Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

What happens at the clinic?

Visiting a sexual health service for the first time

When you visit a sexual health service for the first time, you will usually be asked to fill in a form with your name and some contact details.

You do not have to give your real name, or tell staff who your GP is if you do not want to.

Sexual health services keep separate medical records and will only share information about you with your GP or other professionals if you agree to this.

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Getting tested by a GP

Your family doctor can also test you for a range of STIs. However, it's important to realise that if you are tested by your GP, it will appear on your medical records.

It used to be the case that insurance companies and mortgage lenders could ask if you have had a test for infections like HIV.

However, these rules have changed. Insurance companies will not be advised about any negative tests, and GP's are not able to mention any 'lifestyle' issues when completing insurance reports.

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Information about your sex life

The doctor or nurse will ask you some questions about your sex life. It's important to answer honestly, as what you say may affect the advice and treatment you are given.

There's no need to be embarrassed about this - clinical staff are not there to judge you. Anything you say will be kept confidential. Unless in very rare situations the clinic needs to tell someone else for your own protection.

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How are tests taken?

If you need to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), you may need to provide a urine or blood sample.

Some tests require swabs to be taken from the genitals and depending on what type of sex you have had, your throat and rectum. This can be a little uncomfortable.

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Getting results

If you have symptoms some clinics can offer same-day testing to see if there is a definite problem. Some STI's such as genital warts are diagnosed just by how they look. Most STI's require a lab test to be sure, and this can take a few days to a week or two to come back. You may be able to get results over the phone or you may need to go in to the service or GP surgery and speak to a nurse or doctor to get them.

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Negative results

Most negative results are highly accurate. However, some infections – like HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis C may take up to 3 months to show.

An initially negative result is still good news but you may need to come back for a second test to be sure you're clear.

In the meantime, you should continue to practise safer sex using condoms and other barriers or stick to safer sex alternatives.

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Positive results

Having a positive result is not the end of the world. Almost all sexual infections are now treatable, the nurse and doctor will give you advice and information on what to do next.

Fortunately, false positive results are now extremely rare. Very occasionally tests can give a false-positive especially if the condition is very rare, so sometimes the clinic will ask you for a second sample to make sure the diagnosis is accurate

However, many sexually transmitted infections are now treatable or can be managed effectively. With modern treatment and care, people can live for a long time even with HIV.

You may be offered counselling and other forms of support to help you cope with the fact that you have an STI.

You may have to tell some of your past partners: exactly how far back depends on what type of STI you have and when you were last tested. Some STIs, like genital warts, are so common there is no point trying to contact partners. You can give permission for your sexual health service to get in touch with them anonymously to invite them for a test.

For more advice on how to talk to partners about positive test results, please visit our page on breaking bad news.

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