Are you worried about your sexual health? Well, it is important to conduct tests for sexually transmitted infections or STIs from time to time to know more about your health condition. If you had not been to a clinic before, the process might be quite daunting. If you are concerned about an STI, visit your sexual health clinic immediately to ensure that you are safe and prevent from passing anything to your partner. Thus, the earlier you get tested, the sooner the treatment can be started.
Sexual health clinic, also called GUM (Gento-Urinary Medicine) clinic is administered by the NHS for any kind of sex related queries. These clinics help to provide free advice and treatment, despite your age, gender or sexual orientation.
In the words of Dr Morrision, ‘You should go to a GUM clinic if you have had unprotected sex with a new partner, experience a change in your genital area or if you think you might be pregnant.
However, you may visit a sexual health clinic for contraceptive advice, pregnancy test or ask sex related questions that you feel uncomfortable to ask elsewhere.
It is a good idea to visit a sexual health clinic in London than your GP if you have an STI as they know how to deal with sexual health related concerns.
Mostly, sexual health clinics are walk-in and they do not require advance bookings. So, you may call in advance to check for the opening hours. Make sure that you have sufficient time to wait on the appointment day.
When you go to a sexual health clinic, the doctor will ask you a few questions to know about your overall health condition. He will ask about your sexual history and the symptoms you face. Make sure you answer all questions honestly so that he can help you with the right treatment.
If you think you have an STI, you will have to undergo an examination. The doctor will explain in details about it but if you want to know anything, don’t hesitate to ask.
According to Dr Morrison, ‘The nurse or doctor will probably ask to take a look at the problem area’. ‘Again, do not be nervous or embarrassed, as they would have seen dozens of people with a myriad of problems that day. They are not there to judge!
For some reason, people associate these clinics with promiscuity when in actual fact, many will contract STIs from long term partners, as this is when you are most likely to not use a condom, she adds. ‘Remember, some STIs like herpes and genital warts (HPV) can lay dormant in your body for a while, meaning the infection might not show itself for years… or ever!
When you go to a sexual health clinic, you will have to conduct an STI test. This will include any of the following:
Sexual health screening involves performing a test for chlamydia, genital warts, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis.
If you have been tested for asexually transmitted disease and the results are not given during your visit, the clinic will contact you within a week to deliver the results. These will usually be given either by text, over the phone or in an unmarked letter. You may not reveal your original name.Your general practitioner will not tell anyone about the visit without your permission.
Visit a Medical Express sexual health clinic in Harley Street where the doctors will help you to perform the necessary tests and get you treated on time.
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