Sexual Health
Download our Sexual Health Guide - Click here to download
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1. What sexual health services do we offer?
Fully trained staff provide a discreet and confidential service within our central London clinic. Appointments are available throughout the day, in addition to evenings and weekends.
We can offer consultation, advice and tests for Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, NSU, Trichomonas and HIV - with results back in fifteen minutes for HIV. These tests can either be done individually or as part of a package.
2. What is sensitive screening?
Sensitive screening includes full consultation, advice and counselling, plus tests for:
3. What if you only want advice?
If you want advice, have questions or problems associated with a particular issue such as a skin lump it may be more appropriate for you to book just for a consultation. We are very flexible and the doctor will be pleased to discuss your needs when you attend. The fee for just a consultation is £75.
4. You're worried about HIV
We offer an in-house HIV test that gives results within fifteen minutes; before the test you will be carefully counselled, in order to appreciate your level of risk and make an informed decision; for clients who are judged to be high risk we recommend the fifteen minute test. By receiving the results faster this helps relieve anxiety and, in the few cases where the result is positive, knowing this earlier helps facilitate the onward referral to a specialist centre.
5. When should you attend for sensitive screening?
If you have just slept with someone and are worried about the risk of contracting an infection please bear in mind that if you have no symptoms around the genitals, it can take as long as a fortnight from the time of exposure for tests for Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and NSU to be accurate. Alternatively you should attend if you develop symptoms. For HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B it can take as long as twelve weeks before you can be certain of the accuracy of the result.
However, with HIV infection approximately 90% of people who are going to become positive will show a positive reaction by four weeks after exposure.
6. You don't have symptoms - should you still be screened?
Significant proportions of both men and women can have a sexually transmitted infection like Chlamydia and feel perfectly well. For these people as well as those with the traditional symptoms of urethral discharge (men), pelvic pain (women) and genital ulceration (both sexes) the most appropriate thing would be to have the full screen (HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and NSU/Trichomonas).
Please note the term "cervical smear" is often mistakenly used to mean any kind of test involving the female genitalia; a cervical smear is actually a test to look at cells from the cervix that may become cancerous in the future, and differs from the infection test in that it must be done regularly even if normal. (At present UK guidelines suggest a repeat test every three years).
We do provide this service at out clinic and suggest that you take a copy of your smear result to your General Practitioner.
7. What tests will you have?
The HIV test is done from a fingerprick sample of blood with results available within 15 minutes (eliminating the anxiety associated with long waits). This test has been fully validated and is as accurate as the laboratory blood test. It can also be done from a sample of blood that we send to the lab in the same way as the Syphilis test (although this is obviously slower).
To test for Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia male patients can either have swabs taken from the penis or if preferred provide a urine sample; female patients should ideally have swabs taken to test for these infections.
8. You'd prefer to see a female doctor?
We have female and male sexual health specialists available, but if you have a preference for a doctor of a particular sex please inform us at the time of booking. Please note all female clients are chaperoned when examined by a male doctor.
9. How should you prepare?
For men it is important that you do not pass urine for approximately two to three hours prior to having any tests from the penis. The reason for this is that if an infection is present, every time you urinate, the bacteria get washed out and take some time to re-accumulate. Usually within a few hours of urination there will be enough bacteria present to show up on the tests. Please do not drink excessive amounts of tea or coffee before coming in. For women the bladder should be emptied prior to the examination.
10. How much will it cost?
Sensitive screening
Male and female Package Screen - £325
Non Package screening
When having non package screening, a consultation fee of £105 for up to 30 minutes of £210 for up to one hour will be charged.
Test and treatment prices
Genital warts £100 for first assessment and treatment, £5 for each subsequent visit
HIV test with results available in 15 minutes - £90 (no consultation fee)
Chlamydia test - £90 (no consultation fee)
Cervical cytology (ThinPrep in our view better than the Pap smear) - £80
Please email us with any queries regarding Hepatitis tests and our doctors will be pleased to advise you.
Cervical cytology (ThinPrep in our view better than the Pap smear) - £80
*If the following tests are done individually these prices are applicable in addition to the consultation fee.
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Gonorrhoea test - £42
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Thrush/Trichomonas test - £37
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Syphilis test - £37
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Syphilis confirmatory test - £37
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Herpes test - £63
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Bacteriology swab - £32
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Urine test for cystitis (MSU) - £35
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Hepatitis A IgG - £53
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Hepatitis A IgG and IgM - £84
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Hepatitis B surface antigen - £35
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Hepatitis B surface antibody - £35
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Hepatitis B core antibody - £65
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Hepatitis B profile - £80
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Hepatitis C IgG antibody - £58
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Hepatitis C RNA - £105
Please email us with any queries regarding Hepatitis tests and our doctors will be pleased to advise you.
11. When will you get the results?
It normally takes 3 working days to get your results although this varies. The doctor will call you with the results.
Please note you will be seen by a doctor with sexual health experience and not a General Practitioner.
12. Can you keep your results confidential?
You may be concerned about confidentiality issues, for example in regards to insurance/mortgage applications. Due to patient confidentiality we would never disclose details of your attendance without your consent.
Many clients wish to use false names to retain confidentiality. Please note that continuity of care is a fundamental principle of good medical practice so if you choose to use false details, you must then continue to use these for future attendances. Also, we can only issue test result certificates for the details that you have provide us with.
13. How will you be treated?
We offer full advice, consultation and referral, as well as vaccines for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B; we also have a full on-site dispensary available should treatments be required.
14. Can you make an appointment as a couple?
We can see couples together, but please be aware that the doctor will ask about your sexual history - including past and present partners. For this reason some clients may prefer to be seen alone.
15. How can you make an appointment?
Please contact us if you have any queries or would like to make an appointment by calling
020 7307 8756, or by emailing
sexualhealth@numberonehealth.co.uk with "sensitive screen" in the subject title.
16. Are you concerned about fertility and infections?
Fertility is certainly a complicated subject but there is no doubt that untreated infections have a significant role to play. A worrying fact about Chlamydia is that it can lie dormant in a woman's body for many months or even years without symptoms. The good news is that if it is detected it can be cured very simply with a single dose of antibiotics
17. Would you like maximum protection against sexually transmitted viruses?
We offer vaccination for Hepatitis A and B both of which are sexually transmissible. The vaccines are both extremely well tolerated and very effective.
18. Do you need the morning after pill?
If you have just had unprotected sex with a new partner you may be worried about many things including infections like Chlamydia. You can also take steps to minimise the chances of having an unwanted pregnancy. Emergency contraception is safe and works well. It can be used for up to 72 hours after intercourse but the earlier it is used, the more effective it will be. In these circumstances we can offer you a nurse consultation for £40 with the morning after pill included in this price. If you choose to see a doctor, the price for the consultation and medication (inclusive) is £75.
19. Do you need to start or continue the oral contraceptive pill?
Our doctors trained in family planning will be happy to discuss your contraceptive needs with you and prescribe the appropriate pill. We charge £75 which includes your half an hour consultation with the doctor and the issue of the private prescription. Please note that you will need to pay the pharmacist separately when they dispense your medication.
