Welcome to STI Clinic in London

Sexually transmitted infections or STIs are typically spread when you have sexual contact with an infected person. These infections are usually passed from one person to the other at the time of anal, oral or vaginal sex and skin-to-skin contact. STIs may also occur due to an infection of certain types of bacteria that include – chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis or viruses such as – hepatitis B, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV) and HIV.

Almost 20 million people in the United Kingdom get an STI each year. These infections mainly affect men and women of all backgrounds and economic levels. However, half of the new infections occur among young people who are in the age group of 15 to 24 years.

Women often have serious health problems from STIs when compared to men:

If chlamydia and gonorrhea are not treated on time, then this increases the chances of developing severe pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy that can be life-threatening. Chlamydia and gonorrhea may even lead to infertility.

If pregnant women do not treat syphilis on time, then this can be the reason for death of infants.

Women have higher risk than men at the time of unprotected vaginal sex. protected anal sex puts women at greater risk for getting an STI than unprotected vaginal sex.

STI can lead to various health problems for women. Certain types of untreated STIs may cause:

• Problems for getting pregnant or permanent infertility
• Problems during pregnancy and health problems for unborn baby
• Organ damage
• Infection in other parts of the body
• Certain kinds of cancer such as cervical cancer
• Death

Some kinds of STIs make it easy for you to get HIV if you come in close contact with it.

You may get tested for STDs at different STD Clinic near you, sexual health clinics or by attending your family doctor. In London some people prefer private walk in clinic for STD check where experienced doctors in a non-judgmental environment will see them.

The right time to test for STIs is when:

• You have a new sex partner(s).
• You or your partners have other sexual partners
• It is more than three to six months since your last test.
• You notice some symptoms.
• You have sex with someone who already has an STI.

Some signs and symptoms that indicate an STI are the following:

• Bumps or sores on the genitals or in the rectal or oral area
• Burning or painful urination
• Discharge from the penis
• Odd-smelling or unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding
• Pain during sexual intercourse

Some STIs have symptoms such as itchy bumps, unusual discharge, and pain when you urinate, which can indicate that something is wrong. But, there are many sexually transmitted infections that do not have any symptoms. So, though you may not notice anything different, you could still have a transmissible infection.

The testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia usually requires a urine sample or a self-taken swab for a woman – sometimes both. Testing for HIV and syphilis requires a blood sample. Testing for herpes isn't usually done until sores are seen on your anus or genitals. In this case, a swab will be taken. You can get tested for the infections mentioned above at your local STI clinics in London.

The answer to this question is yes. Mostly, when you are on your period, this will not affect the test results or your overall experience. However, there are some examples when you would like to rethink about getting tested for STDs while being on your period.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you need to get tested for STIs. They can tell what tests you may need to perform and how they are done. The testing for STIs is also known as STI screening.

Getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) must be confidential. Most infections can be treated. You may visit private sexual health (GUM) clinic in London to get STI testing and treatment services. Our walk in service allows you to fix an appointment instant, which ensures you do not have to wait for several days to see your doctor.

There is a very thin line difference between the two and that difference is completely technical. An STI (sexually transmitted infection) is an infection and when the infection develops into a disease in its matured stages, it is called an STD or sexually transmitted disease.

Getting tested for STIs can be easy and quick. Depending on what you are testing for, your health care provider may take a blood sample or a swab and ask you to provide a urine sample.

• To test for chlamydia – Swab or urine sample
• To test for gonorrhea – Swab or urine sample
• To test for HIV – Blood test
• To test for genital herpes with symptoms – Swab and blood test
• Genital Herpes with symptoms - Swab and blood
• To test for syphilis – Blood test or swab from chancre
• To test for trichomoniasis – Physical examination, sample of discharge or swab of the infected area
• To test for HPV or genital warts – Swab and visual diagnosis is possible as warts can be seen on both men and women

Your doctor may be able to tell if you have an STD. But there are some tests that take a few days for results to come from the lab – Blood tests for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis all return within 24 hours. At STI Clinic, Urine and Swab tests take a bit longer, as the sample is grown in the lab for bacteria - this can take up to 4 days.

Getting a screening test means detecting an infection that might not have any symptoms. Just like you go for a mammogram or screening for colon cancer, it is important to screen for sexually transmitted infections depending on the risk factor. There are no recommended tests or timings for everyone. These testing usually depend on your lifestyle and risk level.

Some STIs can be treated and fully resolved such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and Ureaplasma while other STIs and blood-borne viruses such as HIV, HPV and Herpes cannot be cured but treated effectively. There are vaccines available for HPV and Hepatitis.

There is no difference, STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease and STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection.

In London, Some GP practices or local sexual health (GUM) clinic, contraception clinics, pharmacies, and young people's services may provide testing for some sexually transmitted infections. But not everyone who has an STI will show any symptoms. You need to get checked by visiting our clinic if your sex partner has symptoms even if you do not.

When exposed to sexually transmitted pathogens, women are more likely to get infected than men due to certain biological factors. Also, women have more exposed areas such as the cervix and the vagina, and small tears may occur in the vaginal tissue at the time of intercourse creating an easy pathway for infection.