Monday 27 April – Sunday 3 May is Brighton & Hove STI Testing Week. Organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust, and supported by Brighton & Hove Sexual Health & Contraception Service and the council’s Public Health team, the annual week aims to encourage local residents to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Anyone who is sexually active can get a sexually transmitted infection and should test regularly.
Sex and intimate contact are also risks for COVID-19 transmission. At this time, people should be sexual distancing – that means only having sex with people in your household who have not been exposed to COVID-19 and who are not in a high risk group and, as always, who consent to the activity. For more information, have a look at the British Association for Sexual Health & HIV guidance on sex, social distancing and COVID-19.
Get a free STI test online
While face to face appointments are not available due to social and physical distancing, you can still get tested for STIs. You can order a free self-testing kit online. You'll receive a discreet pack in the post containing everything you need to test for the most prevalent STIs, including prepaid return packaging.
Even if you test positive, most STIs are easily treated
Early diagnosis and treatment is important to lower the risk of developing painful complications including infertility. Left untreated, STIs can have serious health consequences. Getting treated quickly is crucial.
Other sexual health services
- Free STI testing kits* (Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis & HIV)
- Free condom and lube postal service for over 18s*
- Free condom and lube postal service for under 25s
- Free emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) for under 25s - during COVID-19 over 25s who cannot afford or who are unable to access an NHS prescription can also get free emergency contraception from these pharmacies
*restrictions apply