Hertfordshire Sexual Health team supports STIQ Day
Today (Friday 14 January 2022), CLCH’s Sexual health team in Hertfordshire are supporting National Sexually Transmitted Infections Day (STIQ) and raising awareness to help reduce stigma around STI testing and encouraging people to start the new year with a regular sexual health check-up – a simple process that puts your mind at rest. Taking place every January, STIQ Day has been founded to draw attention to the importance of our sexual health, as it is becoming more common in the UK every year.
Many common STIs such as Chlamydia (the most common STI condition in the UK) can take two weeks to be detectable. You cannot tell by looking at someone (including yourself) whether they have an infection. STIs often don’t carry external symptoms which means the only way to know for sure would be to get an STI assessment. More information about checking for STI symptoms can be found on the NHS England website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/
In Hertfordshire, the Sexual Health team provide online STI screening via SH24, an exclusive digital sexual health service, developed in partnership with NHS England. Online testing and contraception have enabled patients to be able to access the service wherever they live.
The aim of online service is to:
- Improve the sexual health of the local population through rapid diagnosis and treatment of infections
- Promote self-management by improving access and experience through a convenient, discreet, user-centred 24/7 service
In 2020/2021, the team provided 27,744 online testing kits and dispensed 4,976 oral contraceptives and 1,343 emergency contraceptives. Gillian Miles (Lead Nurse for Sexual Health) said: “We've observed a significant rise of 20% from black, asian, and ethnic communities using our online platform for procuring STI tests."
Our sexual health service run walk-in clinics for patients aged 21 and under across 5 different sites, Watford, Borehamwood, Hatfield, Cheshunt and Stevenage. In addition, our health clinics are open for LGBTQ+ on alternate weeks at Stevenage and Watford. More information regarding these clinics can be found at: www.sexualhealthhertfordshire.clch.nhs.uk.
CLCH offer sexual health services in South West London and Hertfordshire. We are reminding residents living in these areas to get tested regularly to know their status. Visit sexual health services in Hertfordshire website to order a free kit to test for types of STI or/and contraception which can be sent to the comfort of your own home quickly, safely, and discreetly.
If you live in London
CLCH also offers sexual health services in South West London (Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth). You can order a home testing kit online by visiting South West London website.
Getting frequently tested is often the only way for patients to detect an infection – and the sooner they are tested and treated, the lower the risk of long-term complications.
Take advantage of STIQ Day and get tested to kick off the new year.
