We understand that getting a GP (general practitioner) appointment can feel like A LOT of effort, especially if you haven’t had the chance to register with the University Health Centre yet. Sometimes, this can make Chat-GP-T an appealing option, but we want to make sure you get legitimate information from reputable sources.
So, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you and asked local GP – Dr Mark Isherwood – what the most common health questions they get asked by students this time of the year, and importantly, what they advise doing.
First things first though, if you haven’t already, get registered with a doctor’s surgery! We have guidance on how to do this here.
Now, over to Dr Mark…
I’m worried I might have an STI. Can I get tested confidentially?
Absolutely. And firstly, there’s really no need to feel embarrassed about getting tested. It’s something sexual health clinics and GPs deal with all the time.
One of the things people don’t always realise is that many STIs don’t actually cause any symptoms. Chlamydia, for example, is particularly common among younger adults, and you can have it without knowing anything is wrong. So don’t assume that because you feel fine, you definitely haven’t got an STI.
I’d particularly encourage testing if you’ve had sex without a condom, have a new partner, or are experiencing symptoms such as unusual discharge, pain when passing urine, genital sores or testicular pain.
The good news is that testing is free and confidential through the NHS. Depending on where you live, you can order a home testing kit through SH:24, which means you don’t even need to attend a clinic.
One important thing to remember is that tests can’t always detect an infection immediately after exposure. Different infections have different testing windows, so you might need to repeat a test even if the first one comes back negative.
If there’s a risk of pregnancy, emergency contraception may be an option, but timing matters, so seek advice from your GP as soon as possible. And if you think you may have been exposed to HIV, there’s medication called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) that can significantly reduce the risk of infection. It needs to be started urgently, within 72 hours of exposure, and ideally much sooner.
Your local NHS sexual health service can advise on testing, contraception and treatment.
Sexual health might feel a bit embarrassing to talk about, but it’s just another part of looking after yourself. There’s no shame in getting tested, and it’s much better to know than to worry.
Check out our Sexual Health webpage for more information on STIs, contraception and support.