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If you have symptoms that may be related to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) we need to see you in person in one of our clinics. In some cases, we will be able to give a diagnosis and start treatment at your appointment rather than you having to wait for test results to come back. If you think you may have an STI we recommend not having sex until we can do tests to find out

Book an appointment or attend an on-the-day appointment 

You can either call us on 01273 523 388 to book an appointment at SHAC East, or we can assess your symptoms more quickly if you attend one of our on-the-day appointments at SHAC Central. These run on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (10.15am to 5pm) and are filled on a “first come, first served” basis. You may be given a time slot later in the day when you will be asked to return to the clinic

Phone line opening times:

Other ways to access our services 

Under 25s

You can attend our Under 25s walk-in clinic on Wednesday afternoon (1.30pm to 6pm) at SHAC Central

Clinic M (men who have sex with men)

We have a limited number of walk-in appointments between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday evenings at SHAC East. The walk-in slots are offered on a “first-come, first-served” basis

How do we diagnose based on symptoms?

A doctor or nurse may be able to give a diagnosis by examining your genitals, and then taking a sample and looking at it under a microscope or sending it off for laboratory testing. This will only be done with your consent, and you can ask for a chaperone to be in the room if you would like one. The tests may involve using a small, thin swab (not an ‘umbrella’ or ‘scraper’!) to take a small amount of discharge from the penis, vagina or anus. It may be uncomfortable for a short while, but it shouldn’t be painful. Taking tests in this way helps us get a more accurate diagnosis

Which symptoms should I look out for? 

It’s quite possible to have an STI without experiencing any symptoms at all, which is why we recommend regular testing especially in between changes of sexual partner. Some common symptoms people might experience are:

1. A new or unusual discharge from the genitals or anus
2. Pain when passing urine (peeing)
3. Vaginal discharge with lower abdominal pain
4. Pain in the testicles
5. Warts, blisters, sores or ulcers around the genitals or anus
6. Any redness or swelling around the genitals
7. A genital or more widespread rash