Testing and treatment
If you think you may have been at risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV, there are a number of places that will give you free, confidential testing and treatment.Why should I get tested?
There are lots of reasons to get tested. For a start, if you have got HIV or another STI, the sooner you know for sure, then the sooner you can start looking after your health appropriately and receive the best care possible. This will include treatment that can either cure certain STIs or alleviate the symptoms of others.
If you have been infected with HIV, treatment can keep the infection level low so that you can have the same life expectancy as before. Find out more about HIV treatment.
Testing comes with free support, advice and counselling to help you in all areas of sexual health and treatment. You can also find out the most effective safer sex practices to avoid passing STIs on to other people.
I don't want anyone to find out
No-one will know your results except you and the staff who test you. You can even be tested anonymously or give a false name and address.
Where can I get tested?
You can get free HIV and STI tests at sexual health clinics, which are sometimes called genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and at rapid test clinics.
To find your nearest clinic contact:
Both of these services can arrange an interpreter if English isn't your first language.
Or you can look on the THT website at www.tht.org.uk/GUM