STI Testing

Looking after your sexual health

A Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is an infection passed on through sexual activity.
STls can spread through:

Unprotected vaginal sex
Unprotected oral sex
Unprotected anal sex
Sharing sex toys
Close genital contact

Did you know that the most common symptom of an STI is no symptoms? Many people that have an STI don’t realise. STls can lead to long-term health problems if they are not treated. These problems include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility (not being able to get pregnant).

Doing an STI test is the only way to know if you have an STI. A test is recommended if you have had unprotected sex, have a new partner or if your partner may have had sex with someone else.

Some STIs increase the risk of an infection after an abortion. At your abortion appointment we will offer you screening tests for:

Chlamydia
Gonorrhoea
HIV
Syphilis

How We Test for STIs at NUPAS

Taking samples for STI tests

Our STI tests are very quick. All we need is a finger prick blood sample, urine sample or small cotton bud swab of vaginal discharge – please see diagrams below. The swabs may feel uncomfortable but shouldn’t be painful.

STI Test Results

Test results may be available the same day. Some results can take a couple of weeks to come back. Your privacy is very important when we handle your test results. We will ask you how you would like the results to be sent to you.

It’s a good idea to avoid having sex or close sexual contact until you get your test results.

If You Test Positive

If you are diagnosed with an STI, try not to worry. Most STls are easy to treat with antibiotics. You will be asked to avoid sex until after the infection is treated. This will stop reinfection or passing the infection to someone else.

If you have an STI, it’s important to tell your recent sexual partner(s) from the last 6 months. They will need to get tested and may be offered treatment too. We can support you to identify and contact them.

When Should I Get a Test?

To maintain your sexual health and the safety of both you and your partners, STI testing is essential. It doesn't matter how often or what kind of sex you're having—anyone may get an STI.

Testing for STIs should be done frequently if you are sexually active or you have multiple sexual partners. And keep in mind that STIs frequently exhibit no symptoms! To avoid STIs from resulting in long-term health issues, it's critical to ensure that they are identified and treated as soon as feasible.

What’s Involved in an STI Test?

In some cases, ordering home kits from sexual health clinics can be more convenient and discrete, however visiting your GP or a clinic is also advised. At NUPAS, we do STI screenings for clients receiving abortion care.

For chlamydia depending on your sex, you’ll be asked for:

People with Penises: A urine sample
People with Vaginas: A swab of the vagina

For HIV, a small blood sample is required with a prick to the finger.

To test for Pubic Lice, a physical examination will determine if positive.

To be tested for syphilis, a visit to your GP will be required. A swab of any sores will be taken, but depending on symptoms, blood tests may be required.

For a Gonorrhoea test, similar to chlamydia, a swab or urine sample can be taken.

To see if you’re eligible for a home STI kit, visit Brook.

Can I be Tested For an STI While on My Period?

The vaginal swab test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be performed at any time throughout your menstrual cycle, including during your period and regardless of the volume of your flow.

While it could make taking the sample a little more difficult, your period won't affect the outcome.

I Don’t Have Any Symptoms, Should I Still Get Tested?

It’s always a good idea to regularly test for STIs, even if you aren’t showing any symptoms. 50% of males and 75% of females with chlamydia don't exhibit any overt symptoms, and other infections may not show any symptoms at all. Have peace of mind with an STI test and stay safe.

Preventing STIs

Protection

Condoms are the only contraception that protects against STIs. We offer all our patients condoms to take away with them.

More About Condoms

Future STI testing

Talk to your partner about getting tested and staying sexually healthy. If you have a new partner, it is a good idea for you both to be tested for STIs before having sex. Although we can’t offer you STI tests after your abortion care is complete, you can get tests and treatment any time from:

A contraception and sexual health (CaSH) clinic
A specialist service like Brook (for under 25s)
Your GP surgery.

See the NHS Choices website for local services.

NHS Choices

Preventing STIs

The STIs We Test For:

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI. It’s caused by bacteria called chlamydia trachomatis. The bacteria live in the semen and vaginal fluids of infected people. If it goes untreated and causes pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), it can lead to infertility.

The most common symptom is no symptom at all. This means it can be passed on without knowing. Symptoms can appear differently depending on your sex.

Female symptoms:

Abdominal (tummy) pain
Back pain
Pain when urinating (weeing)
Unusual vaginal discharge
Bleeding between periods
Pain during sex
Bleeding after sex.

Male symptoms:

Discharge from penis
Burning sensation when urinating (weeing)
Swollen and sore testicles
Itchy and burning penis.

Treatment

Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. You will always be offered treatment if your partner tests positive for chlamydia. You can catch chlamydia more than once, even if you’ve been treated for it before.

Learn more about chlamydia

Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection. It is caused by a bacteria called gonococcus or neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is found in the semen and vaginal fluids of infected people. This bacteria can live in cells in the body. These cells can be in the entrance of the womb (cervix), the tube that urine passes through (urethra), the end of the large intestine (rectum) and the throat. Like chlamydia, it can lead to infertility if untreated.

Symptoms

Symptoms of gonorrhoea usually develop within a couple of weeks of infection. Some people get symptoms months later. Half of women with gonorrhoea have no symptoms. 1 in 10 men with gonorrhoea also have no symptoms. This means it can be passed on without knowing. Symptoms can appear differently depending on your sex.

Female symptoms:

Smelly vaginal discharge that is yellow or green, or thin and white coloured.
Abdominal (tummy) pain.
Burning feeling when urinating (weeing).
Needing to wee more often.
Heavier periods and bleeding between periods.

Male symptoms:

Penis discharge.
Burning feeling when urinating (weeing).
Needing to wee more often.
Painful or sore testicles.
Sore, red foreskin.

Treatment

Gonorrhoea is easily treated with antibiotics. You will need to have another test after treatment to make sure it has worked. You will always be offered treatment if your partner tests positive for gonorrhoea. You can catch gonorrhoea more than once, even if you’ve been treated for it before.

Learn more about gonorrhoea

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that weakens the body’s immune system. If HIV weakens the immune system so much it can’t fight infections, this is known as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). With early diagnosis and treatment, most people with HIV will not develop AIDS. In the UK, doctors call AIDS ‘late-stage HIV’ or ‘advanced HIV.’

The virus can be passed on through bodily fluids of an infected person. This includes blood, semen (including pre-cum) and vaginal fluids. HIV is not spread through saliva (spit), tears, urine (wee), faeces (poo), nasal mucus (snot) or sweat. HIV is spread by:

Unprotected sex – anal, vaginal and sometimes oral.
Sharing sex toys
Infected blood – e.g., blood transfusions or sharing injecting equipment.
HIV positive mother to child – during birth and through breastfeeding.

Symptoms

Most people with HIV will experience a short, flu-like illness. This can cause a sore throat, fever, tiredness, aching joints, swollen glands and a rash a couple of weeks after getting the virus. These are signs that the immune system is responding to the virus and developing antibodies. HIV tests take a small sample of blood to look for these antibodies.

Following this flu-like illness many people remain symptom free for years. They may look and feel well. Some people may not experience the flu-like illness at all. If untreated, the virus will multiply. Over time it attacks a person’s immune system and causes immune system damage. This means that the body cannot fight other infections or diseases.

Symptoms of a weak immune system include:

Weight loss
Diarrhoea that lasts longer than a week
Night sweats
Recurring infections
Serious life-threatening illnesses.

Treatment

HIV cannot be cured, but symptoms can be treated. HIV is treated with anti-retroviral drugs during Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). The drugs stop the virus multiplying. This gives the immune system chance to repair itself.

If you think you have been exposed to HIV it is important to be tested – even if you don’t have symptoms. Any delay could allow the virus to damage your immune system. Starting treatment early is important.

Emergency treatment

If you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (three days) it’s possible to take anti-HIV medication. This medication is called PEPSE (post-exposure prophylaxis after sexual exposure). PEP is a 28-day treatment that it may stop you becoming infected.

Prevention

If your partner has HIV and you do not, you may be able to take prevention medication to lower your risk. This medication is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is for HIV-negative people to reduce their risk of infection. PrEP is available in England at sexual health clinics.

Learn more about HIV

Syphilis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection. It can cause serious problems if untreated. It’s important to get tested and treatment as soon as possible if you think you may be at risk.

Symptoms

The symptoms of syphilis are often mild and difficult to recognise. This means it can be passed on without knowing. Some people with syphilis have no symptoms.

Symptoms include:

Small, painless ulcers or sores on the penis, vagina, around the anus or mouth.
Red, blotchy rash typically on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
Small skin growths (similar to genital warts) on the vulva or anus.
White patches in the mouth.
Tiredness
Headaches.
Joint pains.
High temperature (fever).
Swollen glands in your neck, groin or armpits.

Treatment

Syphilis is usually treated with a short course of antibiotics. You can catch syphilis more than once, even if you’ve been treated for it before.

Learn more about syphilis

Get in touch with NUPAS

Give us a call:

United Kingdom:
0333 004 6666

Republic of Ireland:
(01) 874 0097

Overseas:
0044 161 4872660

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STI Testing

Looking after your sexual health