In recent years, the government has cut funds for public
health services across the country. One of the most drastically affected areas
is sexual health – between 2016/17 and 2017/18, the budget for sexual health
services provided by local authorities was slashed by around 30%. (1)
This has led to the closure of several sexual health clinics
nationwide. For the general public, this means more people will be looking
at STI home testing and treatment as an option.
What is the
difference between STIs and STDs?
In recent decades, there has been a shift from referring to
STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) towards referring to STIs (sexually
transmitted infections) - in fact, the NHS website refers solely to STIs, with
no mention of STDs at all.
This is because not only does the word ‘disease’
hold more grave connotations, but ‘infection’ is the more accurate description
since many cases of STIs experience no symptoms, contradicting the image of
illness that ‘disease’ implies.
Furthermore, the infection leads to the potential disease,
and the infection (not the disease) is what is transmitted from one person to
another. For example, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a disease
which can occur as a result of infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
AIDS itself cannot be transmitted from one person to another, despite reference
in society and popular culture.
What happens at a
sexual health clinic?
You’ll be asked a few questions about your sexual history,
medication and medical conditions. This is to make sure you receive the
medication that is the most appropriate for you, if you need it.
A sample may then be taken. The type of sample depends on
the STI being tested for and can be in the form of urine, a swab of the urethra
(the tube through which urine flows from the body), a vaginal swab, a swab from
a genital sore, or blood. HIV results may be available instantly but urine and
swab samples may need to be sent off to a lab, so the results will be available
after a week or two. Dependent on this, you may then receive antibiotic or
antiviral treatment. The service is provided confidentially, so your details
are kept private and your GP won’t be informed unless you want them to be. (2)
Where can I get a
home testing or treatment pack?
Because more and more sexual health clinics are closing,
alternative sources of testing and treatment will experience increased demand,
including online pharmacies.
At Webmed Pharmacy we offer confidential testing and
treatment for a range of STIs, as can be found here.
Below are some examples of STIs for which treatment can be
purchased online:
Testing for chlamydia involves either taking a sample of
urine for men, and a vaginal swab sample for women. (3)
The first line (ideal) treatment for chlamydia is an
antibiotic called doxycycline. The course lasts for a week. (4)
Is the home treatment
for chlamydia the same as I would get at a clinic?
Yes. Sexual health clinics, GPs and online pharmacies all
follow the same guidelines. The guidelines are those issued by the British
Association for Sexual Health and HIV, BASHH.
For men, either a urine sample or a swab of the urethra. For
women, a vaginal or cervical swab, and sometimes a swab of the urethra. (5)
At Webmed Pharmacy it’s a urine sample for men and a swab
sample for women.
The home treatment is a combination of two different
antibiotics, azithromycin and cefixime (Suprax), all taken as a single dose.
Is the home treatment for gonorrhoea the same as I would get at a
clinic?
No, because the first line
treatment for gonorrhoea is an antibiotic injection into the buttock or thigh,
a procedure which is not suitable for home treatment. The home treatment is the
second line. (6)
Trichomoniasis
In a sexual health clinic, the
healthcare professional will usually examine the area for symptoms, then take a
vaginal swab for women, and either a swab of the penis or a urine sample for
men. (7)
The home test involves taking
either a vaginal swab for women, or a urine sample for men.
The treatment is a course of an
antibiotic called metronidazole, either taken as a 2g single dose or as a
five-day course. (8)
Is the home treatment for trichomoniasis the same as I would get at a
clinic?
Yes. Sexual health clinics, GPs
and online pharmacies all follow the same guidelines.
What’s the test for genital herpes?
Testing is undertaken in a sexual
health clinic or GP surgery. It involves taking a swab of a genital sore. If no
sores are present, the test can’t be carried out. (9)
Treatment does not cure genital
herpes, but it can help to clear up an outbreak of sores. A five-day course of
an antiviral, either aciclovir or valaciclovir, is taken. (9)
Is the home treatment for genital herpes the same as I would get at a
clinic?
Yes. Sexual health clinics, GPs
and online pharmacies all follow the same guidelines.
What’s the test for genital warts?
Testing for genital warts is done
at a sexual health clinic or at your GP surgery. Diagnosis is in the form of an
examination of the area. (10)
Imiquimod (Aldara) cream can be
used for any type of external genital warts – soft or hard, and in the genital
or anal area. It is applied three times weekly for several weeks until warts
have cleared. (11)
Podophyllotoxin (Warticon) is an
alternative that comes as a cream or a topical solution. It can only be used on
external soft warts of the genital area. It is applied for three consecutive days
each week for a total of four weeks. (11)
Is the home treatment for genital warts the same as I would get at a
clinic?
It depends on several factors,
including how big your warts are and where they are positioned. A doctor or
nurse may freeze, cut, burn or laser the warts off if topical treatments aren’t
suitable or haven’t worked. (10)
How quickly can I get a test
kit delivered?
If you order before 4pm Monday to
Friday, then your test kit will be delivered the next working day by tracked delivery.
The packaging is very discreet with no mention of the contents or who it’s
from.
How quickly will I receive my
test results?
The time taken for test results varies
according to the test ordered.
For HIV lab tests we receive the
results within 24 hours of the lab receiving your test sample.
For most other tests we receive
results within 48 hours of the lab receiving your test sample.
What are the advantages of
ordering online?
The advantages of ordering from us
at Webmed Pharmacy are that you can order and test in the comfort of your own
home at a time that is most suitable to you and receive your test results much
quicker than you would from a sexual health clinic. It also saves the
embarrassment of having to attend a clinic if you can still find one that’s
near to where you live or work with all the recent cut-backs.
References
British Medical Association. Feeling the
squeeze: The local impact of cuts to public health budgets in England [cited 9
October 2019]. Available at: https://www.bma.org.uk/-/media/files/pdfs/collective%20voice/policy%20research/public%20and%20population%20health/public-health-budgets-feeling-the-squeeze-briefing-march-2018.pdf?la=en
NHS. Visiting an STI clinic [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/visiting-an-sti-clinic/
NHS. Chlamydia – Diagnosis [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/diagnosis/
NHS. Chlamydia - Treatment [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/treatment/
NHS. Gonorrhoea – Diagnosis [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/diagnosis/
NHS. Gonorrhoea – Treatment [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/treatment/
NHS. Trichomoniasis [cited 9 October 2019].
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichomoniasis/diagnosis/
NHS. Trichomoniasis – Treatment [cited 9 October
2019]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trichomoniasis/treatment/
NHS. Genital herpes [cited 9 October 2019].
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/genital-herpes/
NHS. Genital warts [cited 9 October 2019].
Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/genital-warts/
British National Formulary (version 2.1.23)
[Mobile application software]. Retrieved from: www.bnf.org
Author
Gabby Gallagher MPharm
Medically reviewed by
Superintendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons) MRPharmS
6th November 2019