About The STIs
Below is a list of the STIs we can test for, and some information about them.
Chlamydia
(Read more at NHS Choices)
Chlamydia is the most common STI, and around one in every 12 people tested find they are positive.
In most cases, Chlamydia shows no symptoms yet if undiagnosed and untreated it can lead to serious health problems such as infertility.
In fact, it's the leading easily preventable cause of infertility in the UK and possibly worldwide.
Gonorrhea
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Gonorrhoea is a less common STI in the UK than chlamydia, genital warts or genital herpes, but over 16,500 new cases of gonorrhoea were reported in 2008.
Young men and women aged 16-24 are the most affected: in 2008, they accounted for 47% of new gonorrhoea diagnoses.
Typical symptoms are an unusual discharge from the vagina or penis and pain when urinating.
Mycoplasma Genitalium
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Mycoplasma genitalium is an often asymptomatic, bacterial, sexually transmitted infection which bears some similarities to gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
Very often urethritis that is not caused by either Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea is caused by Mycoplasma Genitalium.
Ureaplasma Genitalium
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Ureaplasma is a bacterium that can be passed through sexual contact although it is not a classic STI.
It is estimated that around 70% of the sexually active population is infected with Ureaplasma without it causing any problems, however in
rare cases it can cause symptoms of Urethritis such as pain when passing urine, redness and inflammation around the site of infection and an unusual genital discharge.
Trichomonas Vaginalis
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Trichomonas vaginalis is also called trichomoniasis or shortened to TV. It's a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a tiny parasite.
Trichomoniasis can be difficult to diagnose because there may be no symptoms present, and if there are symptoms they can be very similar to those of other conditions and STIs.
Gardnerella Vaginalis
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Gardnerella vaginalis can often be found on routine testing of women who do not have any symptoms or signs of the condition.
The normal pH (a measure of the acidity in the vagina) is usually around 3 but vaginalis can cause this pH to rise to 5 or 6.
Herpes Simplex I/II
(Read more at: NHS Choices)
Two different types of herpes exist: Simplex I and Simplex II. The herpes virus is transmitted via saliva or sexual contact.
It is beleived that Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) as Herpes can make people more susceptible to the HIV infection, and make HIV-infected individuals more infectious.