How to be sure of my sexual health? Here is a general guide to sexual health.
Worried about your sexual health? Here is a short guide made by our editors to simplify your life!
Am I at risk?
Anyone who is sexually active can be at risk of contracting an STI if they have unprotected sex. However, the use of condoms is extremely effective in protecting against STIs. However, if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex, there is a risk of contracting or transmitting STIs.
The STIs that can be transmitted during oral sex are:
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- Chlamydia
- Herpes
- Genital warts
- Gonorrhoea
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis A, B, C
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STIs that can be transmitted during penetrative sex include:
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- Chlamydia
- Genital herpes
- Genital warts
- Gonorrhoea
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis C
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When should I have a sexual health check-up?
Testing and treatment for STIs is always confidential and you can go to a specialist STI clinic whether or not you have symptoms.
It is recommended that you have a sexual health check-up at least once a year, but a check-up is also necessary in the following cases:
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- If you have a new sexual partner
- If you have started to notice certain symptoms unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus bumps, blisters or warts around the genitals unusual vaginal bleeding
- If you have a number of sexual partners
- If you have had sex with someone who has many partners
- If you have had sex without a condom
- If you have had sex with a broken condom
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See what tests are available here:
Centre of Excellence for Sexual Health
When should I get sexual health check?
Getting tested and treated for STIs is always confidential, and you can go to anSTI clinic regardless of whether you have STI symptoms or not.
Beware that testing too early may be useless. Your body needs time to produce antibodies against the disease (incubation period), so the test may be negative even if you are positive. Symptoms of an STI can sometimes take months or years to appear after infection.
Here is a list of STI incubation periods for your reference:
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What is it like to go to a sexual health clinic?
You may feel scared or embarrassed to go to a sexual health clinic for the first time! But it doesn’t have to be. The staff know why you are there, are very understanding and will try to make you feel comfortable.
Step 1- You will be asked for your contact information first. Your name and contact details will be kept confidential.
Step 2- You will be asked a few questions about your sex life, for example
when you last had sex
whether you have had unprotected sex
whether you have had any symptoms.
Step 3- You will be tested for STIs
The doctor or nurse will tell you what tests you need.
Step 4- The results and what to do will be explained to you during a follow-up appointment.
What is it like to get tested with MeditSimple?
We are working with the largest and most realiable laboratory in the UK (TDL). We can test you for all Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
We have made it easy for you! Only step 3 needs to be done and step 4 only if the results are abnormal.
It is very easy to get tested:
1- You book an appointment online
2- A referral form or prescription is created for you if you do not have one (free)
3- You go to the lab for sample taking
4- You receive a secure email when results are ready. If everything is OK, that’s it! If not, you will be invited by one of our doctors to a video chat to get a prescription and some advice (bw £20 and £55).
Our laboratory can test for all sexually transmitted diseases. Our rapid sexual health screening tests can also provide you with results within 4 hours. All results will be shared with you in confidence, and a video consultation with a doctor will be offered if the results are abnormal.
Would you like to make an appointment? It’s here:
Centre of Excellence for Sexual Health
Bibliography
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/condom-tips/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/sex-activities-and-risk/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/where-can-i-get-sexual-health-advice-now/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/visiting-an-sti-clinic/
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/sexual-health/how-soon-do-sti-symptoms-appear/
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-for-std-to-show-up#dormant-st-ds
