What is partner notification?
Partner notification (PN, or contact tracing) happens after someone has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It means letting any sexual partners of that person know that they may have come into contact with an STI. Those who can be contacted are then offered screening, and treatment if needed.
Why is partner notification important?
The aim of asking about partners is to limit the spread of STIs by finding and treating undiagnosed infection to cut down the chances of reinfection and onward transmission. We understand that it may not be the first thing on your mind, but it’s useful to know that health advisers at the clinic will ask you about the people that you have recently had sex with as part of your follow up. This is so they can support you to let these recent partners know if they need to test.
What will happen at the clinic?
Everyone we are treating for an STI has a sensitive and confidential conversation with a member of the team to help identify which partners may need to get a test. We will take a sexual history where we ask about who you had sex with, the type of sex you had and when the sex happened. Together with your past testing history this information helps us to identify who may need to be contacted based on the window periods for different STIs. We will encourage you to let your partners know about the infection you have been diagnosed with, so they can get testing or treatment for themselves.
If you have details for partners but do not want to speak to them yourself, we can let them know on your behalf. We can either offer a confidential phone call from a clinic health adviser (your name and the location of the clinic will not be mentioned) or we can send an anonymous text message. We use the SXT national texting system that has no link to you or our clinic.
Partner notification for different STIs
HIV
Why is it important?
It is in the best interests for everyone to know their HIV status and getting treatment to people who do not know they have HIV is vital to prevent further transmissions and avoid HIV related health problems. We need to do this as quickly as possible, so by sharing information you are helping to make a big difference. If you have had unprotected sex within the 72hrs prior to getting a positive HIV test result your partner(s) may be able to access PEP.
What should I do now?
Think about your last negative HIV test, then go 6 weeks back from this date. We would like to be able to offer any sexual partner who you have had unprotected vaginal, or anal sex within this period the opportunity to test (if they are not already known to be living with HIV.) Many people will have no symptoms, may not test regularly or may think that they are not at risk, so by offering a chance to test we can prevent future transmissions. In our experience, most people are very grateful to be informed so they can take care of their health.
What about future partners?
The health advisers can talk to you about sharing your status with future partners and how you can reduce the risk of passing the virus on. Don’t forget that when you are on effective HIV treatment and have an undetectable viral load you are unable to pass the virus on to anyone else, even during unprotected sex.
Syphilis
Often people with syphilis are not aware of any symptoms so if you have been treated for it, it’s important to let sexual partners know that they should be seeking testing and treatment. Syphilis can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Testing for syphilis involves a blood test so it’s vital you name the infection to your sex partners so they can ensure they seek the right tests. Don’t forget the window period – which can be between 9 and 90 days for syphilis so you may be advised to repeat bloods tests and reflect on sexual partners within the last 3 months or so. Importantly – oral sex is a good route of transmission for syphilis so you will need to consider this when you think about the sex you have had.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an incredibly common bacterial infection. It’s passed on easily through sexual contact including oral sex. If left untreated it can lead to health problems including infertility. It’s very common to not have symptoms so regular testing is advised and remember that sex partners may be completely unaware they might have it. If you have Chlamydia, we advise you consider all sex partners within the last 6 months, unless you had a negative test more recently than that.
Gonorrhoea
Like chlamydia, gonorrhoea is a common bacterial infection that is easily spread through sexual contact including oral sex and can lead to other health problems if left untreated. If you have symptoms, you will be advised to consider all sex partners within a month of symptoms starting. If you do not have symptoms, you will need to consider all sex partners within the last 3 months. Gonorrhoea can have antibiotic resistance so it’s important that accurate testing takes place to make sure you receive the correct antibiotics.
LGV
LGV is an aggressive strain of chlamydia that can lead to serious illness if left untreated. It is not as common as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. If you have tested positive or had treatment for LGV it is important you tell all sexual partners from within the last 60 days.
Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen)
This is a bacterial infection that isn’t part of a routine sexual health check-up. Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) is tested for if you have certain symptoms. It often becomes resistant to antibiotics so it could take a few different rounds of treatment to clear. You will only be advised to ask current sexual partners to test (even if they don’t have symptoms) as the most important thing is that they don’t pass the infection back to you.
Trichomonas Vaginalis (TV)
This is another infection that isn’t part of a routine sexual health screen. It’s caused by a parasite and can easily be passed on through unprotected vaginal sex. Current sexual partners (even if they don’t have symptoms) should be treated, as well as any sexual partners from the previous month.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver. It is mainly passed on through unprotected sex and sharing needles. If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B you will be advised to contact all sex and needle sharing partners and they will need a blood test and a course of vaccination. If your last sex was very recent, your sexual partner may need a treatment called Immunoglobulin to prevent infection, so timely notification is paramount.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is also a virus that affects the liver. Unlike hepatitis B there is no vaccine. It is commonly spread through sharing injecting equipment and can also be spread through unprotected sex, particularly if the sex is ‘rough’, or group sex, or if someone already has another STI. You will be advised who you will need to contact but you should consider all sex contacts and drug using equipment sharing partners since your last negative test or as pragmatic. These contacts will require a blood test and may need to repeat that test if they are in the window period (2 weeks to 6 months. If you have hepatitis C it is important not to share any personal items such as razors and toothbrushes.
Shigella & other gut infections
Shigella is a parasite that can lead to diarrhoea and abdominal symptoms. In recent years we have seen an increase in cases of Shigella amongst men who have sex with men and is caught mainly from oral sex and rimming. The risk is increased during group sex where there is more chance of cross contamination with traces of faeces. Sometimes there are outbreaks of Shigella amongst groups of men who have sex with men so it’s important to inform sex contacts. They may only require treatment, however, if they have symptoms.