How To Get A Free STI Test In 2023
Think you’ve got an STI? Here’s how to get a free STI test.
Getting a free STI test is quite straightforward in the UK. If you think you’ve contracted an STI, or are experiencing anxiety about STDs, then a home kit will help you carry out a test in the convenience of your own home. They’re easy to get processed at a sexual health clinic, and you can get your results in a matter of days.
We also believe it’s important to advise on where you can get tested too if you can’t carry out a home test. That’s why we’ve made a guide all about how to get tested for an STI, what happens if the most commonly contracted STIs (chlamydia) are left untreated, and what to do if you don’t get your results in a timely manner.
In a recent survey of gen z, we found that 56% had never used a test kit for an STI either due to not feeling they needed one, not wanting to, or being too embarrassed or nervous to get one. So, read on to find out why we want to help you change this.
In this guide:
- What is an STI?
- When should you get tested for an STI?
- What’s the difference between an STI and STD?
- How do I get a sexual health test?
- How to get a free STI home testing kit?
- How long does it take to get sexual health test results?
- How long can you have chlamydia before it causes damage?
- How long does a Gonorrhea test take?
What is an STI?
STIs are a type of infection or disease that’s passed from one person to another, more commonly from unprotected sexual contact with the infected person. You may also see the term ‘STD’ (sexually transmitted disease) thrown around, but it simply means the same thing.
An STI can present itself as a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, ranging in severity and complication if left untreated.
While every STI is different, some of the most common symptoms include:
- Discharge (vaginal and/or urethral)
- Lumps in or around the genital area
- Abdominal pain
- Flu-like symptoms
Some may not even present symptoms at all, hence why it’s worth having regular STI checks, especially if you’re actively dating or have a new partner(s). Many forms of STIs can be treated, or managed with medication – but it’s important to act quickly.
When should you get tested for an STI?
If you haven’t been sexually involved for quite some time (since your last test), then it’s safe to assume you won’t need testing until you are. But for those who are sexually active, it’s important to get tested between partners and maintain check-ups even if you are in a healthy and consenting relationship. Free STI test sites are available nationwide, or you can get an NHS STI test kit sent to your home.
Typically, this might be once a year at a sexual health clinic. If you happen to have several partners, or are actively dating and non-committal at the moment, then testing should be more frequent. This could be every 3-6 months, but we always recommend talking with your doctor honestly about your sexual history, to determine the optimal frequency of testing you should have.
Do I have an STI?
If you’re ever in a position where you think you may have contracted an STI, it’s absolutely vital to get tested as soon as possible, even if you think it’s only the slightest chance or you have no symptoms.
Common STIs like chlamydia, it can show up in your system in as little as one day and should be tested at least five days after exposure. Gonorrhea, another common STI, can take up to an average of six weeks to show up in a test. According to the Terrence Higgins Trust, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) should get tested routinely for HIV.
For other STIs — it’s sensible to test yearly, or every three months at a sexual health clinic if having sex without condoms with new or casual partners. They should also look into a regular prescription of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which can drastically reduce your chances of contracting HIV.
What’s the difference between an STI and an STD?
There isn’t a difference between STI and STD, as both terms are interchangeable. However, if you want to get technical — the main difference between an STI vs STD is that an STI is only considered a disease when it causes symptoms.
The term ‘STD’ has been around longer but carries a stigma because not all STIs progress into a disease (STDs). Plus, not all STIs cause symptoms and can be treated before they progress.
How do I get a sexual health test?
Typically, you can get a sexual health test at a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. They are also known simply as STI clinics, too.
You’ll need to make an appointment to get checked out at your local clinic, however, some offer drop-in appointments (which we recommend visiting early to avoid disappointment). Feelings of embarrassment may arise when contacting an STI clinic, but just know that you’re doing the responsible thing. You will not be judged, but instead advised on the best course of action by trained professionals.
You won’t need to be a specific age to visit either. If you’re under 16, the service is still confidential and the clinic won’t tell your parents. If the clinic suspects you or someone else is at risk of harm, then they’ll talk to you about alerting other healthcare and safeguarding services.
What happens during an STI test?
Before testing, you’ll need to provide your name and details at the sexual health clinic, so you can be contacted about your results. If confidentiality is a worry, you can use an alias, nor will your GP be told about your visit without your consent.
You’ll then be taken to a separate and private room by a doctor or nurse who’ll ask for details surrounding the following:
- When you last had sex
- Whether you’ve had unprotected sex
- Whether you have any symptoms
- Why you think you might have an infection
Depending on your answers, they’ll recommend the appropriate STI test. STI tests may involve:
- A sample of your urine
- A blood sample
- Swabs from the urethra (the tube urine comes out of)
- An examination of your genitals
- Swabs from the vagina (which you can usually do yourself)
A quick STI check-up will test for the four most common sexual infections: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis. You’ll need to provide a urine sample or swab sample and also a blood sample (in cases where you’re suspected to have HIV or syphilis).
It’s also worth asking if a full check-up can be provided to test and treat other genital infections that are not sexually transmitted, like thrush or bacterial vaginosis (BV), if you’re worried you have these issues.
If any other STI is suspected, such as herpes, they’ll take a swab from any sores that are present, which can feel uncomfortable.
How to get a free STI home testing kit
Fortunately, if you can’t make it to a clinic, you can get a free STI home testing kit on the NHS to do yourself. Free home testing STI kits are available, too, but you’ll have to go through eligibility criteria
So if you’re wondering how to get an STI test kit at home, a simple search of “NHS STI test kit” will provide you with tons of options, including medical practices in your area, known sexual health clinic sites like Brook, as well as kits from drug stores like Boots or Superdrug.
If you want to get a home STI testing kit, here’s how it works
- You’ll complete an online assessment, which checks for eligibility
- A test will be dispatched within a couple of days, though usually first class post, in a plain envelope
- Follow the instructions to complete the test
- Pop the test in the Freepost envelope and drop it off at your nearest postbox
You’ll get contacted with your results soon after the test has been inspected. If your test comes back positive, the clinic will help you access treatment.
Where to get a free STI home testing kit
Below are some places you can order a free home testing kit for STIs:
How long does it take to get sexual health test results?
The length of time it takes for your sexual health test results to come back to you typically depends on the type of test you carry out.
Generally, you should receive results within 3-7 days of returning your test, even if you completed an NHS STI test kit. If you test at a clinic, you can usually get the results right there and then. You may receive your results via text, but if you’re unreachable, then you may receive a follow-up call. This is typically when the results are positive, though.
If it’s been more than a week, it’s worth contacting the clinic you submitted your test to, to see where it’s at. Even if you still have no symptoms, you should always follow up on your STI test just to be sure.
Why are my STI results taking so long?
A delay in your STI test, even for those testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, could mean the test has a lack of material to sample. It could also mean the test wasn’t completed properly. Tests for STDs such as HIV typically take longer too.
We know this can cause some stress and anxiety. However, it’s worth noting that no news can sometimes mean good news. It’s still worth following up with the clinic to confirm this though. It’s especially useful to know how long the test takes at the particular clinic you sent your results to, so you can know roughly when to receive your results or chase for one.
If your test is still taking too long, it doesn’t mean that the results are bad either. It could mean the clinic is short-staffed, or require specialist equipment.
Do positive STI results take longer?
The short answer is both yes and no. As we mentioned before, some clinics may have less staff, meaning results may take longer to get back to you.
However, positive tests can sometimes take longer than negative results to return from the lab. Here are a few reasons why:
It depends on the test
Some tests at specific sexual health clinics have longer turnaround times, particularly ones that test for HIV or are testing for multiple STIs or STDs. Plus, some STD tests are more complex than others to test for, and may involve sending to multiple laboratories to carry out different tests.
There was a clerical error
Unfortunately this does happen — but your tests may have gone missing, didn’t get logged, or your contact information may have been wrong. This can cause a delay in getting your results back, or may even result in you needing to complete another test.
The lab may be experiencing issues
Staff shortages, and errors in testing…these are all things that could go wrong. This can then cause things like backlogs and delays.
You have a negative result
It’s always worth asking the clinic you send your test to, to see if they even bother contacting you with a negative result. Some simply won’t, but if you must know for your own peace of mind, then absolutely get in touch with them.
You have a positive result
False positives can happen, hence why lab techs will often re-test just to make sure it isn’t a false alarm. Retesting can take time, hence why this could also be the reason for your delayed results.
Can chlamydia go away on its own?
Typically, chlamydia does not go away on its own, due to being bacterial in nature. If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage, and sterility, and spread to other areas of the body (known as late-stage chlamydia).
However, Flo recently reported that it sometimes can, particularly in those with no symptoms. It’s also possible to pass it on to someone else if you have no symptoms either.
Due to it being a bacterial infection though, it’s always worth getting tested. Chlamydia can be cured with the right course of treatment too, which usually involved a course of antibiotics. This will relieve any worry of it getting worse too. Plus, students don’t pay for prescriptions (if you’re aged 16-18), which is handy to know if you fall into this age bracket.
It’s also worth noting that chlamydia can be diagnosed again if you’re not practising safe sex.
Can you get chlamydia from kissing?
Fortunately, chlamydia cannot be passed on from kissing. So if you’ve recently kissed someone who was diagnosed with chlamydia recently, then you’re totally fine (provided you haven’t made sexual contact).
Chlamydia is an STI, which spreads through sexual contact through the vagina, anus and oral sex. The latter part may be the reason why people think kissing someone with chlamydia may cause it to be contracted. Provided you’ve had zero contact with the other person sexually (including oral sex), then you won’t have the infection. If you want to be absolutely sure, there’s no harm in getting a test done.
How long can you have chlamydia before it causes damage?
According to Medical News Today, chlamydia can go untreated for more than a year before it starts to cause damage to the area of infection or spread to other parts of the body. You may be asymptomatic, or be experiencing discomfort during this time. If you are, then it’s absolutely vital to get tested.
What are the long-term effects of chlamydia?
Chlamydia can progress to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It can also spread to the cervix (cervicitis), testicular tubes (epididymitis), eyes (conjunctivitis), or throat (pharyngitis), causing inflammation and pain. There have also been cases where it causes reactive arthritis and rectal issues.
To literally save yourself the pain, get tested and on a course of antibiotics as soon as you can, to stop the long-term effects of untreated chlamydia from affecting your body.
How long does a Gonorrhea test take?
This depends on the type of test you do, but on average, it takes just a few minutes to complete. A urine test is usually used to diagnose gonorrhoea, but in some cases, a genital swab may be used instead as it can be more accurate. Home testing kits can take anywhere from 1-3 days to two weeks. However, if you’ve been able to get hold of a rapid test at a clinic, you can get the results straight away. Be advised that swab tests may take about 2-3 days, but this may vary per clinic.
We hope this guide has given you lots of information on how to get a free STI test, how STI tests work, where to get a test and details on untreated common STIs.
