Why should you get tested?

Many people merely want to have peace of mind and therefore want a check up, often called a sexual health MOT.

Others are coming out of relationships where cheating has occurred or suspected. Many people therefore do not have symptoms.

So many women have a vaginal irritation or discharge and assume that their symptoms are caused by Thrush; they may be right in this assumption, but equally it could be one or more or a number of conditions, more serious and requiring investigation before the correct treatment can be given.

Some women suffer recurrent episodes of conditions that require persistent treatment courses to ease their symptoms.

If in doubt, be tested.

If treatment is not correct and infections are permitted to linger, misery and pain may lurk in the future as complications arise. These may result in infertility and pelvic pain of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) in women and prostatitis or epididymo-orchitis (testicular infection) in men.

High on everyone's list of priorities is a desire not to infect other new partners and even if not symptomatic on coming out of a relationship, be tested before having unprotected sex in another.

TEST RESULTS

We try to make the SHC a 'one-stop shop' and therefore try to deal with all infection testing on that day.

However, the knowledge of results is important and we assure those people visiting the SHC that we will contact you if anything important is found after the initial visit by an agreed telephone number within 2 weeks.

Sometimes subsequent visits are required, but this will be discussed during the initial consultation.

• People can find out I`ve been to the GUM clinic
• This is not true. The clinic is completely confidential- we will only ever write to your GP with your consent.

• You have to pay for your treatment
• No, all treatment and tests are all free, so are condoms.

• If you have no symptoms then there is no need to worry
• This is not true! Many infections have no no symptoms in most people.

• If my partner has been tested and is all clear, then I don`t need to worry
• Not true and many people with STIs can have negative tests, and as you may have an infection from a previous partner and not have symptoms yourself it is best to be tested for peace of mind.

• Men need to have a painful "umbrella" test
• Not true! Tests are very different now to how they used to be- in fact a chlamydia and gonorrhoea test can now be done on a urine sample. If a swab is taken it is smaller than a cotton bud and causes extremely brief and very minimal discomfort, if any at all.

• STI`s are not a big deal- they are easily treated with antibiotics so it doesn`t really matter if you get one
• Whilst it is true that most STI`s are easily treated with antibiotics, they should not be thought of as no big deal, as they can cause more serious complications like infection in the pelvic organs in women (Pelivic Inflammatory Disease, PID) or testicular infection in men (Epididymitis). These infections can lead to significant pain and fertility problems.

• Only gay men can get HIV
• Not true. Anyone can get HIV, female, male, gay or straight.

• Condoms break so there`s no point using them
• Condoms are the best way to protect yourself from infections, and they rarely break when used correctly.  They also come in various sizes and types so they should be able to be use by everyone. Not using one is an excuse that acn lead to getting an infection

You should book an appointment as soon as possible if you have any of the following symptoms:

In Men

• Burning feeling when passing urine
• Tingling, irritation or stinging of the tip of the penis
• Pus or liquid coming out of the top of the penis
• Any lumps, sores or cuts on the genitals, pubic hair area or around the back passage
• Any rashes affecting the genitals, pubic area, or back passage area
• Any itching of the genitals, pubic hair area, of around the back passage
• Or anything else at all you are not sure about, like skin bumps etc

In Women

• Abnormal discharge - including smelly or itchy
• Any sores,rashes, cuts or lumps affecting the genital area
• Any pain during sex
• Any burning pain on passing urine, or blood in the urine
• Abdominal pain especially if combined with abnormal discharge or pain during sex
• Any bleeding in between your periods, or after having

IF IN DOUBT GET TESTED TO BE SURE!!