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Award-Winning Practice in the UK Patient Voice Awards - Midland Ultrasound and Medical - Winners for 2023 Read more...
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With MUMS Private GP:
With MUMS Private GP/Nurse/Health Care Assistant:
This service is available 6 days a week from 8am to 6pm weekdays and from 8am till 4pm on Saturdays. For information on our other sexual health tests to include combined STI/STD testing click here.
This test would be performed with MUMS Private GPs and is available for males and females.
This is a vaginal or penile swab. This test takes 20 mins.
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. Someone with Gonorrhoea has an increased risk of getting other STIs. If left untreated – women can develop pelvic inflammatory disease and men can get inflammatory testes and prostate.
It is spread by vaginal, oral, anal contact and intercourse.
Symptoms
Many people with gonorrhoea do not usually have symptoms, but they can include:
In women:
In men:
What to do if the test is positive?
Gonorrhoea is curable and can be treated with a single dose of antibiotics. Patients should not have unprotected sex until the treatment has finished and the symptoms have gone away.
This test would be performed with MUMS Private GPs and is available for males and females.
This is a vaginal or penile swab. This test takes 20 mins.
Chlamydia is an STI caused by a bacterium (a microscopic organism) that lives as a parasite inside human cells. Approximately 75% of women and 50% of men show no symptoms of the disease after infection. When left untreated, Chlamydia can permanently damage the sexual organs leading to infertility in women and reduced fertility in men. It is important to treat Chlamydia as quickly as possible, as those who have it have an increased risk of getting other STIs, including HIV. Chlamydia in women can infect the cervix and urinary tract and can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
In men, Chlamydia may reduce fertility and lead to other complications of the male reproductive system: Chlamydia can infect the urinary tract causing swelling or inflammation of the testicles. Other signs of Chlamydia infection in men can be a swollen scrotum as well as painful testicles and pain experienced when urinating.
Chlamydia is passed on by sexual contact including oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse.
Symptoms
Although most people do not have symptoms, symptoms can include:
In women:
In men:
What to do if the test is positive?
Chlamydia is curable and can be treated with a simple, single dose of antibiotics. Patients should not have unprotected sex until the treatment has finished and the symptoms have gone away.
This is a point of care instant blood test would be performed with MUMS Nurse, HCA or Private GPs and is available for males and females.
This test takes 20 minutes.
Syphilis is an STI caused by a potentially life-threatening bacterium that can also increase the likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
There are three stages of Syphilis infection: Primary, Secondary and Latent. Primary is marked by a sore that, left untreated, progresses to the Secondary stage that can include rashes, fever, swollen glands, sore throat, hair loss, headaches, and muscle aches. The latent stage progresses unknown to the carrier, and may eventually damage internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum.
It is passed from person to person through direct contact, and is commonly passed on through oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse with someone with a Syphilis sore, also called a Chancre.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of syphilis can appear from 10-90 days (average 21 days). The first stage is marked by the appearance of the chancre which is usually firm, round, small, and painless. The chancre lasts one to five weeks and heals on its own.
The second stage of syphilis begins when one or more areas of the skin develop a non-itching rash. Rashes can appear as rough, "copper penny" spots on the palms of the hands and bottom of the feet, a prickly heat rash, small blotches, or scales all over the body. Rashes can last two to six weeks and, like the chancre, heal on their own.
What to do if the test is positive?
Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. Patients should not have unprotected sex until the treatment has finished and the symptoms have gone away.
This is a point of care instant blood test performed with MUMS Nurse, HCA or Private GPs and is available for males and females.
This test takes 20 minutes.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver, which can follow a variable course. The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause an acute illness that resolves itself quickly without causing long-term liver damage. However, in about 20% of cases it can cause a chronic illness that lasts more than six months, sometimes for life, with symptoms that come and go. In 15-40% of those with chronic infection cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure develops, so the infection may eventually be fatal. Hepatitis B infection also increases the risk of getting other STIs.
The virus is usually transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Only a tiny amount of blood is needed to transmit the virus because it is so infectious. The Hepatitis B virus may also be present in saliva, vaginal secretions, breast milk and other bodily fluids.
In the UK, infection commonly occurs through unprotected sexual intercourse, the sharing of contaminated needles by drugs users, accidental injury with a contaminated needle (if needles used for tattooing, body piercing or acupuncture are contaminated) and sharing razors.
There are often no symptoms for Hepatitis B. If symptoms do occur, they can include feeling tired, aches, nausea, vomiting, passing darker urine than usual and being jaundiced.
Most people with Hepatitis B do not need specific treatment other than rest, and eventually they make a full recovery.
There is an effective vaccination to protect people from Hepatitis B infection. It is available from MUMS GPs who will advise whether the patient is at risk. Family and other household members of an infected person should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
This is a point of care instant blood test would be performed with MUMS Nurse, HCA or Private GPs and is available for males and females.
This test takes 20 minutes.
Hepatitis C is an infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Because it can take years, even decades, for symptoms to appear, many people remain unaware they have a problem. By the time they become ill and seek help, considerable damage has been done to the liver. This might have been prevented if the person had been diagnosed earlier. Hepatitis C infection, if untreated, can also lead to an increased risk of getting other STIs, which might have been prevented if the person had been diagnosed earlier.
How do you get it?
Hepatitis C virus is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Hepatitis C can be passed on through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse as well as body to body contact. One common route is through sharing needles when injecting recreational drugs - nearly 45% of intravenous drug users have the infection. Similarly, Hepatitis C can be caught by having a tattoo or body piercing with equipment that has not been properly sterilised can lead to infection. Hepatitis C can be passed on through sharing toothbrushes and razors.
Symptoms
There are often no symptoms for Hepatitis C. When symptoms do occur, they can include feeling tired, aching limbs, digestive problems, and brain fog.
About 20-30% of people with Hepatitis C will clear the virus from their bodies - but in about 75% of cases, the infection lasts for more than six months (chronic Hepatitis C). In these cases, the immune system has been unable to clear the virus and will remain in the body long term unless medical treatment is given. Most of these people have a mild form of the disease with intermittent symptoms of fatigue or no symptoms at all, but there may be damage to the liver. About one in five people with chronic Hepatitis C develops cirrhosis of the liver within 20 years.
This is a point of care instant blood test would be performed with MUMS Nurse, HCA or Private GPs and is available for males and females – 28 days post contact.
This test takes 20 minutes.
Herpes (Herpes Simplex) is a very common and highly infectious virus which has two types:
Herpes Simplex I or cold sores should not be considered an STI as infection can occur in many non-sexual ways, although it is responsible for about half of "genital herpes" cases. Herpes Simplex II, or Genital Herpes, is typically caught on the genitals and is transmitted through sexual contact. Up to 60% of people who have Genital Herpes are unlikely to know they are infected as their symptoms will be minimal or non-existent. They are capable of infecting partners through sex when the virus is present on the genitals. Occasionally, there may be virus present with no visible sign. Herpes can cause complications during pregnancy and labour which can be managed by a doctor or midwife. There is an increased chance of recurrent symptoms during pregnancy. These will not harm your baby but do mean that some women who have previously been asymptomatic may notice symptoms for the first-time whist pregnant.
It is important to treat Herpes outbreaks, as those who have it have an increased risk of getting other STIs, including HIV.
Herpes (both HSV I and HSV II) are transmitted by touching an active sore. HSV I is very common as it can be transferred by kissing (mouth to mouth contact). Both virus types can be spread by anybody contact including oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse.
Symptoms
Up to 60% of people who have HSV are unlikely to know they are infected as their symptoms will be minimal or non-existent. They are capable of infecting partners through sex when the virus is present on the genitals, causing pimples, blisters, little cuts, itchy or sore skin. For those people who do have symptoms when the virus is active, then these are usually visible blisters.
Our Herpes tests test for both type I and type II and will tell the patient whether they have both, type I, type II or neither.
The Herpes virus can lie dormant for many years, and so it is not always possible to accurately know when an infection occurred, and which previous partners are at risk. Regular testing is advised for Herpes (every 3 to 12 months depending on the number of partners and the level of risk of the encounter).
What to do if the test is positive
Like several other infections, once it is caught, Herpes Simplex (HSV I and HSV II) stays in the body and a minority of those infected get recurrent outbreaks.
There are ways to decrease the frequency and severity of the outbreaks. There are anti-viral medications available (both creams and pills) which can help control the infection. In addition, there are lifestyle changes which can also help control the time between outbreaks and their severity. Anyone with symptoms of HSV I or II infections, should not have any form of unprotected sexual intercourse.
This is a point of care instant blood test would be performed with MUMS Nurse, HCA or Private GPs and is available for males and females. – 28 days post contact.
This test takes 20 minutes.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening infections we ordinarily would be able to fight naturally. Infection also may mean an increased risk of contracting other STIs.
There are two types of HIV, HIV-1, and HIV-2. In the United Kingdom, unless otherwise stated, the term “HIV” primarily refers to HIV-1. HIV-2 is more commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa. Both types of HIV will damage the body by reducing the number of specific cells called CD4 cells. Your body relies on these cells to help it fight off infections and other diseases. The numbers of these CD4 cells are reduced by the HIV virus, so you are not able to fight off infections as you normally would be able to.
Complacency about HIV plays a key role in HIV risk. Sexual transmission can occur when infected sexual secretions of one partner come into contact with the genital, oral, or rectal mucous membranes of another partner.
Knowing your HIV status can protect your health and the health of others. Regular testing for HIV is therefore essential if a person has unprotected sex (without condoms) with someone of ‘unknown’ HIV status.
How do you get it?
Having unprotected vaginal or anal sex poses a risk for catching HIV. Getting HIV through oral sex (both giving and receiving) is possible but very rare.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of HIV can appear within six weeks of infection. After this many people can have no symptoms for years.
Common symptoms of HIV infection include:
These symptoms can all be caused by conditions other than HIV and do not mean that the patient has HIV or AIDS. However, if some of these symptoms are experienced, it is a good idea to get an HIV test, especially if the patient has had unprotected sex or has engaged in any other high-risk activity including:
If your instant HIV Test shows a positive result – then you will need a lab confirmatory test. See the following link for laboratory testing and costs.
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