Name: Sexual Health Testing: Types and Importance | Healthwords
Creator: Dr Roger Henderson
Published: 2021-04-16T15:38:41.016Z

Get informed about the different types of sexual health tests available & why they are important for your overall health & wellbeing. Learn more at Healthwords.

Sexual Health Testing: Types and Importance | Healthwords

Randox Confidante Home STI Test

You are never far from sexual health services in the UK. Dedicated clinics are there for phone consultations or visits, online services can post out testing kits for [sexually transmitted infections (STIs)](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/sti-at-risk!ec5daaef-cf2e-40bf-93b5-4a3e586fe4fd), and your GP is also a source of advice, testing and prescriptions. 

Needs can vary widely, but most people request access to STI tests such as [chlamydia](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/chlamydia!f1a2beed-6ed4-4cab-96bd-27afe2d4b4d2), [gonorrhoea](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/gonorrhoea!d1118e43-5747-4154-8919-499ffcd069d8), syphilis, HIV and hepatitis, [emergency contraception](https://www.healthwords.ai/treatment/emergency-contraception!4f177bd8-5a77-4564-a6c1-b190e1ff3f06), regular contraception. They may offer hepatitis B vaccination if you are at risk, or emergency HIV treatment, if you think you’ve been exposed. They can also advise on safe sex, high risk behaviour, sexual assault or rape, and anonymous [contact tracing for a sexual partner or partners](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/sti-contact!b4b63736-5e7c-4134-b08d-5a06a7d490f7) if you have tested positive for an STI. 

You might notice the area feels tight or itchy. It may be painful when passing urine, having sex or – for men – getting an erection. If it's around the anus, you may find it sore to pass a stool. 

At first, there may be nothing to see on the skin. Skin can become fragile and bleed if rubbed or scratched, and then feel very sore if it breaks down. It may form blood blisters or thickened areas with constant scratching. Later in the process, you may notice shiny white patches where it feels sore or itchy.

You may have been informed that a sexual partner or ex-partner has got an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and you may have been put at risk, so you require treatment. This can come as a shock, whether you hear it directly from your partner, an ex-partner texts you or you receive an anonymous text from a Sexual Health Clinic. 

But it’s better to know about this than be kept in the dark. STIs may or may not cause symptoms, but they can put you at risk of longer-term problems such as ongoing pain or infertility, and there are reliable treatments available. By getting treatment, even if you have no symptoms, this will protect you and future partners.

Dr Kandi - Sexual Health Testing

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. This can easily pass from person to person via unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex, or sharing sex toys. Condoms help to prevent catching gonorrhoea.

This may cause no noticeable symptoms, or it can cause a yellow/green watery or pus-like discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum (back passage). It may cause pain on peeing, for women pain during sex, bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods, and for men, pain in the testicles. It can cause joint inflammation ([reactive arthritis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/reactive-arthritis!3ff278ca-02e9-44bb-ac34-aaa0eff96da0)), eye symptoms ([conjunctivitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/conjunctivitis!2c9a0c10-c102-4805-83e4-9291e7053c91)) and, if left untreated, can cause infertility.

Given the high stakes and the fact that you may have no symptoms at all, it’s important to get tested regularly. This is especially important if you are aged 16 to 25, as this is the highest-risk age group. Get an STI test at the change of any partner (use condoms until you both get the all-clear) and at least once a year.

Libido (sex drive): What is it? & What Affects it?

Libido refers to your sex drive. Normal levels of libido and sex drive are different for each person and there is no standard that anyone should be compared to. Loss of libido is a type of sexual dysfunction and means a drop in your normal sex drive (not just lower than another person's).

It is a common thing for people to experience and can be due to many different things, such as fatigue, [stress](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/stress!a0357763-2962-4950-b395-d8e97e899eea), symptoms of mental health conditions like [depression](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/depression!efeb828b-8786-45b8-bd31-8343c5636e96), difficult personal circumstances, relationship difficulties, physical health conditions or side effects of certain medications.

A low sperm count doesn’t give any symptoms, it’s usually found in fertility investigations when a couple is finding it difficult to conceive naturally.  

A semen analysis reveals the low sperm count number, which is classed as fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen. It's found in one in three couples who are struggling to conceive. Depending on any other results from fertility tests, may guide potential fertility treatments. 

You may have been put at risk of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) if you have had unprotected sex, the condom broke, split or slipped off during sex, or you have been told a partner has an STI.

STIs include [gonorrhoea](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/gonorrhoea!d1118e43-5747-4154-8919-499ffcd069d8), [chlamydia](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/chlamydia!f1a2beed-6ed4-4cab-96bd-27afe2d4b4d2), HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. You may have no symptoms from these, or symptoms may take weeks or months to show.

It’s best to get this checked out, and the best place is to attend a [Sexual Health Clinic](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/finding-sexual-health-services!51cd29f8-a69d-4882-bc85-06c0d716100d). Look online for services near you, and know that it’s all confidential.

If a partner has said they have an STI, you need to get treated immediately and avoid sex until treated, otherwise, you can pass it back and forth to each other. Again, this is best done at a Sexual Health Clinic.

[Unprotected sex ](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/unprotected-sex!9a29c783-cd55-43f8-aae0-2c5dde6c02d1)also leaves women at risk of pregnancy. You can buy a pregnancy test, and it can take up to 3 weeks after unprotected sex for any pregnancy test to turn positive.

Dr Kandi - Sexual health testing

Chlamydia is a very common [sexually transmitted infection (STI)](https://www.healthwords.ai/article/sti-at-risk!ec5daaef-cf2e-40bf-93b5-4a3e586fe4fd). It is a bacteria that can spread in semen or vaginal fluid and infect the vagina, uterus (womb), urethra (tube for the passage of urine, plus semen in men), the penis, rectum (back passage) and, less commonly, the throat and eyes.

It may cause no symptoms at all but if it does, signs to look out for are a vaginal, penile or rectal discharge. This is usually watery and white or cloudy, and there may also be pain or stinging when peeing. In the longer term, men may get pain in the testicles and women develop pain in the pelvis, especially when having sex, and bleeding after sex or between periods. Ultimately it can cause infertility if left untreated. It may also cause joint inflammation ([reactive arthritis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/reactive-arthritis!3ff278ca-02e9-44bb-ac34-aaa0eff96da0)) and irritated red eyes ([conjunctivitis](https://www.healthwords.ai/condition/conjunctivitis!2c9a0c10-c102-4805-83e4-9291e7053c91)).

Given the high stakes and the fact that you may have no symptoms at all, it’s important to get tested regularly. This is especially important if you are aged 16 to 25, as this is the highest risk age group. If you're a woman, sexually active and under 25, it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year, and when you have sex with new or casual partners. If you're a man, sexually active and under 25 it's recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you’re not using condoms with new or casual partners. Get an STI test at the change of any partner (use condoms until you both get the all-clear) and if you’re changing partners regularly or have multiple partners, get tested every three months.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone made in the testicles. Testosterone plays a key role in male sexual development, from puberty to fertility. Some men can experience low testosterone levels which can lead to a number of symptoms that may cause bother. Over time, testosterone hormones do generally decline with age. 

Dr Roger Henderson

Chief Content Officer

Dr Kandi explains how often we should be getting a sexual health screening.

Sexual health testing

Doctor’s advice

Pharmacist recommended products

Related topics

Finding sexual health services

Lichen sclerosus

STI contact

Gonorrhoea

Libido (sex drive): What is it? & What Affects it?

Low sperm count

STI – at risk

Chlamydia

Signs of low testosterone

All About Viagra