Sexual Health · Coming Soon
Private STI
Screening
Confidential sexual health testing from licensed UK clinicians. Test for the full range of STIs from home or at a clinic — no waiting rooms, no judgment, and nothing shared without your consent.
Licensed UK clinicians
Results within 24–48 hours
Confidential and discreet
Overview
What Is Private STI Screening?
Private STI screening is confidential testing for sexually transmitted infections, arranged outside of the NHS — meaning results are returned only to you, nothing appears on your NHS record without your consent, and you can access testing on your own terms without a referral or waiting for a GUM clinic appointment.
Sexually transmitted infections are extremely common. Many have no symptoms at all — chlamydia, in particular, is asymptomatic in approximately 70% of women and 50% of men who carry it. The only way to know your status with certainty is to test. Regular screening is a normal, responsible part of sexual health, not something reserved for people who think something is wrong.
Private screening gives you control over when you test, what you test for, and who knows about it. It is suitable for anyone who has had a new sexual partner, has had unprotected sex, is experiencing symptoms that concern them, or simply wants the reassurance of knowing their status — quickly, discreetly, and with a clinician on hand to discuss any findings.
Why Test Privately Rather Than Through the NHS?
NHS GUM services are excellent but often have significant waiting times, require in-person attendance, and may involve your records being shared more broadly than you would prefer. Private screening with The GP Service means same-day access, results within 24–48 hours, complete confidentiality as standard, and a clinician available to discuss your results and arrange treatment the same day if needed.
Infections Covered
What We Screen For
Our panels are designed to cover the full spectrum of common and clinically significant sexually transmitted infections — from the most prevalent to those most important to identify early. Individual tests can also be arranged if you have a specific concern.
Most Common
Basic Panel
The two most prevalent bacterial STIs in the UK. Suitable for routine screening after a new partner or unprotected sex.
Chlamydia (urine or swab)
Gonorrhoea (urine or swab)
Results within 24 hours
Treatment prescribable same day
Recommended
Standard Panel
A comprehensive screen covering the most clinically important infections. Recommended for anyone who has had unprotected sex with a new partner.
Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea
Syphilis (blood test)
HIV 1 & 2 (blood test)
Hepatitis B & C
Most Thorough
Comprehensive Panel
Our most complete screen — covering all common and several less common but clinically significant infections. Ideal for a full sexual health MOT.
All Standard Panel infections
Herpes simplex (HSV-1 & HSV-2)
Trichomonas vaginalis
Mycoplasma genitalium
Not Sure Which Panel You Need?
If you are unsure which panel is right for your situation, book a consultation and a clinician will help you decide based on your recent sexual history, any symptoms, and your personal risk factors. There is no obligation to have already chosen a panel before booking.
Know What You're Testing For
Common STIs — What They Are and Why Testing Matters
Most STIs are highly treatable, especially when caught early. The risk comes from leaving them undetected — which is why regular, routine testing is the single most important thing you can do for your sexual health.
Infection
Symptoms (if any)
How Tested
Treatable?
Chlamydia
Often none. Discharge, pain on urination, or pelvic discomfort if symptomatic
Urine sample or genital swab
Yes — single course of antibiotics
Gonorrhoea
Often none. Discharge, burning on urination, or throat/rectal symptoms
Urine sample or swab (genital, throat, rectal)
Yes — antibiotics (resistance a growing concern; early treatment important)
Syphilis
Painless sore (primary), rash or flu-like illness (secondary), or silent (latent)
Blood test
Yes — penicillin or doxycycline
HIV
Flu-like illness shortly after infection; often asymptomatic for years
Blood test (4th generation Ag/Ab)
Managed with ART — not curable but fully suppressible
Herpes (HSV)
Blisters, sores, or ulcers in genital/oral area — or none at all
Swab of active sore or blood test (IgG antibody)
Managed — antivirals reduce frequency and transmission
Hepatitis B
Jaundice, fatigue, nausea — or none. Can become chronic
Blood test
Acute: often resolves. Chronic: managed with antivirals. Vaccine available
Hepatitis C
Usually asymptomatic until liver damage develops
Blood test
Yes — highly effective direct-acting antiviral treatment (>95% cure)
Trichomonas
Discharge, odour, itching — or none
Swab
Yes — single dose metronidazole
Mycoplasma genitalium
Urethral or pelvic discomfort, discharge — often silent
Urine or swab (PCR)
Yes — specific antibiotic regimen; resistance important to consider
Most STIs Have No Symptoms
The absence of symptoms is not reassurance. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis (in its latent phase), HIV, and hepatitis C can all be carried and transmitted without the carrier knowing. Untreated, they can cause infertility, organ damage, and serious long-term health consequences. The only way to know is to test.
Who Should Get Tested
When Should You Get an STI Screen?
There is no single rule — but there are clear situations where testing is strongly advisable, and many people who would benefit are not testing regularly enough. Sexual health professionals broadly recommend that sexually active people should screen at least annually, and after any change in partner.
New Sexual Partner
Testing before or shortly after having sex with a new partner — whether or not a condom was used — is one of the most effective things you can do for your health and theirs.
Unprotected Sex
If a condom broke, was not used, or was not used consistently, testing should follow — ideally 2 weeks after the encounter to allow for window periods.
Multiple Partners
Anyone with more than one sexual partner in the past year is advised to screen annually at minimum, and more frequently if partners change regularly.
Partner Has Tested Positive
If a current or recent partner has been diagnosed with an STI, you should test immediately — even if you have no symptoms.
Symptoms Are Concerning You
Unusual discharge, sores, rashes, pelvic pain, or burning on urination are all reasons to test — even if the cause turns out to be something non-sexual.
Planning a Pregnancy
Screening for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B is recommended before or early in pregnancy, as several STIs can affect pregnancy outcomes.
Routine Annual Check
Even without a specific trigger, sexually active adults benefit from an annual sexual health screen as part of routine preventive care.
Injecting Drug Use
Sharing needles or injecting equipment carries significant risk for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Regular testing is strongly advised.
Window Periods — Timing Your Test Correctly
Most STI tests have a window period — a gap between infection and when the test can reliably detect it. For HIV, this is typically 45 days with a 4th-generation test (earlier testing may be advised with PEP). For syphilis, 6 weeks. For chlamydia and gonorrhoea, 2 weeks is sufficient. If you test too early after a potential exposure, a negative result does not definitively rule out infection — a repeat test at the appropriate interval is important. Your clinician will advise you on timing based on your specific situation.
Privacy & Confidentiality
What Private Really Means
For many people, the decision to test privately comes down to one thing: confidentiality. Here is exactly what our privacy commitment means in practice.
Nothing shared with your NHS GP without consent
Unlike NHS GUM services, we will not contact your GP, add anything to your NHS record, or share your results with any third party unless you explicitly ask us to.
Discreet packaging for home kits
Home test kits are sent in plain, unmarked packaging with no indication of the contents or sender. Return envelopes are likewise unbranded.
Secure digital results delivery
Results are delivered via a secure patient portal or encrypted message — not emailed in plain text. You choose how and where you access them.
Judgment-free consultations
Our clinicians are there to help you, not to comment on your choices. Every consultation is conducted with the same respect and professionalism regardless of your situation or history.
Partner notification is your decision
If you test positive, the decision to notify a partner is yours. Our clinicians can advise on how to approach the conversation and can provide resources, but it is not done without your knowledge or consent.
One Important Exception
In very rare circumstances — specifically where there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to a third party — a clinician may be legally required to break confidentiality. This does not apply to the vast majority of STI diagnoses. Your clinician will be transparent with you about any situation where this might arise.
Getting Tested
How Private STI Screening Works With Us
Testing through The GP Service is designed to be as frictionless as possible — from booking to treatment, entirely online if you prefer.
1
Book Your Screening
Choose your panel online or book a consultation to discuss which tests are right for you.
Available 365 days a year
Same-day appointments
Home kit or clinic visit — your choice
2
Give Your Sample
Most tests use a urine sample, a self-taken swab, or a small finger-prick blood sample — no clinical visit required for most panels.
Home kit posted next working day
Simple, clearly labelled instructions
Pre-paid return envelope included
3
Get Results & Treatment
Results reviewed by a clinician within 24–48 hours. If treatment is needed, a prescription is issued the same day.
Clear, plain-English results summary
Same-day prescription if required
Medication delivered to your door
If Your Result Is Positive
What Happens if You Test Positive
A positive result is not a crisis — it is information that allows you to act. Almost all common STIs are straightforward to treat, and many are curable with a single course of medication. Here is what happens when a result comes back positive through The GP Service.
A clinician contacts you directly
You will not simply receive a positive notification with no support. A licensed clinician will contact you to discuss your result, answer your questions, and explain what the diagnosis means — without alarm, and without judgment.
Same-day treatment, where appropriate
For bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis, treatment can typically be prescribed in the same conversation. Medication can be collected from any UK pharmacy or delivered to your door within 24 hours.
Guidance on partner notification
Your clinician will explain the importance of informing any recent sexual partners so they can test and, if necessary, be treated. This reduces the risk of reinfection and onward transmission. Notification is always your decision — we can provide advice and resources but will not act without your consent.
Onward referral where needed
For infections requiring specialist management — including HIV and hepatitis C — we will arrange a referral to the appropriate NHS or private specialist service and provide a detailed clinical letter to ensure continuity of care.
Test of cure where appropriate
For some infections — particularly gonorrhoea and mycoplasma genitalium, where antibiotic resistance is a concern — a follow-up test of cure is recommended after completing treatment. We will advise you on whether this is needed and arrange it.
If You Think You Have Been Exposed to HIV in the Last 72 Hours
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent HIV infection if started within 72 hours of exposure — the sooner the better. Do not wait for an STI screening appointment. Go to your nearest A&E or sexual health clinic immediately, or call 111. PEP is a 28-day course of antiretroviral medication and must be started as quickly as possible to be effective.
Why The GP Service
Why Choose Us for Private STI Screening
Private sexual health testing is widely available. Here is what specifically sets The GP Service apart — and why it matters for an area of healthcare where discretion, speed, and access to proper clinical support make a real difference.
Results within 24–48 hours
We use accredited UK laboratories with rapid turnaround. You will not wait a week to find out whether you need treatment — and you will not spend that week worrying.
Clinician support — not just a test kit
Every positive result is followed up by a clinician, not a notification. You will speak to a licensed medical professional who can prescribe, refer, and advise — not just confirm a number.
Test from home
For most infections, no clinic visit is needed. Home kits cover the majority of our screening panels and are posted in discreet, unbranded packaging with a prepaid return envelope.
Same-day treatment if needed
For treatable infections, there is no gap between diagnosis and prescription. Treatment can be issued and dispatched to your door in the same consultation as your results.
Genuinely confidential
Nothing is shared with your NHS GP or added to your NHS record without your explicit consent. Your sexual health is your business.
Open 365 days a year
Anxiety about a potential exposure does not wait for Monday morning. We are available every day of the year, with same-day appointments and same-day results dispatch.
Trusted by Over 150,000 Patients
Here's what patients say about their experience with our services
I have used this service a few times, most recently today. Despite being remote, the GPs have been unfailingly professional, caring and thorough. I felt they asked a great many questions to understand my condition, then really thought about the best solution for me. They were polite and cared about whether I was happy with their recommended action, they made it easy for me to get the prescription and medication I needed. At a time when it is increasingly hard to see a GP or access any care outside of an emergency (and even then, not easy) this feels like a much-needed service.
Cahrlie Mulcare
Private STI screening — coming to The GP Service soon.
Register now and be the first to know when we launch. Confidential testing from home or at a clinic, results within 24–48 hours, clinician-reviewed — and same-day treatment where clinically appropriate.
Register for Early Access
Confidential and discreet
Results within 24–48 hours
Same-day treatment if needed
Secure & confidential
Licensed UK clinicians
Frequently Asked Questions
How confidential is private STI screening?
Strictly confidential. Results are shared only with you — nothing is added to your NHS record or shared with your NHS GP without your explicit consent. The only exception, as with any healthcare provider, is the very rare circumstance where a clinician is legally required to act on a serious and immediate risk of harm. We handle your data in line with UK GDPR, and home kits arrive in plain, unmarked packaging.
How quickly will I get my results?
Results from our accredited laboratory are typically returned within 24–48 hours of your sample being received. If you are using a home kit, the clock starts when the lab receives your sample — usually the next working day after you post it. Rapid HIV point-of-care tests can give a result within 20–40 minutes. You will be notified via secure message as soon as your results are available, and a clinician will follow up to discuss them.
Do I need to visit a clinic or can I test at home?
For most of our panels, no clinic visit is required. Home kits use a combination of urine samples, self-taken swabs, and small finger-prick blood samples — all with clear instructions. Kits are posted in discreet, unmarked packaging with a prepaid return envelope. If you prefer a clinic visit for venous blood draw or clinician-taken swabs, we can arrange that too.
What happens if I test positive?
A licensed clinician will contact you directly to discuss your result and answer any questions. For bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis, treatment is typically prescribed in the same conversation and can be delivered to your door within 24 hours. For infections requiring specialist management — HIV, hepatitis C — we arrange onward referral and provide a full clinical letter. You will never receive a positive result without support.
How soon after sex should I test?
Most infections have a window period — a gap between exposure and when a test becomes reliable. For chlamydia and gonorrhoea, 2 weeks is sufficient. For syphilis, 6 weeks is recommended. For HIV, the 4th-generation test we use becomes reliable at 45 days, though earlier testing (with awareness of the window period) can be arranged. Your clinician will advise on the optimal timing for your specific situation. If you have had a potential HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, contact A&E for PEP immediately — do not wait for a test.
Do I have to tell my partner if I test positive?
There is no legal requirement to notify a partner, though it is strongly advised on public health grounds. Our clinicians will explain the risks of not notifying and can help you think through how to have that conversation — or provide resources to support you. We will not contact a partner or anyone else without your knowledge and consent.
Can I get PrEP through The GP Service?
Yes. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a daily medication that is highly effective at preventing HIV infection in people at significant risk. It is available on the NHS through sexual health clinics, but access is variable. We can prescribe PrEP privately following an appropriate consultation and assessment. Ongoing monitoring — including regular HIV, kidney function, and hepatitis B tests — is required and can be arranged through us.
Is your service suitable for all genders and sexual orientations?
Absolutely. Our service is designed for everyone — regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or relationship structure. We offer swab options for different anatomies, and our clinicians are experienced in providing sexual health care that is inclusive, relevant to your circumstances, and entirely free of assumptions or judgment.
What if I've already had a test elsewhere but want a second opinion on my results?
You are welcome to book a consultation to discuss existing results from another provider — whether that is an NHS GUM clinic, a home test kit, or a previous private test. Our clinicians can help interpret findings, advise on next steps, and prescribe treatment if appropriate, without requiring you to retest.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medication. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this page. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 999 or your local emergency services immediately.