STD’s are still increasing
Sexually transmitted infection rates have shown a rapid increase over the past 14 years, with Chlamydia and HIV both increasing by 300 per cent, gonorrhoea by 200 per cent, and syphilis by 2,000 per cent. Many in authority believe that this can be due to the increase in teenage drinking. Whatever the reason for this increase, if you believe that you could have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, it is vital that you should be tested in order that treatment can be started quickly.
There are many centres in London that will carry out a quick and simple test for most STD’s and the results will be given to you quickly. Importantly all the tests carried out at the private London clinic are completely confidential and totally anonymous, you need not give your real name. Contact a London STD centre now and get treatment for that infection.
HIV and STI testing
The only way to be certain about whether you have HIV is to have a HIV test. These can be done at different types of centre so it’s important to choose one that suits you. In London the principal clinic offering quick and confidential private testing for HIV and STD’s has 20 centres all offering the same service. With HIV testing the result can be given to you by one of their doctors instantly.
Complete STI testing as well as complete sexual health MOT which tests for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and more are undertaken at the London clinics. These clinics use the same tests as GUM clinics and can often test through urine and blood to avoid uncomfortable swabs.
Testing for Chlamydia is vital
Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease, and it can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system if left untreated. It’s caused by a bacterium that can take up residence in the cervix or the urethra (urinary canal). The infection can spread from the cervix to the fallopian tubes, and damage the uterus in a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease, which affects about 40 percent of women who don’t seek treatment.
This is just one reason why young sexually active men and women should be tested regularly. There are numerous centres in cities around the UK that will carry out a test for Chlamydia and other STD’s. The tests are quick and simple, they are carried out in modern up to date clinics and they are completely confidential, totally anonymous with results given very quickly. This is important because the sooner the result is known the quicker the infection can be treated and brought under control.
The way HIV is detected
In the early stages, HIV can only be tested with a blood test, as the infection often causes no symptoms. An estimated 77,400 persons were living with HIV in the UK at the end of 2007, of these over a quarter had no idea that they had the infection. This is a cause for concern as the infection is spread from person to person by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and syringes principally for drug use with someone who is infected, it can also be transmitted through transfusions of infected blood.
The blood test that takes place at clinics in London and throughout major cities in the UK requires a sample of blood taken which is either sent to a laboratory, with results returned in a few days, or a Rapid test when the results can be given in 5 to 30 minutes. These Rapid tests are as accurate as the ones sent to the laboratory but are more expensive, a price that may be worth paying if you are concerned that you may have been exposed to the virus. Contact your test clinic in London Birmingham or Manchester for a completely confidential HIV test.
HIV cases in Birmingham
The number of HIV cases in Birmingham is worrying as there are over one thousand cases of HIV which is one of the highest rates in the UK. HIV can affect anybody, but in the UK most people with HIV come from two groups: men who have sex with men and people of sub-Saharan African origin. Gay men are the group most affected by HIV in the UK. However, since 2003 more of the people newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK became infected through heterosexual sex than gay sex. The majority of these became infected with HIV when they were abroad.
If you believe that you may have come into contact with someone who may be infected with HIV it is important that you are tested quickly in order that treatment can be started. Having a HIV test in Birmingham is quick and is completely confidential and the result can be given to you in as little as 5 to 30 minutes. Do not delay; arrange a test at either the Birmingham City Centre or Solihull clinics.
Hepatitis B & C tests in London
Hepatitis is a virus that can cause chronic long-term illness and permanent damage to the liver if left untreated. The condition is more infectious than HIV, so a mother for example, if unaware that he is carrying the infection, can pass this to the baby and be at extreme risk of becoming seriously ill.
Hepatitis is passed from person to person through exchange of bodily fluids with infected people. The virus is spread with needles, tattooing for instance, sexual intercourse and mother to child. Hepatitis is estimated to be 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. Symptoms can take the form of nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, itchy skin, weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice. Anyone showing any of these signs are advised to seek a test at one of the STD testing centres in London and other major cities in the UK. All testing is completely confidential and the result will be given to you quickly either in person, by telephone or mail.
Important HIV testing news
The recently reported Mexican flu pandemic has raised concerns with health professionals, who are once again worried about gay and bisexual men and men with multiple partners. These groups are the most likely to contract HIV, which is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, leading to the body’s inability to defend against diseases such as the flu. The latest research suggests that between 70 and 90 per cent of people may experience symptoms of infection a few days after having been infected.
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.
What should I do if I have a STD?
This is a question that is the most common when we carry out STD tests at one of our London Clinics, or the others which are to be found in major cities in the UK, Manchester or Birmingham for instance. The first thing that you should do is to tell all sexual partners who may have been exposed. Try to get them to get tested. If you feel that you cannot tell your partner, tell your health provider who help you in this difficult task.
You and your current sexual partners need to get treated at the same time to prevent re-infecting each other. Make sure you follow your health care provider’s directions on taking medications and make sure you finish all of the medicine prescribed, even if you feel better. After treatment have a follow-up exam with your health care provider. Do not have sex again until your health care provider says you are cured. Most STD’s can be cured and the first thing to do is to take an STD test.
Confidential and quick STD testing
When you are worried that you may have a sexually transmitted disease referred to as an STD or an STI, it is sensible to be tested both quickly and in full confidence, which should be at a convenient location that should be close to you or near where you work. Having a test in London is particularly easy as there are many locations within the capital including Canary Wharf, the City, The West End, Clapham and more. There are of course, many STD testing centres out side of London at most of the major cities including Manchester and Birmingham.
Testing at the clinics is 100% anonymous and confidential; you can give a false name and medical records and information is not shared with third parties. The test centre doctors can usually provide you with HIV test results instantly and other test results within 1-2 days, either in person or by phone. In contrast, receiving results from the NHS or your local GP can take up to 2 weeks. If you are sexually active you should be tested regularly for STD’s.
Who should have an STI test?
Filed under: HIV Testing, STD Testing, Sexual Health Clinics, Walk In Clinic
If you are having unprotected sex, you could be at risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For your own peace of mind you should get checked out, just to make sure you’re not carrying any unwanted infections. Having an STI test in London or at other major centres in the UK is confidential and any information you give to the clinics is treated as such, which means that staff in the clinic cannot tell anyone that you have been there or what you have been doing.
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.