no right way to grieve, nor is there a time frame, but a thing I can guarantee is that one day you’ll wake up and realise that it doesn’t hurt as much.

There’s something to be said about the power of shared experiences and this is just as true if you have experienced loss.

A few months ago, I was listening to the podcast Trusting The Process and as usual, it featured a guest. Her story brought me to tears because it was so similar to mine, and for the first time, I felt what it was like to share that experience with someone who I wasn’t related to.

If you have the opportunity to speak, or even listen to someone who has gone through the same thing, take it. There’s nothing more comforting than hearing someone else put into words what you can’t articulate, whether that’s online or in person.

More than anything, just know that there will always be moments worth celebrating, even after you lose someone. There’s something about experiencing the death of a parent, or someone close to you that makes it almost impossible to appreciate personal achievements or happy moments.

I think that there’s this idea that celebration and mourning can’t co-exist, but they can. In the end, celebrating yourself doesn’t mean you can’t also honour someone’s memory.

Now I’m 23 and I guess I found myself without even trying. When you experience something as life changing as losing your mum, you can’t help but learn about yourself, other people and generally the world around you.

One thing I have learnt is that there is always time. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get to my twenties because of everything I thought it would be.

I’m still going to try all the things and travel to all the places I wanted to. This time though, I’m in no rush because I know that this decade and every one after will be as great as I want it to be. If you’re like me, I hope you know that too.

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Despite the meaning of the individual words, emotional masturbation has nothing to do with touching yourself.

Sorry to disappoint.

The term, coined in a chapter of the book ‘I Had a Nice Time and Other Lies: How to Find Love & Shit Like That’, refers to a form of behaviour where you obsessively fantasise about a person you have just started dating or been on just one date with.

According to the authors, Jordana Abraham, Samantha Fishbein and Aleen Kuperman, otherwise known as ‘The Betches’, it appears differently in men and women.

While men are likely to do this at the beginning of your romance, it’s more about having sex with you – as opposed to women, who it’s said will fantasise about everything from marriage to babies.

We don’t approve of the stereotyping, but for the sake of research, let’s continue.

Most of us have probably indulged in low-level emotional masturbation – because imagining a future with someone is natural – but the Beetches are specifically referring to a scenario in which you don’t actually know the other person well enough to do this.

For instance, you’ve been on two dates and he’s already ‘The One’ and you’re mentioning him to your friends over and over, convinced that this ‘relationship’ will be your best yet.

Even though you don’t know his surname, whether he’s a cat or a dog person and/or if he voted Leave or Remain (or whatever facts are most important to you personally).

This is several levels above regular dating excitement, to the point of delusion.

Ezgi, the in-house dating and relationship expert for the dating app, Once, tells Metro.co.uk that this is often a symptom of the person lacking something in their life.

‘Emotional masturbation happens when people step back and take a look at their lives and can see that there is a piece missing from the puzzle,’ Ezgi says.

‘For instance, girl meets guy or vice versa – and because they are conscious that they are missing out on something important in their life.

‘It is irrelevant that their date may not be right for them (based on what they are looking for) but it is the principle that for the moment, they have found the missing piece – and will get carried away and obsessively imagine a future life together.

‘This is a very real thing and I think it is more apparent in those in their early 30s, because society puts a lot of pressure on finding a partner, getting married and having kids.

‘Like with any other form of obsession it is not healthy. It is also not fair to put this amount of pressure and a high level of expectation onto the other person.’

Sarah, 32, has a friend who constantly emotionally masturbates, regardless of how long she has known the man.

‘One of my friends constantly seems to have a boyfriend. Her relationships are generally short-term and after meeting them she is totally obsessed with them.

‘I honestly can’t keep up sometimes, it’s like she’s not happy unless she’s with someone. I recently read The Betches’ theory on emotional masturbation and it just seemed to fit her perfectly.

‘After just one date with a guy, she will call me to talk about how much she loves him and how perfect he is.

‘No amount of trying to offer advice about taking it slow will work, and I’m often left to pick up the pieces when it doesn’t work out.

‘The theory made so much sense for my own shortcomings when dating men because I’m also guilty of thinking “my parents are going to love him” and how well his last name will go with mine.’

Contrary to the statement made by the Betches, men do emotionally masturbate too.

One woman, who wants to remain anonymous, tells us how earlier this year, she met a man from a dating app who gave her a bunch of red roses on the first date, and proposed on the second one.

Similar to emotional masturbation is pseudo-relationships, which can be described in two different ways. The first is when you’re dating someone who won’t commit to a relationship, yet all the while strings you along.

But there’s also the online kind of pseudo-connection, where you keep talking to a person for weeks or even months via a dating app or website, but never actually meet up. And often you’re emotionally attached to him or her (or to this connection) without knowing if there is a spark in real life.

‘Online dating and app dating can definitely add fuel to the fire of the dating fantasist,’ psychotherapist Hilda Burke tells Metro.co.uk.

‘We can feel like we already know our potential mate before we’ve even meet them – they may have already disclosed their political views, family background, the fact that they want 2.5 kids, a dog and a house in the suburbs and what their ideal breakfast is.

‘For many, these details may be enough to run with and add a “happily ever after” ending to their script.

‘Disappointments, however, frequently arise when the fantasist gets to meet the actual person – who ultimately may not have the right accent, height or resume to be cast for the part.’

Dating is hard work (what with the constant ghosting, freckling and cuffing season) so we understand the appeal to hold on to the good ones.

But if emotional masturbation resonates with you, it might be time to rethink your dating strategy. If nothing else, then for your own sanity.

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This might be our favourite advent calendar yet.

Because what beats delicious chocolate treats? Orgasms and sex play, that’s what.

Lovehoney has released a salaciously sexy adult advent calendar, packed with £250 worth of erotic goodies.

As you’d probably expect, the box itself is big, wide and heavy, with 24 windows to explore – each with a description of the item inside and tips on how to use it.

A nice touch, and useful for less experienced people who might feel nervous at the sight of some of the more unusual items.

We don’t want to spoil too much, but one example includes day six, described as a day of ‘anal exploration’.

Yup, there’s a butt plug inside, to be used with plenty of water and / or lubricant.

Other treats include a set of restraints (though it’ll take you several days to collect all parts, which we weren’t so keen on), nipple covers in the shape of stars, a blindfold, two thongs – one for him, one for her – and a set of sexy scratch cards.

The cards have four sections with challenges: action, location, time and bonus.

One of the perhaps less spoken about sex toys in general is the penis extender. lt’s a clear, rubbery contraption, shaped like a dildo and with textured ribs and a hole at the bottom of it.

You pop your penis inside, secure the loops around the balls and voilà.

There’s absolutely no shame in using this type of toy, but we’re concerned that the surprise holiday treat might cause issues among couples where penis size is already a delicate conversation.

Though for others, it could help them hit that extra sweet spot.

The content of the calendar might seem like a random selection, but Lovehoney has based its choices on research; a recent survey by the brand showed that 49% of participants have become more experimental in the bedroom, especially since the release of the 50 Shades of Grey book series and subsequent movies.

Spanking (73%) and tying each other up (72.5%) is popular, alongside blindfolds (72%) and role play (43%).

‘Our research shows that Christmas is the friskiest time of the year for couples,’ said Bonny Hall, Lovehoney’s product director.

‘We have carefully picked the very best products available from Lovehoney for people to enjoy in the build-up to the big day.’

Overall, the calendar, which costs £125, is a perfect gift for a partner but we wouldn’t limit it to those who are loved-up, as plenty of the toys work for solo sessions, too.

Or when you take a new lover (perhaps from one of the many holiday dinners and parties happening in December).

Go on, buy yourself an early Christmas present.

You can thank us later.

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A photographer has captured beautiful underwater images appearing to show new mothers shortly after they have given birth.

The photo series celebrates the undisturbed beauty of water births, showing mothers and babies still connected by the umbilical cord. The photographer, Natalie Lennard, uses prosthetic babies in her shoots to create the effect.

The images below contain female nudity.

It was tragedy that inspired such breathtaking images. Natalie was 32-weeks pregnant when doctors told her that her baby had no chance of survival.

The 32-year-old from Worthing, bravely continued with her original plan to have a home birth, despite knowing that there was no hope. Natalie said she stuck with her plan in order to give her baby a peaceful end to his life.

Doctors told Natalie that the baby growing inside her had developed the fatal condition Potter’s syndrome. This meant that his kidneys hadn’t developed, and he would be unable to survive.

In the wake of this harrowing experience, Natalie was inspired to create her beautiful series, Aquadural, to celebrate the natural birthing process.

Ever since deciding to give birth at home, the idea of natural birthing has been really important to Natalie.

‘We went on to have a healthy daughter in 2015, also born at home,’ explains Natalie. ‘Both of my births were very much “undisturbed” and I wanted to use that essence to share universally for women in all situations of birth.

‘Many women birth in pools for the pain relief, mobility and autonomy it gives them in labour.

‘Some people may not know that the baby can be safely born into the water as they already have been living submerged in amniotic fluid, and do not inhale for the first time until they reach the air.’

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A London bar is throwing a whole festival to celebrate hedgehogs.

You might not have realised but prickly little creates are endangered – especially in London.

Apparently we’ve lost a third of our hedgehog population in the last 10 years.

So a Hackney pub is throwing the event to try to raise awareness and cash to help.

The event will take place on 17 November at the Sebright Arms and will feature local bands, poetry readings, face painting and even a hedgehog-themed drink menu.

On their GoFundMe page, they explained: ‘Hedgehogs hold a special place in the hearts and imagination of children and adults alike. Hedgehogs are cherished as one of the special species that give character to our lovely isles’ local fauna. Sadly, the hedgehog population is declining rapidly, with close to half the population wiped out over the past 15 years and on the decline at a rate of 5% yearly. The situation is dire but we don’t have to see our prickled friends disappear.’

Funds from the event will be donated to Hedgehog Street – a joint campaign by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

The campaign aims to help people ‘understand hedgehogs, why they are declining, and how easy it is to help them.’

Music, drinks and helping hedgehogs – what more could you what?

You can follow the event on Instagram @Hedgefest.

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Princess Eugenie made the brave decision to proudly display her spinal scar on her wedding day, with a dress design that exposed her back.

The newly-married royal had major surgery on her back as a child to treat scoliosis – a potentially debilitating spinal condition.

Princess Eugenie’s surgery was 16 years ago, but she thought it was important not to hide her scar on her wedding day.

‘It’s a lovely way to honour the people who looked after me and a way of standing up for young people who also go through this,’ the Princess told ITV’s This Morning.

‘I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that.’

People with similar scars were inspired by the Princess’s bold decision, and felt that it was a powerful message about body positivity.

Mel Pollard’s five-year-old daughter Connie was left with a scar on her back after a procedure to fix a tethered spinal cord when she was just 14 months old.

Mel says she can’t wait to show her daughter the pictures.

‘Her scar doesn’t bother her at the moment as she is so young, but I worry about as she gets older she might get self-conscious about it,’ Mel tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Being able to show her now that a real life princess has a scar on her back just like her means she can see it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and that she should wear her scar with pride.’

Spinal surgery can be a traumatic experience, and the procedure to correct scoliosis is particularly brutal.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is the most common form of the condition. For people with scoliosis, the decision over whether to have surgery is often a tough one.

A surgeon will usually analyse the severity of the curve of the spine, and balance that against how much more the individual is likely to grow. If they have finished growing then it reduces the chance that the curve will get worse as they get bigger.

For some people, surgery helps to reduce the pain, but for most, the aim of the operation is to straighten the spine and reduce the visible appearance of scoliosis.

Marc Scott has a similar condition called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, which is a developmental disorder of the spine.

It leads to abnormal growth on the upper back, and can cause the vertebrae in the spine to form a distinct wedge shape.

Marc says Eugenie’s decision was empowering and encouraged him to share his own surgery story.

‘I was diagnosed at 13 and it was a bit chaotic after that. At my first appointment they said I needed surgery now so I was terrified,’ Marc explains.

‘I didn’t end up having surgery then – instead I followed special exercises. Supposedly the curvature wouldn’t get worse when I stopped growing – but it did.

‘By age 21, it was so bad that the only option left was surgery. I suffered crippling anxiety in the build up to the operation.

‘It took nine hours, and the recovery was the hardest thing I have ever had to battle.

‘I used to hate the way I looked, as my curvature was really noticeable. I used to get bullied because of it in my teenage years and early adult life.

‘Surgery has changed my life for the better. Now I walk around with confidence and I am mostly pain-free, I just get the odd twinge every now and then.’

Marc thinks it’s really important for high-profile people like Eugenie to share their stories and raise awareness of spinal conditions.

‘I felt like it was just really empowering. With her sharing her story and looking so beautiful in her dress, it made me proud of my scar too.

‘I think if you help just one person by sharing your story, then it is a job well done.’

Others took to Twitter to show how inspired they had been by seeing Eugenie’s scar on display.

But while it was seen as a positive move for many, some people with scoliosis are worried that Eugenie’s scar doesn’t give the full picture of the condition.

Many who develop scoliosis are unable to have surgery to correct their spines because the risks are too high – which can lead to lifelong complications and disability.

Experts warn that surgery complications can include nerve damage, chronic pain, infection, bleeding and even quadriplegia.

Becky Dann is keen to ensure that people like her, who live with the effects of uncorrected scoliosis, have their stories heard too.

‘My scoliosis has meant that I lost movement in my legs, I spent most of my childhood in a wheelchair,’ explains Becky. ‘Now I can walk with a crutch but not far and I still need a wheelchair.

‘A lot of us have to wear body braces from a young age. As I got older my spine collapsed and, because I couldn’t have any more operations, my body twisted and nerves got trapped, meaning my legs stopped working.

‘I managed to regain movement and feeling but my spine is so sensitive now that if it’s knocked it can cause instant paralysis and I’m never sure how long it will last.’

For Becky, the possible complications of surgery were just too dangerous to risk.

‘To have it fixed would have risked death, so it’s not a risk I was willing to take.

‘Its too much trauma for the body as they basically have to reconstruct the spine. There was a chance with me that I’d hemorrhage.

‘It’s not the case for all people who have scoliosis, it very much depends on the severity of it, which is why so many people do have it fixed. It’s not a risk for them.

‘Scoliosis affects a lot of people and not everyone can have it fixed. Some of us spend our childhoods being called names like “hunchback of notre dame” and it’s awful.

‘For those who can’t have it fixed, it causes problems with lungs and unfortunately for some of us, it shortens our life span.

‘But we get on with our lives because we’re normal people living normal lives, just a bit differently.’

Becky did, however, think it was important and positive for Eugenie to show off her surgery scar.

‘I loved the fact Eugenie showed her scar, I felt like it was empowering for a lot of people who also have scoliosis.

‘There are a lot of people fighting for scoliosis to be checked for more because it’s becoming so common, so I hope the light she’s shared on it raises more awareness.’

According to the Scoliosis Association, there are limited treatment options to correct the condition.

‘At the moment spinal surgery is the only proven way of treating scoliosis and correcting spinal curvature, except in the case of very young children and some types of smaller curves, where bracing or casting can be useful,’ it says on their website.

‘Treatments such as physiotherapy and exercise routines can help with pain, and improve posture and flexibility but will not reduce the size of a curve or slow down worsening of the curve.’

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If, like me, you’ve ever broken a major bone, you’ve probably spent a few days recovering in hospital as an in-patient.

Or if you have a long-term illness that causes frequent overnight visits or even month-long periods in hospital.

Once visiting hours have ended and you’re tired of reading or watching movies, the thought enters your mind – maybe an orgasm will help take your mind off the situation (and pain).

But is it OK to masturbate while you’re a patient in hospital?

Or is it a grey zone; frowned upon, but not against the rules – kind of like joining the mile high club? Although if we’re getting technical, this one actually depends on which aircraft you’re flying with and where it’s registered.

This is not a personal confession of me getting frisky with myself.

Though I will confess I did once fool around with an ex-boyfriend in a hospital toilet. But it was my own private bathroom, and acted as a distraction from the substantial dog bite I had on my lip (all fixed now and now barely noticeable).

Charlie*, 30, stayed in hospital for a few nights after a skateboarding accident that left him with some minor internal injuries.

‘I was only in hospital for a short while, but had my own room,’ he tells us.

‘Only my TV was broken and I was so high on morphine that I couldn’t pay attention to what I was reading.

‘So I pulled out my dick and started playing with it.

‘I was worried someone might come in, so I kept pausing and listening for odd sounds. Maybe the drugs were making me paranoid. However, it made quite a mess and I cleaned it up just in time (moments before the nurse came in to check on me).

‘The following time I slowly made my way to the bathroom and just did it there.’

A quick online search reveals even more on hospital masturbation, including a Reddit thread where people share tips on how to masturbate in a hospital bed.

One user suggests asking for a pair of hospital socks and extra blankets, as well as nifty advice on how to avoid getting caught.

The user said: ‘Yank the call light out of the wall twice, apologise and say it was an accident each time. You won’t be bothered for at least one hour. Wrap discarded sock in blanket, throw it on the floor. They will put on gloves before picking it up.’

At least it’s in a clinically sterile area, right?

‘I will say this, if you’re on a cardiac monitor, don’t do it, because it’ll look like you’re having life-threatening arrhythmia and bring half the hospital in on you,’ said another.

While there’s the how to part to figure out, we’re still left wondering if it’s OK to have a ménage à moi while in hospital.

Livvy, who has been a doctor for eight years, became an unofficial ‘masturbation ambassador’ for a patient who was getting it on with himself so frequently that he was disturbing the nurses and doctors looking after his care.

‘As the patient had such complex discharge needs, he remained in hospital for several weeks when he was essentially healthy, with everyday needs and desires,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.

‘After much discussion and ultimately unsuccessful attempts to stop him (as he had been caught too often) it was agreed that he was allowed time to ‘do himself’ when needed.

‘More importantly to me, this incident changed the way many of the staff talked about masturbating, moving away from disgust to acceptance and empathy.

‘Although I am uncertain of the legality of it, masturbation in hospital does skirt close to many moral boundaries – the chances of being seen are just much higher in an open ward or when staff may check in on you with little warning.

‘In all the discussion of holistic care, this aspect is conveniently forgotten too often. Pleasure can be so healing, emotionally and physically, but until we as a society are more comfortable discussing and expressing our sexuality, I fear this will remain a sordid topic, discussed in hushed whispers and largely ignored.’

Sex writer and educator Alix Fox also touches on the beneficial side of masturbation, and tells Metro.co.uk that masturbation while recovering can be good for you, if you are in for a long stay.

‘I’ve spoken to people who are hospitalised long-term, e.g. with spinal cord damage, whom nurses have discreetly helped to have private time with their partners to be sexual together on wards,’ Fox said.

‘I also know patients with spinal damage who are encouraged to masturbate in order to get used to how their genitals feel if they’ve been affected by nerve damage, or to try an encourage erections if damage has rendered this difficult.’

From what we gather, it’s OK to masturbate while you’re an in-patient. Just be respectful and do it in a private room or toilet.

But as a friendly gesture to the nurses who are looking after you, skip the extra socks and use paper towels to clean yourself up instead.

We requested comment from the NHS but they declined. Some hospitals have their own policies and it’s better to check with hospital trusts.

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We’ve all dreamt of long, luxurious locks, but would you want them dangling off your nails?

One nail salon has created just that – a ‘Rapunzel’ manicure, which sees your talons adorned with hair and styled into curls – and we’re not sure how we feel about it.

The Russian salon is known for creating controversial looks that have divided opinion, but this one may be the most unsettling yet.

They even offer crystal gem extras, if you want a touch of sparkle with your hairy style.

As well as raising a million practical questions (how do you type? Will they get knotty? Won’t there be hairs in all your food?), some think this hair-raising look is the stuff of nightmares.

One horrified Instagram user wrote: ‘no, this is horrible.’ Another commented: ‘they make me sick.’

But while some people think the style is stomach-churning, perhaps it could be a good option for Halloween.

The salon, Nail Sunny, based in Moscow, suggested that the look could be the perfect creepy accessory to make your Halloween costume stand out.

‘Halloween Hairstyle nails – yay or nay?’ they wrote on social media. By the looks of the comments it seems that most people have fallen firmly in the ‘nay’ category.

But it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out at the end of the month to see if anyone rocks up to your Halloween party with any hairy hand adornments.

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A photographer has published a beautiful photo series capturing the diverse and vibrant people who live in Brixton.

Charlie Clift took the powerful pictures to show off the eclectic energy that pervades the south London district.

Featuring portraits of a variety of people, looking straight down the lens, the collection has been on display at the Pop Brixton gallery this autumn.

Brixton has faced significant change over the last few decades, mostly due to the effects of gentrification.

Many residents who have lived there for generations have commented on the speed of change, and lamented the displacement of families who can no longer afford to live in the area.

Clift’s photography is a celebration of everything that Brixton has to offer, from diverse cultures and ethnic minorities, to a wide variety of different food, music and style.

He describes going to Brixton as a sensory overload, ‘People rush past each other, play music, shout, preach, dance, talk on their phones, take selfies, go shopping, argue and love,’ he says on his website.

Clift’s other photography projects include the ‘Let’s Talk’ mental health campaign.

The project sees celebrities, including Jordan Stephens and Sue Perkins, who have experienced mental health problems in the past, write their most difficult thoughts on their faces. The aim was to to encourage people to talk about mental health and remove the stigma.

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Winter is coming and we’re ready for plunging temperatures.

It’s time to pick up a winter coat, pull on your boots and find the perfect cosy scarf.

But have you noticed that no matter how many layers you put on, your nose is still ice-cold?

Apparently there are plenty of explanations.

And there might even be the perfect solution – this knitted nose warmer.

Why is my nose so cold?

When your temperature falls, the body directs blood away from extremities and towards your vital organs to keep them warm and functioning properly.

And the reduced blood flow makes them feel colder.

But your frozen nose could also be a sign you are working too hard.

A study by researchers at the University of Nottingham earlier this year revealed that the temperature of your face can be affected by your mental workload.

According to the research, your nose gets colder as you get more focused on a task.

Using tiny non-invasive thermal camera, they were able to monitor the correlation.

The scientists say that your body diverts blood flow from your face to your brain to cope with the mental demand.

Dr Alastair Campbell Ritchie of the Bioengineering Research Group, said:’We expected that mental demands on an operator would result in physiological changes, but the direct correlation between the workload and the skin temperature was very impressive, and counter-intuitive – we were not expecting to see the face getting colder. With this accurate way to estimate workload, we can develop methods that will assist the operator at times of maximum stress.’

Should I be worried?

A cold nose could mean you are more likely to get ill. Another study in 2011 showed that germs are much happier in a cold nose.

The team at Yale university in the U.S. found that the cold virus reproduces faster when the temperature in the nose dipped below 37oC – core body temperature. At 33oC, key immune system proteins were impaired and the virus could spread much faster.

Sensitivity to the cold could also be a sign of an under active thyroid or Raynauld’s disease – which is causes by excessive narrowing of blood vessels and results in little or no blood flow in the extremities.

If you display any of the other symptoms or if you have a constantly cold nose, you should speak to your doctor.

What can I do about it?

If you can’t bare your shivering snout any longer and you don’t fancy a full balaclava, you can try picking up a nose warmer.

The tiny knitted squares with strings attached cover up your nose to keep it nice and cosy.

You can pick-up the winter accessory from this Sheffield-based company or from Etsy or Ebay.

According to their website, the idea was born when their founder realised that she wasn’t the only one with this problem.

Alternatively, you can try wrapping your scarf around your face.

It’s also important to keep the rest of your body as warm as possible to stop blood being directed away from the extremities.

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What do Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, Muse, Bastille and McFly have in common?

They’ve all played the Royal Albert Hall’s Henry Willis organ, of course!

Also known as ‘The Voice of Jupiter’, it was the largest instrument in the world when it was unveiled 146 years ago.

Seventy feet tall and 65 feet wide, the organ is built over four floors and contains no fewer than 9,999 pipes, which if laid end to end, would span approximately nine miles.

I have been tuning the organ at the Royal Albert Hall for the past 14 years.

My career began when I took an apprenticeship with an organ master 45 years ago.

Today, an organ tuner might expect to see a starting salary of between £25k and £35k depending on their experience.

And contrary to what you might think, many organ tuners don’t actually play the instrument – although I am an organ player myself, having studied with Gordon Phillips nearly 50 years ago.

Generally, I spend around four hours tuning in a single session, once every two to three weeks.

There are always two of us there for the tuning and maintenance visits. My assistant plays the notes at the organ console while I attend to the pipes.

Given there is always so much going on at the Hall, I might only get my four hour slot from early in the morning or starting at 11 at night, but you soon get used to the irregular hours.

This is especially the case during the BBC Proms season as there are rehearsals and performances throughout the day.

Having done it for such a long time, I’m quite used to being on my own among the pipes though.

When dealing with in excess of 9,000 pipes, it’s impossible to tune them all in one go. A complete tune-through would take about 50 hours. I only really get a chance to do this once a year when Cirque du Soleil is on in January and February.

The reed pipes, which create sound through a vibrating brass strip, are the most sensitive, so they tend to be my first port of call on a regular tuning session.

Sometimes a weighted load will become unstuck from a reed tongue, and the note goes way off its proper pitch – but these things, though a rare occurrence, happen.

If it happens in a rehearsal, there is often time to fix it; if it’s in a performance then that’s life!

Most of the time, I am proud to hear it sound so well. This is of course down to the performer who is playing the music, but I have been part of it.

On the whole, the organ remains very well in tune with itself, although hot weather can change that.

In the summers of 2005 and 2006, the pitch of the organ rose significantly, which alarmed a few members of the orchestra. The recent hot weather has also caused some of the pipes to go sharp, so I was probably one of the few people in London hoping that the heat wave passed soon.

Despite having such an unusual job, there hasn’t been any weird remarks about it.

The history of the organ never ceases to amaze me.

When it was first built, a new steam engine needed to be invented just to power it, while in 1914 it was damaged by flooding caused by the Suffragettes.

The 1960s saw a new generation of rock stars starting to use the organ, playing music that would have been considered sacrilege when it was first built, with Frank Zappa calling it ‘mighty and majestic’.

Between 2002 and 2004, the organ didn’t play a note as it was fully refurbished at a cost of £1.5m,

Legend has it that the ghost of Father Henry Willis, the man who built the organ, still haunts it at night.

When the organ was being rebuilt in the 1920s, the ghost was said to have visited the tuner and said ‘they shan’t take my organ from me!’ – although I can’t say that I’ve come across him so far.

The best part of the job is seeing the organ in full flow during a performance in the auditorium. I still never cease to be amazed at the noise it can create, especially when you have a world class player like Oliver Latry at the keys.

My favourite pieces are the Concert Overture in C minor by Alfred Hollins, along with the Edwin Lemare transcriptions from Wagner operas, which were written with a concert organ like the Albert Hall in mind.

For anyone hoping to see the organ in the coming months, it’ll be heavily used in the Hall’s Christmas schedule, including a performance of Handel’s Messiah, or for those looking for an opportunity to introduce children to classical music, My Christmas Orchestral Adventure.

(Top picture: Tom Price for Metro.co.uk)

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Royal bride Princess Eugenie didn’t just have one wedding dress. Like Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton before her, she had a different dress for the evening reception.

Eugenie’s dress was designed by Zac Posen and was inspired by the ‘blush of an English rose’.

The silk that the dress is made from is apparently made at a British silk mill, and the dress features pleating reminiscent of famous couturier Madame de Gres.

Eugenie’s dress blew lots of us commoners away, with people commenting on the photo that it was even more dress, and that she’s the best dressed royal bride of recent years.

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Welcome to Modern Etiquette, a brand new series where we ask the pressing questions of 2018.

This week, we’re addressing a slightly sticky quandary: what to do when you need to tell someone that you’ve got an STI.

We can all agree that it’s a conversation that we would rather not have. It’s bad enough when you give the person who sits next to you at work a nasty cold. Having to acknowledge that you might pass on something a little more intimate isn’t always easy.

That said, you do need to have the conversation. We hate to be boring, but some STIs like chlamydia are super easy to treat with anitbiotics, but can cause all sorts of other problems (hello Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and infertility) if left untreated.

So, let’s say you’ve just found out that you’ve got an STI. What next?

Firstly, I’m sorry that happened, you’re probably having a rough day. Please remember that this doesn’t make you dirty or bad. It happens to a lot of people, and it’s not a big deal.

Secondly, yes, you do need to tell the people you’re sleeping with and have slept with since your most recent STI check.

There are lots of ways to go about telling someone the news.

If you’re very grown up, a face to face coffee or phone call is tasteful, respectful and means that they can ask you any questions that they might have. However, lots of us would literally rather die than meet up with someone we once slept with for a Flat White and a chat about Gonorrhea.

Anonymous tip offs are also a perfectly reasonable way to tell someone they need a check up. This website will send anyone you like an anonymous email warning them that they need to get checked. Please do not use this website to torture your friends.

Most STI’s are easy enough to get rid of. But if you’ve got a chronic illness (aka, an illness that can be treated and managed but not cured) you’re in a trickier situation. HIV, herpes and hepatitis fall under this banner. Lola, 26, who has the HSV-2 virus (herpes) explains that this isn’t as bad as you’d think:

‘I usually wait a couple of dates until I tell someone that I have HSV-2’ she explains, ‘I think it’s good for someone to get to know me a bit before they hear it, because even though two thirds of the world’s population under the age of 50 carries the virus, people can still be quite judgemental.’

It’s not all bad, though. Lola goes on to explain: ‘Almost everyone I’ve told has been great about it, and once they do some research into how many people already carry the virus, and how transmission can be limited, they don’t seem too bothered. When I found out I had it I thought it was the end of my sex life, but it really hasn’t been a problem.’

That’s the thing about STIs, they might sound huge and scary at first, but the reality is, it’s just like catching any other illness. It might be annoying or uncomfortable, but it’s not the end of the world. And luckily we live in a world where STIs can be treated or at the very least, managed.

Modern Etiquette is a weekly series. Rather than telling you what to do with a salad crescent or which shoes are most appropriate for Ascot, we’ll be working out how to navigate shared houses, drugs, ex-boyfriends and that moment when you send the screenshot of the person you’re bitching about to them. 

Next week, we’ll be asking how you tell your hairdresser that they’ve done a sh*t job. 

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