STIs

Some people worry about staff recognising them or details being sent to their GP or their home. Sexual health is governed by very strict rules regarding confidentiality and your details will not even leave the clinic let alone the hospital. Your GP will only be contacted out of courtesy if they referred you to the clinic in the first place.

When you arrive, the reception staff will ask your name, address and a contact telephone number. Staff will check with you the the best way to get in touch (e.g. by 'phone, mobile, letter etc.) and will give you an individual patient number. This number will be used to identify you when you call to collect results or if you have to have any future visits or treatment. This means that others can't access your details and that your name doesn't have to be called out in a waiting room.

You will then be asked to wait to see a health professional. If you prefer to see a doctor of a particular sex, do ask as this is usually possible - even if you have to come back to another clinic session. The health professional (in most clinics this is a qualified doctor) will ask you questions about your previous medical history and what medications, if any, you are currently taking.

After this the doctor will ask about any current symptoms, when you last had sex, what kind of sex you had (vaginal/oral/anal etc.) and how many partners you've had in the last few months. Although for many people this may be embarrassing, it is essential that you are as honest and frank as you can be. The doctor is not trying to judge or make you feel guilty. They simply need your recent sexual history in order to make sure that they screen you appropriately. Women will also be asked about their menstrual and pregnancy history, method of any contraception used, date of their last period, and whether there is any risk of pregnancy.

A number of tests may be carried out during a GUM screening but most commonly, these include:

A visual examination where the doctor will examine the external genitalia and/or anus for any redness, swelling, discharge, lumps or ulcers. Most doctors will also feel at the top of your legs to check for enlargement or tenderness of the lymph nodes in your groin.

Swabs (Male) Contrary to popular belief there is no "umbrella". A plastic swab (sized to suit the individuals urethra is placed into the penis and removed immediately. The swab is designed for this purpose and has no sharp edges. For most men this can be slightly uncomfortable but NOT PAINFUL even if your pain threshold is low; the procedure takes little more than a couple of seconds.

Swabs (Female). Women are asked to either lie on a couch with their knees bent up and their feet apart (some clinics prefer their patients lying down, resting their knees over special supports or in stirrups). Two or three swabs are taken from different parts of the vagina. Again, as with men, most people do not find these painful.

Anal/Throat swabs. if you have had receptive oral or anal sex, the doctor may take a swab from your anus or throat - again this is painless and involves a cotton bud dabbed in the appropriate area.

Urine test. You will be asked to give a sample of urine. This is tested with chemically reactive "dip sticks" which show the presence of blood or infection.

Blood test. You will be asked to give a sample of blood. Usually, no more than 2 vials of blood are required and, with the new vacuum vials, there is only a need for 1 injection. This is sent of to a laboratory to test for blood borne STIs.

Remember, if you are only concerned about HIV and are over 16, you can get a rapid test at TPA. Results are available in less than 1 hour.

It usually takes between 3 and 14 days for results to be processed and it is important that you refrain from sex until you have been given the all-clear. If any infections are present, you will be informed (by your preferred method of contact) and asked to come for treatment. Depending on the infection, treatment may involve an injection or course of antibiotics or anti-viral drugs. In the UK, any necessary treatment is supplied free of charge at the GUM without needing to pay for a prescription charge.

You will also get the opportunity to talk with a health advisor. This is a specialist nurse or health professional who can:

- Tell you about STIs

- Help you cope with symptoms

- Advise about what to tell your partner if you haven't already

- Advise when you can start having sex again

- Offer you free condoms so you can practice safer sex once you're given the all-clear

- Help to trace partners who need to be screened or treated - either because they could have infected you, or because you may have passed an infection on to them. This can be done anonymously by the health advisor.

 

Contact us for more information