Sexual health clinic — Canterbury

Before you see a nurse or doctor, you will need to do some tests. You can do this onsite, or we can give you tests to take away and do at home. The tests are free, and you can do them whether you have symptoms or not.

If you do have symptoms, one of our nurses will call you to talk about what you need to do.

Depending on your test results, you may be booked with a nurse or doctor for treatment.

To make sure everything goes well at your visit:

• be on time. If you are late for your appointment, you might have to make another one
• phone (or reply by text if you have received an appointment reminder text) to let the clinic know if you cannot make it to your appointment
• do not wee (pass urine) for at least 2 hours before your appointment
• let the clinic know how they should or should not contact you
• when you arrive, the receptionist will record your name and other contact details. They will ask you to take a seat in the waiting area
• you can ask to see a female or male doctor or nurse. Depending on your problem, the clinic will try to meet your preference, but sometimes it might not be able to.

You may want your partner or support person to come along with you. Be aware that you may need to discuss personal information in your consultation with the doctor or nurse. You can do this without your partner or support person there if you wish.

The doctor or nurse will first ask about what is worrying you. They will then ask some questions to find out what is likely to have caused the problem.

These questions can sometimes be sensitive as they include questions about your sex life, but they are not meant to embarrass or upset you. The questions will help us decide which tests you need, and which treatment is best for you. It is your choice how much information you share.

You can also ask the doctor or nurse if there is something you want to know.

Testing

If you say it is okay, they will examine you and do the required tests. You will be offered a chaperone (another health professional) to be with you for any genital examination. A female nurse will always be present if a male doctor is examining a female.

Generally, testing for STIs includes:

• taking swabs and wee (urine) samples for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomonas and sometimes for other infections
• blood tests for syphilis, HIV and anything else your doctor or nurse requests.

If you do not want other healthcare providers (like your general practice team) to have access to your STI results, the clinic can code your test results so they do not go to the lab under your name. You can ask for this when you talk to the doctor or nurse who is doing your testing.

The clinic might do some tests while you wait but most tests will take around 5 to 7 working days before the results come through. Some tests may take longer. The clinic will need to contact you if a test is positive or needs repeating. Check that we have your contact details and the best way to contact you at every visit.

Let the clinic know if there was something about your visit that was not quite right so they can look at how to make it better.

You may need to return for another appointment. This is usually to make sure that any treatment you have been given has solved your problem. It may also be for further treatment and advice. If you miss a follow-up appointment, the clinic may phone you to check if you are still having any problems that may need following up.

If you need any follow-up appointments, you will normally see the same person, but this may not always be possible. 

If you have been diagnosed with an STI, you will need to contact your recent sexual partners so they can be treated at the same time to stop the infection spreading.

You can get condoms for free from the clinic. 

You may be given pills, creams or injections if they are needed to treat your problem. 

The doctor or nurse will tell you how to take or use any medication and give you written information. 

You do not need to pay for treatments that you get while you are at the clinic. Sometimes the doctor or nurse will give you a prescription to take to a pharmacy. There may be a cost at the pharmacy.