Sexual Health
Smart Clinics offers a full range of fast and totally confidential tests for a range of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs or STIs) at our London clinics.
We offer a private and confidential service with fast results. All of the below options will require a GP consultation (fee applicable for non-members).
STD Option 2
Comprehensive Screening- Results in 4 days
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Mycoplasma
- Ureaplasma
- Herpes
- Hepatitis B&C
- HIV
STD
OPTION 1- Results in 2 days
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- Mycoplasma
- Ureaplasma
HIV
ONLY- Results in 4 hours
- Full HIV Test
Should I take an STD test?
You may have an STD and not yet have any symptoms, but early diagnosis gives a better chance of successful treatment for many STDs. You are recommended to take a test at least once a year, and sometimes more often, if you fall into one of the following three categories:
- Men or women who have recently changed sexual partners
- Men or women who inject drugs
Even if you do not fall into one of the above categories, you should take a test if:
- You are concerned about a recent incident or sexual encounter
- You have any worrying symptoms
- You simply want peace of mind
If you do believe you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, you should be tested soon – typically about a week after possible Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea infection, for example, and 28 days after possible HIV infection. Our staff will give confidential and sensitive advice on what test or range of tests would be best for you based on your circumstances.
What does testing involve?
The tests will involve a combination of blood and urine samples for most STDs, and swabs may be required, although are often not necessary. As some of the tests require a urine sample, it is important not to urinate for three hours prior to attending the clinic.
The testing is totally confidential and the results will not be known to anyone but you and the clinic.
Conditions, Symptoms & Effects
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the world and often affects people under the age of 25.
Symptoms
In women symptoms can include:
- Lower abdominal pain,
- Bleeding after sex,
- Vaginal discharge
- Pain when passing urine.
In men symptoms can include:
- Discharge
- Testicular tenderness
- A burning sensation when urinating.
Some men and women may not experience any symptoms at all.
Treatment
Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics.
Effects if untreated
Untreated chlamydia infections in women may lead to inflammation of the cervix and may spread to the uterus or the fallopian tubes, causing salpingitis or pelvic inflammatory disease. These conditions can lead to infertility and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
If a women is infected with chlamydia while pregnant, it may cause infection in the uterus after delivery (late postpartum endometritis). In addition, the infant may develop chlamydia-related conjunctivitis (eye infection) and pneumonia.
In men, chlamydia infection can lead to inflammation of the urethra called urethritis.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is caused by bacteria that infect your urethra, cervix, rectum, mouth and throat. Symptoms can appear one to fourteen days after you become infected.
Symptoms
Symptoms in women include:
- An unusual vaginal discharge which may be thin or watery, yellow or green
- Pain when passing urine
- Lower abdominal pain or tenderness (this is rare)
- Rarely, bleeding between periods or heavier periods (including women who are using hormonal contraception).
Symptoms in men include:
- Unusual discharge from the tip of the penis – the discharge may be white, yellow or green
- Pain when passing urine
- Rarely, pain or tenderness in the testicles
- Inflammation of the foreskin (less common).
Both men and women can experience a throat infection and itchy and swollen eyes.
Treatment
Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics though this is not always effective.
Effects if untreated
Gonorrhoea can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. This includes but is not limited to infertility, septic arthritis, and blindness.
HIV
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is only transmissible through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom, or by sharing a needle or syringe with someone who is living with HIV. It can also be transmitted through oral sex if one person has cuts or sores in their mouth, from a mother to a baby in pregnancy or breastfeeding, through a needle injury in a healthcare setting, or from receiving a transfusion of infected blood. These means of transmission are much less common, however, and all donated blood in the UK is carefully screened.
Symptoms
Most people do not experience symptoms from HIV itself although some may develop flu-like symptoms shortly after infection. However people infected with HIV may go on to develop rare cancers or infections that can be extremely serious. In this case the person is said to have AIDS.
Treatment
Although there’s currently no cure for HIV, antiretroviral therapy is highly effective and can keep the virus under control and allow someone with HIV to have an active, healthy life. Treatment is most effective if started early and it‘s important that HIV positive people take their drugs exactly as prescribed in order to stay well.
Effects if untreated
People living with HIV who do not seek treatment may go on to develop serious cancers and rare infections that their body is less able to fight off due to the depressed immune system. These can frequently be fatal.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection which is no longer common in the UK. However rates have been increasing since 2000, particularly amongst men who have sex with men.
Symptoms
The first sign of syphilis is a painless lump or sore usually found on the genitals, mouth or anus. In the secondary stage people may may experience flu-like symptoms, general malaise, and a rash. This may occur around four to eight weeks after the lump.
Treatment
Syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics.
Effects if untreated
If syphilis goes untreated it can cause damage to the heart, lungs and nervous system.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver generally caused by viral hepatitis, which can be transmitted in a variety of ways depending on the type: A, B, C, D or E.
Hepatitis B & C can be sexually transmitted; B through exchange of bodily fluids and C primarily by contact with infected blood.
Symptoms
Both hepatitis B and C can cause few or no symptoms, but the infected person is still able to pass it on to others, who may experience more severe symptoms. In the case of hepatitis C, symptoms may not develop for some time, taking between 15 and 150 days to show.
When symptoms are experienced, they include:
- A short, mild, flu-like illness
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces)
- Itchy skin
Treatment
A patient who tests positive for hepatitis B will be referred to a specialist who will carry out further tests to determine the degree to which it may be affecting the liver, and what may be the best treatment options. In these tests a small sample of liver tissue may need to be taken (a liver biopsy). Antiviral medication in injected or pill form is given as treatment to those with chronic symptoms to help prevent further liver damage. Examples are Interferon Alpha, Lamivudine and Baraclude. Treatment usually lasts 6 months, during which time the patient will be carefully monitored.
Treatment for hepatitis C combines the antiviral drugs Interferon and Ribavirin. Although treatment has improved in recent years, the success rates vary depending on which genotype the patient has and how long they have had hepatitis C.
Effects if untreated
Most otherwise healthy people infected with hepatitis B will recover completely and without complications. However, a small number will go on to develop chronic hepatitis. In contrast, 85-90% of people infected with hepatitis C will go on to develop the chronic form of the disease.
Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis and ultimately death.
Herpes
Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Symptoms
Genital herpes infection usually causes painful ulcers or sores in or around the patient’s anus or genital area. Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be particularly severe in people with suppressed immune systems.
Treatment
Herpes infection cannot be completely cured and leads to recurrent outbreaks during a patient’s life. However, antiviral medications can shorten or prevent outbreaks and suppressive therapy can prevent transmission to partners.
Effects if untreated
If the virus is untreated, people with the infection will continue to experience painful outbreaks and are more likely to transmit the virus to sexual partners. They can also be at a higher risk of contracting HIV, particularly during an outbreak.
