If you are about to enter a new relationship or are worried about a sexual encounter we will recommend the best tests to reassure you. The extent of screening will depend on your sexual history and lifestyle and may include tests for local infections such as Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, nsu, bacterial infections, micoplasma, ureaplasma and blood borne diseases such as HIV, syphilis and hepatitis.
Treatment is available at the first visit while waiting for any test results to come back. Our clinics are able to perform almost all tests on urine if you do not wish to have swabs and on saliva if you do not want to have blood tests. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach will be discussed fully at the consultation.
It's a fact of life that if you're sexually active then you run the risk of contracting an STI (sexually transmitted infection). You can take steps to minimise the risk, of course, by using condoms every time, but even so there are no guarantees.
If you think you may have come into contact with an STI, the worst thing you can do is pretend it hasn't happened. Untreated STIs can lead to infertility, blindness and damage to the body's vital organs. In some cases, it can be fatal.
So it's vital that if you think you may have an STI you get yourself checked out. Visiting a clinic can be a daunting experience. What you have to remember is that although it's the first time you've ever had to visit somewhere like this, you're probably the millionth person through the door. No matter how embarrassing you think your symptoms are, nothing is going to surprise the professionals who work there.
A big concern for many people is the issue of confidentiality. Your Private Doctor is aware of this, and takes every step to protect your privacy. All material relating to your visit is totally confidential and will never be made available to anybody who shouldn't see it. If you'd prefer, you don't even have to give your name.
And what about the tests they offer? After discussing your sexual history we will probably recommend a full Sexual Health Screening. For this, a small amount of blood will be taken and, depending on your history, swabs will be taken from your mouth, genitals and/ or anus.
These samples will be sent away for analysis and tested for all STIs including HIV. You may get the results for certain tests after a short wait. Alternatively, you will be asked to book a follow up appointment, at which you will be given the test results. In the event that your test results are positive you will need to be told what to do next. We'll answer and question syou have and provide detail treatments and support, in both the short term and, if necessary, the long term.
Some information compiled from TheSite.org.
