Contraception advice and emergency contraception
About Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are passed from one person to another through sex or genital contact. STIs can affect people regardless of gender identity and of any age.
Many people found to have an STI have no symptoms at all. Other people may have some of the following symptoms:
- A smelly, itchy or unusual discharge from the penis, vagina or bottom
- Pain when going to the toilet to pass urine
- Pain when having sex
- Lumps, sores and growths around the genitals or in and around the bottom
- Skin rashes around the genitals
If you are concerned about STIs but don't have any symptoms, please visit SH:24 for an online test.
If you think you have thrush or BV, you can attend your local pharmacy for treatment.
The most common sexually transmitted infections
The most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK include:
| Chlamydia | Genital warts | Genital herpes | Gonorrhoea |
| Syphilis | HIV | Trichomoniasis | Pubic lice |
| Scabies | Balanitis | Non-specific urethritis | Hepatitis A |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis C |
All patients are offered tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis. We may offer additional tests depending on your symptoms. We can also diagnose some conditions like warts by examining your skin in clinic.
When to come for a test
If you have any symptoms or know you have been in contact with someone who has an infection, please make an appointment as soon as you can. Sexual infections can take different amounts of time to show up on our tests - we may ask you to return to repeat your tests to make sure you receive accurate results. If you are concerned about STIs but don't have any symptoms, please visit SH:24 to order an online test.
About our clinics and what to expect
We do not provide walk-in services. All patients requiring advice will undergo a full clinical triage by telephone with a qualified staff member in a timescale appropriate to their need. Those requiring emergency contraception should contact the central booking line in the first instance to seek advice via community pharmacies. You can find out about what to expect when you come into our clinics below.
When you arrive, please go to reception to let us know you are here. New patients will be asked to complete some registration documents.
One of our team will take you into a clinic room and check your contact details. We will ask you some brief questions to assess which member of our staff can meet your needs. You will then either be seen by one of our nurses or our doctors.
We will ask some questions about any symptoms you may have and about your general health. Then we will discuss which tests you require. If we need to examine you, we will explain how this is done and will give you privacy to get changed. None of our tests are painful, but a few people find some tests slightly uncomfortable. An examination usually takes less than 10 minutes. If you are worried about having any of our tests please speak to your nurse or doctor. You can ask for a chaperone (someone else from the clinic) to be present or request which gender of staff you see. If you would prefer to see a male or female member of staff, please try to let us know when you make your appointment as this helps us to ensure we are able to meet your needs when you attend.
Your test results
We are able to process some tests whilst you wait - you will receive these results before you go home. Most tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV are sent away for analysis. If you are able to give us your mobile phone number, we will send you the results by text message. You should receive your results within 14 days.
If you need treatment
We are able to diagnose and treat many conditions during your appointment. Our clinics stock the most common treatments and we try to give you what you need whilst you are with us. Our treatments are completely free and you do not need to take a prescription to a pharmacy. If we are sending your tests away for analysis and the results show you need treatment, we will contact you and arrange for you to get your medication.
If you have an STI, your sexual partners may also need treatment. We will discuss how we can help to arrange this, whether you are able to do this on your own or if you would like us to support.
Clinic confidentiality
All of our clinics offer a confidential service, which means that your records can only be read by members of our team and cannot be accessed by other people who work for the NHS, such as your GP. It helps us if you can use your real date of birth and mobile number so we can identify you and get in touch if we need to.
In the majority of cases, nobody else will know you have attended our clinic. However, your safety is our primary concern and if you were to tell us something that made us worried about your safety, we may involve other professionals in your care. We will tell you if this is required and we will explain what we plan to do.
In some cases, the nature of your symptoms may mean that you need advice from another medical department, for example Urology or Gynaecology. In these cases we may ask your permission to write to your GP so we can ensure you get the care you need.
