Getting tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is straightforward and confidential
Call us to book an appointment on 0203 312 1225 or if you are under 18 yrs, you can walk-in.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an infection that is spread through sexual contact. STIs can affect anyone and they can have serious health consequences if not treated. Some common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. It is important to practise safe sex by using condoms, getting regular check-ups and being open and honest with your partners about your sexual health status. If you suspect you may have an STI, it is important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Viral STIs
A sexually transmitted viral infection is spread through sexual contact. This can include vaginal, anal, or oral sex, as well as other forms of sexual activity. These viruses can be passed from person to person through the exchange of bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids.
Genital Herpes
Genital Herpes is a very common virus caused by a form of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) that can also be responsible for the cold sores that can appear around a person’s mouth.
There are two main types of the herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2.
- HSV-1 this type primarily causes oral herpes, characterized by cold sores or fever blisters that appear around your mouth or on your face.
- HSV-2 this primarily causes genital herpes, which involves sores that appear on or around your genitals, anus, buttocks, and inner thighs. Sores can also develop inside the vagina.
Who is at risk for developing herpes simplex infections?
Anyone can contract HSV, regardless of age. If you’re exposed to HSV, you’re likely to contract the virus.
Remember, HSV is very common but because it’s often asymptomatic, plenty of people living with the virus never have an episode or realise they’ve contracted HSV.
Symptoms of HSV
HSV doesn't always cause symptoms. Any symptoms you do notice and how bad they are, will generally depend on whether you have a primary or recurrent infection.
Primary HSV symptoms
Primary episodes often include flu-like symptoms, such as:
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- body aches and pains, including headache
- unusual tiredness or fatigue
- lack of appetite
- shooting pain at the site of the infection
You may notice tingling, burning, or itching at the site of the infection before small, painful blisters appear. There could be one blister or a small cluster. These highly infectious blisters will eventually burst and crust over before they begin to heal. These blisters could appear in the genital area, around the anus, around the mouth or even around the eyes.
Even though the blisters disappear, the virus will still be present in the nerve endings. Whether someone has more outbreaks of blisters depends on how efficiently their immune system is working. Things that affect our immune system can promote a new outbreak of herpes - tiredness, stress, alcohol and drug use, periods of ill health can all contribute to herpes blisters reappearing for some people.
Recurrent HSV symptoms
Some people who live with HSV only ever have one episode, while others continue to have occasional episodes every few months or so.
Once your body begins to produce antibodies for the virus, recurrent episodes often become less frequent with time. They also tend to involve less severe symptoms that improve more quickly. For example, blisters during a recurrent episode may completely heal within several days rather than several weeks and may less noticeable or painful.
If you have had a few episodes, you may start to notice the early signs at the site of the infection. These signs, which generally show up a few hours or days before blisters appear, can include: pain, itching, burning and tingling.
Taking treatment as soon as you notice symptoms could help prevent or shorten the episode.
Treatment
The treatments available do not cure the virus itself but aim to relieve symptoms caused by the blisters or stop the blisters from developing. Treatments come in the form of creams and ant-viral tablets. Unlike treatments for cold sores, there are currently no over-the-counter remedies available for genital herpes.
To read more about Genital Herpes visit Herpes Viruses Association.
If you think you have symptoms of genital herpes book an appoint at Jefferiss online or via our booking number on 0203312 1225.
Genital Warts
Genital warts are caused by a virus, usually the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and although they can appear anywhere on the body, when they are in or around the sexual organs they are known as genital warts.
Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on by skin-to-skin contact with the wart through vaginal and anal sex, sharing sex toys and, sometimes, by oral sex.
The HPV virus lives under the skin which means that once somebody is infected with HPV they will always have the virus whether they have warts or not.
Who is at risk for developing genital warts infections?
Genital warts are the most common STI. There were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018 among people in their late teens and early 20s.
There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems, including genital warts and cancers.
Risk factors for genital warts include being of a younger age, greater number of lifetime sexual partners, and smoking. Consistent condom use significantly reduces the risk of contracting genital warts.
Symptoms of genital warts
These warts are usually characterised as fleshy growths (a bit like cauliflower florets in shape) or flat in shape. They can appear as singular lump or as a cluster in and around the vagina, the anus, the penis or on the scrotum.
These warts can remain the same in size or grow bigger as well as change shape. Seeking treatment can prevent the warts from developing as well as potentially stop the virus spreading to others.
Treatments of genital warts
Warts can be treated in one of four ways:
- cryotherapy - freezing the warts using liquid nitrogen
- painting the warts with an anti-wart liquid or cream
- hyfrecation - burning the warts off with an electric current
- laser treatment (not available on the NHS)
This treatment may take weeks or months to clear the warts.
Once treated some people may have further outbreaks of warts from time-to-time while others will not. That is why regular check-ups are recommended, not least because there is also a possible link between genital warts and cervical and annul cancers.
To read more about HPV and genital warts visit Jo's Trust.
If you think you have symptoms of genital warts book an appoint at Jefferiss online or via our booking number on 020 3312 1225.
HPV vaccination programme
We offer Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination free of charge to men who have sex with men aged 45 or younger. This vaccination can protect against some cancers caused by HPV, as well as genital warts.
If you are eligible and interested in this vaccination, please ask for further information at your next appointment or book an appoint at Jefferiss online or via our booking number on 020 3312 1225.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral infection that can be transmitted and acquired sexually. It can also be passed on by sharing infected needles and other injecting equipment, and from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
When someone is infected with HIV, the virus attaches onto the specific cells in the immune system that help protect us from infections and keep us healthy. It eventually kills off these cells weakening the immune system so that it is unable to fight off infections and other illnesses.
Although there is currently no cure for HIV or vaccine available to prevent infection, there are now effective drug treatments that are designed to reduce the amount of HIV in the body, keep the immune system as healthy as possible and help people living with HIV to have long, healthy and normal lives.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS Stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system is severely damaged by the HIV virus. It occurs in the later stage of HIV virus and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
Who is at risk of contracting HIV?
HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, age, or where they live. However, certain groups of people are more likely to get HIV than others because of particular factors, such as the communities in which they live, what subpopulations they belong to, and their risk behaviours.
HIV is spread mainly through having anal or vaginal sex or sharing needles or syringes with an HIV-positive partner. Anal sex is the highest-risk behaviour.
Treatments of HIV
HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART) medication stops HIV from making copies of itself and spreading through the body. This reduces viral load to very low levels in your body. Your CD4 count - a test that measures how strong your immune system is = then increases.
When not on ART your immune system works in overdrive as it is in a constant state of activation and inflammation. This is because HIV uses the CD4 cells in your body to make more virus; your body produces new CD4 cells to fight the new HIV and these new cells then produce even more HIV. Over time, without ART, your immune system gets worn out. On ART, your immune system can then rest and grow stronger.
HIV positive people on regular ART as prescribed, could achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load i.e., a level of HIV in the blood so low that it can't be detected in a standard blood test. People who keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV.negative partners through sex. It is what we call Undetectable = Untransmittable
Introduction to antiretroviral treatment (ART)
HIV prevention
Fortunately, there are more HIV prevention tools available today than ever before these include:
- using condoms correctly every time you have sex
- pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) - medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent them getting HIV from sex or injection drug use
- treatment as prevention with HIV anti-retroviral therapy (ART) medication
For more information about PrEP and PEP and how to access this service visit our website dedicated page.
HIV frequently asked questions.
To read more about HIV visit aidsmao.com
If you would like to have an HIV test or you can continently order a home testing kit via SHL or SH:24.
If you are:
- worried about HIV
- think you have recently been exposed to HIV
- at continuous risk of HIV
- would like access PEP or PrEP
Book an appoint at Jefferiss online or via our booking number on 020 3312 1225.
Mpox
Mpox is a viral zoonosis (a virus that has been transmitted to humans from animals). It is rare but there has recently been an increase in cases in the UK, although the current risk of catching it to the general population is low.
Mpox can spread from person to person through:
- direct contact with the skin lesions or scabs caused by mpox
- contact with clothing or linens (such as bedding or towels) that have been used by an infected person
- breathing in droplets from the coughing or sneezing of someone who has a monkeypox rash
Please let the service know immediately on arrival at the reception desk if any of the following apply to you:
- you are a man or transwoman who has sex with men and have had these symptoms in the last three weeks: a new rash on any part of your body, a fever, any new lumps in your neck, groin or under your arms (swollen lymph nodes), an intense headache or muscle aches
- you've been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox in the last three weeks
- have confirmed monkeypox
- you've returned from west or central Africa in the last three weeks and have any of the symptoms above
Photos showing the different stages of Mpox
PROTECTING YOU FROM MPOX - INFORMATION ON THE SMALLPOX VACCINATION - GOV.UK (WWW.GOV.UK)
Find out more about the Monkeypox vaccination and eligibility here.
Mpox virus patient information leaflet
More information on Mpox can be found on the NHS website here.
Bacterial STIs
Bacterial STIs include infections like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. These types of infections can be treated with antibiotics. If you have a bacterial STI, your doctor will likely prescribe you medicine to take to cure the infection.
For patients who may have Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis or BV (Bacterial Vaginosis), please call 02033121225.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations can help prevent the spread of these sexually transmitted diseases and can lower the risk of certain types of viruses.
Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) vaccination
We are currently offering the monkeypox vaccination to those at highest risk. The criteria for moneybox eligibility is as follows:
- gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men or transwomen who have sex with men AND one or more of below:
- PrEP user
- recently had multiple (five or more) partners
- participating in group sex
- attending sex on premises venues such as cruising, saunas or sex clubs
- recent (in the past year) bacterial STI e.g., syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia or LGV
The full mpox vaccination course is 2 doses ONLY. You do not need more than 2 doses. If you have had mpox before, you are not eligible for vaccination.
Book an appointment at Jefferiss via our booking line on 02033121225.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination
This vaccination can protect against some cancers caused by HPV, as well as genital warts.
We can offer HPV vaccination free of charge to men who have sex with men aged 45 or younger.
If you are interested in this vaccination and you think you are eligible, please ask for further information at your next appointment or book an appointment at Jefferiss via our booking line on 02033121225.
Learn about the HPV vaccine, including what it protects against, having it in school and having it privately here.
