Sexual Health Week 2024

SHW 2024: the link between sexual health and emotional wellbeing

Sexual Health Week (SHW), running from 9-15 September, is an annual awareness campaign aimed at promoting the importance of sexual health education and services across the UK.

Led by sexual health charity, Brook, the theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Are You Feeling It?’, focusing on the often-overlooked link between sexual health and mental health.

The campaign will address how emotional wellbeing affects sexual health and vice versa, aiming to break down the stigma surrounding these topics, and highlighting the need for open conversations and education to improve young people’s access to sexual health services and support.

Personal wellbeing and sexual health

Although often overlooked, mental and sexual health are interconnected, with emotional wellbeing playing a significant part in our sexual behaviours, choices, and relationships.

When someone experiences mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, this can make it difficult to maintain healthy sexual relationships, can impact our decision-making, and lead to increased risk-taking.

It can also prevent people from seeking out sexual health services when needed.

Equally, concerns over sexual health, such as fear of contracting infections or stigma around sexual orientation, can negatively impact mental health, resulting in stress or low self-esteem.

Why is STI testing important?

Early detection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can help you seek the correct treatment as soon as possible, preventing symptoms from getting worse, and reducing the likelihood of long-term complications caused by untreated infections (e.g. infertility).

Regular sexual health testing also plays a critical role in helping maintain your mental wellbeing.

For example, if you are experiencing symptoms and think you might have an STI, taking a test can provide reassurance and peace of mind where an infection is not detected, and enable you to seek an accurate diagnosis from your doctor if symptoms persist.

And if your test shows that you have an STI, early diagnosis can help you seek treatment ASAP, and allows you to make informed decisions, preventing the spread of infection to other people.

How often should you take an STI test?

How often you should take an STI test depends on your personal circumstances and sexual behaviour.

Some STIs are symptomless, meaning that you may have an infection without knowing about it. This makes routine testing an essential tool for detecting infections early, even when you have no symptoms.

Here are some general guidelines for when to take a test:

  • If you are sexually active, a comprehensive sexual health check is recommended once a year, and should include a multi-panel test such as our 7-panel STI test
  • If you are in a high-risk category and/or engage in frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, you may want to consider having a comprehensive sexual health check every 3-6 months.

For further advice and guidance, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/

Discreet, home STI testing

Whether you have symptoms or simply want a routine test STI test for peace of mind, we can help.

We offer a range of STI tests to suit your needs. All our tests also adhere to BASHH, FSHR and MRHA guidelines for sexual health testing.

  • 7-panel STI test – tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomoniasis, and the urinary tract infections (UTIs) Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Only a vaginal swab or urine sample required, for results in 2 working days.*
  • Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test – tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, with only a vaginal swab or urine sample required. Results in 2 working days.*
  • HIV test – test for the presence of HIV antibodies, with only a finger prick blood sample required, and same-day results provided.*

Please note: You must be at least 16 years of age to purchase a home STI test kit from AlphaBiolabs.

If you are experiencing symptoms causing severe pain and discomfort or require face-to-face examination, we advise you to contact your GP or local sexual health clinic as soon as possible.

Order your STI test online now. Alternatively, call 0333 600 1300 or email info@alphabiolabs.com for more information.

*From receipt of samples into our laboratory, before 10am.

At-home STI tests

Explore our range of peace of mind, home STI tests.

Buy Now