Our services
STD testing & treatment
Overview
Confidential testing, treatment and advice to protect your sexual health. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are very common. Many have few or no symptoms, so you can have one without knowing. Minerva Women's Healthcare provides confidential STI testing, treatment and counselling in a respectful, judgement-free setting. Many STIs can be cured with a course of antibiotics, and others can be managed well, but some can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Safeguard your sexual health by calling us today for an STI test, or request your appointment online.
At a glance
- STIs are infections spread mainly through sexual contact. Many cause no symptoms
- Regular testing is the only way to know for sure whether you have one
- Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can be cured with antibiotics
- Viral STIs such as HIV, hepatitis B, herpes and HPV cannot always be cured, but can be managed, and some can be prevented with vaccines
- Your visit and results are private
What are STIs?
STIs, or STDs, are infections that are generally spread through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth, or through shared needles or blood. Many STIs have few or no symptoms, so you or your partner may not realise you are infected until the infection is more advanced. That is why regular testing is so important if you are sexually active.
Why does testing matter?
An untreated STI can lead to a range of health problems, some of them serious. STIs may affect:
- Your fertility
- Your pregnancy
- The health of your unborn baby
- Your eyes
- Your organs and general health
Some STIs can lead to cervical cancer, and some can make you more likely to get HIV if you are exposed to the virus. Testing also protects your partners, since you can avoid passing an infection on.
What are the signs of an STI?
Many people have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Unusual vaginal discharge or a change in odour
- Burning or pain when passing urine
- Pain during sex
- Itching, sores, blisters or warts in the genital area
- Bleeding between periods or after sex
- Lower abdominal pain
- Rash or swollen glands
Please see us if you have any of these, even if you are not sure the cause is an STI.
Who should be tested?
We recommend testing if you are sexually active and:
- Have a new partner, or more than one partner
- Have a partner who has been diagnosed with an STI, or who has other partners
- Have any symptoms
- Are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy
- Have had unprotected sex
- Have not been tested recently
Your provider will recommend the right tests based on your sexual history and health guidelines. Please ask us any questions, as there is no need to be embarrassed.
Which infections do we test for?
Testing may include one or more of the following:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Syphilis
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Others, such as herpes, trichomoniasis or hepatitis C, when needed
How are STIs diagnosed?
STIs are diagnosed using blood tests, urine samples, swabs from the cervix, vagina, throat or rectum, or by testing a sore. HPV testing usually happens at the same time as your Pap smear. We will recommend the tests that are right for you.
How are STIs treated?
If a test is positive, we will explain your result, offer counselling and recommend treatment.
- Bacterial STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, are treated with antibiotics and are usually curable
- Viral STIs, such as herpes and HIV, are not always curable, but medicines can control them, reduce symptoms and lower the risk of passing them on. HIV treatment allows people to live long, healthy lives
- Genital warts and abnormal cervical cells caused by HPV can be treated
Please finish all your medicine, even if you feel better. Avoid sex until you and your partner or partners have been treated, as advised. We can also advise on telling partners, and on retesting after treatment.
Can STIs be prevented?
- Use condoms correctly every time you have sex
- Limit your number of partners, and have open conversations about testing
- Get tested regularly if you are at risk
- Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts, and a hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended.
- Do not share needles or razors
Common questions
Is my visit confidential?
Yes. Your health information is private.
Can I have an STI and feel completely well?
Yes. Many STIs cause no symptoms, which is why testing matters.
Will a Pap smear test for STIs?
A Pap smear checks for cervical cell changes, not STIs in general. HPV testing is often done at the same time. Other STI tests are done separately.
How long do results take?
It depends on the test. We will tell you when to expect your results and how we will share them.
Ready to get tested?
If you are sexually active, do not gamble with your health. Call Minerva Women's Healthcare for STI testing and treatment, or book your appointment online. It takes about a minute, and no account is needed.
