Information about what to do if you think you may have an STI.
If you’ve had contact with someone who has an STI, it’s important that you have a sexual health screen. Please tell us that you’ve had STI contact when booking an appointment.
If you have symptoms
If you have symptoms of a STI, please give us a call, you can find our telephone number on our contact us page. You can also find useful information on common symptoms below.
If you do not have symptoms
Not everyone experiences symptoms but sometimes an infection may still be there.
If you do not have symptoms but want a peace of mind check, please note it can take 2 weeks for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea to show up on a test after sex. This means if you want to test to check you have no infections following sex, you should wait 2 weeks (unless you have symptoms).
How and where to get a sexual health screen
Self test by post
If you live in Leeds, you can get a self-test posted to your home using SHUK. This is an easy and rapid way to test for infections. If the tests are positive, you will be referred into Leeds Sexual Health where we will give you treatment.
Leeds Sexual Health appointment
If you prefer to come into Leeds Sexual Health for tests, then please contact us or chat to us using our live chat (by clicking the ‘Chat now’ icon in the bottom left hand corner).
There are also extra options for men who have sex with men:
Rapid HIV test: Yorkshire MESMAC offer rapid HIV test at their premises in the city centre at flexible times, contact them for more information.
Below you will find some useful information about common symptoms:
Discharge and burning
Discharge and burning, including pain or bleeding can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, especially if you’re under 25 (chlamydia or gonorrhoea) or you’ve had a sexual risk e.g. change in partner or unprotected sex.
Lumps and bumps
Many skin bumps may be normal and have nothing to do with sex, especially as you get older.
Common sexually transmitted lumps may be caused by genital warts, herpes (especially if painful), or molluscum contagiosum. Sometimes syphilis may cause ulcers or a rash; and scabies can cause itchy lumps in the genital area.
Many bumps may be normal and may go on their own. If you think you’ve had a sexual risk, for example a change in partner, unprotected sex, or symptoms persist, get a check-up.
Skin problems
Many skin bumps may be normal, especially as you get older, but may be warts or if painful, herpes.
Important information
Many skin problems may be normal and may go on their own. If you think you’ve had a sexual risk e.g. change in partner or unprotected sex, or symptoms persist, get a check-up.
Pain or bleeding
For women, changes in your bleeding pattern are very common, particularly on certain types of contraception (see our contraception pages for more information), and pain at a regular point in your cycle may be normal.
Pain or bleeding can also be caused by infection, especially if you’re under 25 (chlamydia or gonorrhoea) or you’ve had a sexual risk e.g. change in partner or unprotected sex.
Please call us to book an appointment. You can also use our live chat function by clicking ‘Chat Now’ in the bottom left hand side on the screen.
Contraception Choices
There are many types of contraception available and none are perfect. The Contraception Choices website provides honest information to help weigh up the pros and cons.
