Many STD’s may shown no outward symptoms, or they may not appear immediately, in some instances a disease can be carried with no outward symptoms, which leaves a greater risk of passing the disease on to others. This emphasises the importance of practising safe sex such as caution in selecting partners. At the first sign of any problems, or if you think that you may have had sexually contact with a person who is infected, you should arrange an STD test so treatment can be commenced.

The standard HIV test looks for antibodies in a person’s blood. Arranging an HIV test at one of the testing centres in London is straightforward and simple. Importantly, the test for HIV and for any other sexually transmitted infection is completely confidential and the result will be given to you quickly. The test will detect if you have any of these antibodies, which are the body’s response to an infection. So if a person has antibodies to HIV in their blood, it means they have been infected with HIV.

Often people do not understand that HIV is not AIDS but it does cause AIDS by damaging the immune system cells until the immune system can no longer fight off other infections that it would usually be able to prevent. For an average person with a good diet it would probably take around ten years to develop AIDS, a malnourished person would develop this much sooner. HIV can be treated with antiretroviral drugs keep the levels of HIV in the body at a low level, so that the immune system is able to recover and work effectively. Antiretroviral drugs enable many HIV positive people to live long and healthy lives. The important thing though is to act fast; anyone who thinks that they may have come into sexual contact with someone with HIV should take a test at one of the many testing centres throughout London and the other major cities in the UK.

It is easy to organise for an STD test for HIV or for any of the other infections that are associated with sexually activity, in London and other major centres in the UK. The test is completely confidential, and you can be advised of the result quickly, either by telephone or through the mail. The current treatment for the HIV virus is antivirus drugs, antiretroviral treatment or combination therapy, but currently there is no cure for HIV and typically this virus leads to AIDS, so you should get tested without delay.

Having a test is not a substitute for safe sex and precautions should always be employed. Tests by definition are only informative and not preventative, and while important in keeping oneself and others informed of a partner’s STD status, they do not take the place of preventative safer sex practices, which would include caution in selecting partners. Having an STD test in London or one of the other major centres in the UK is common sense as they are essential in the early treatment of STDs, and most STDs are treatable once discovered.

In both of these population centres, if you think that you may be suffering from a sexually transmitted infection, or you are active with a number of sexual partners, it makes sense to be checked out for a possible STD. In the North West there are two modern clinics at Salford and in central Manchester, as well as three STD clinics in Birmingham at Solihull, Edgbaston and the city centre. Cases of STDs are on the rise in Britain and it has never been more important to get tested.

If you fall into these groups, worried about HIV or other STDs and want peace of mind, we strongly recommend you get a complete STD screen or an HIV test. There are many centres in London that undertake testing for HIV and other STD’s and also in major centres in the UK such as Manchester and Birmingham. There are three basic kinds of HIV tests depending on when you may have been exposed you should contact the test centre and discuss this with them. All tests are completely confidential, and you can usually get the result instantly. If you are in the least concerned, contact a test centre today.

Results are usually available immediately and can be given to you either in person, by ‘phone or text, or by post if preferred. If the result is positive the good news is that most STI’s can be treated, some, like Chlamydia and gonorrhoea, can be cured with antibiotics. Others may require a course of a single tablet or a full course. Importantly symptoms should not be ignored and having an STI test with subsequent treatment is vital for your health.

If you live and work in Birmingham, in the counties that surround the Midlands, or the Black Country one of the three HIV test Birmingham clinics will undertake an HIV/AIDS test. It is important if you believe that you may have been exposed, you may not experience symptoms initially. However symptoms may include simple flu-like ailments such as fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, muscle ache, tiredness, nausea, headaches and weight loss. All tests are conducted in complete confidentiality and if you wish can have this undertaken anonymously.

If you live and work in Greater Manchester or in the counties that surround the northern city, or in the North West of the country there is a clinic in Manchester which will undertake an HIV/AIDS test. It is important if you believe that you may have been exposed, you may not experience symptoms initially. However symptoms may include simple flu-like ailments such as fever, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, muscle ache, tiredness, nausea, headaches and weight loss. All tests are conducted in complete confidentiality and if you wish can have this undertaken anonymously.