Thousands of people test positive for STIs and STDs every day, and the good news is that now you know your status, you can get the medical treatment that you need to prevent / minimise any long term health complications.

You have a choice of what to do next: continue with your treatment at your Better2Know clinic, you can take your results to your own GP who can also prescribe treatment, or you can go to your local Sexual Health Centre.

It is important to get treated, even if you have no symptoms, as you can still pass the infection on to your partner, and it may cause long term health risks if you do not get treated. In order to best protect your health and treat the infection it is important to see a doctor to be prescribed the right drug for you.

You should also contact all your recent and ex-partners to tell them what you have tested positive for. It is the responsible thing to do, and could protect their health and fertility too. It is always Better2Know.

Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, Gardnerella and Trichomonas

If you test positive for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, Gardnerella and / or Trichomonas, these infections are usually treated with antibiotics, and can be completely cleared with a short course of the appropriate medication.

You can choose to see your Better2Know doctor, take your results to your own Doctor, or go to a Sexual Health Centre. Your choice of clinician will be able to prescribe the one most appropriate antibiotic for you. You may want to have another test at the end of the course to check that the infection has completely cleared.

Herpes

There are two types of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and your Better2Know test will tell you which, if any, you have. HSV (I) is the strain that commonly causes “cold sores”, or sores around the lips of the mouth. The HSV (II) strain is the viral type that typically causes Genital Herpes.

There is currently no medication available to eliminate the virus from the body however there are many treatments which are very effective at reducing both the severity and frequency of any outbreaks. So the good news is that these outbreaks can be managed, and there are creams and medications available to keep the outbreaks under control with reduced symptoms.

If you test positive for HSV, your Better2Know doctor or your Doctor if you prefer, will be able to prescribe the right treatment for you. There are also organisations who can support you such as The STI Project provides an online forum for people to share their stories.

Hepatitis B

If you test positive for Hepatitis B, your Better2Know Doctor will advise you to see a specialist who will carry out further tests to see the affect the virus is having on your body and the best treatment options for you. You can decide whether to continue this review with your Better2Know doctor or through your own Doctor.

The majority of people who test positive find that their immune system will fight off the virus on its own, but careful monitoring of the infection is always necessary.

The specialist will be able to provide the right treatment if the disease is more advanced – this is an antiviral medication which will be prescribed and can last up to six months, during which time you will receive regular support and monitoring. This should clear the virus from your body and you can then continue to lead your normal life.

Regardless of whether the infection is producing symptoms or not, you are advised to avoid alcohol, get plenty of rest and maintain a healthy diet.

Hepatitis C

If you test positive for Hepatitis C, your Better2Know Doctor will advise you to see a specialist who will carry out further tests to see the affect the virus is having on your body and the best treatment options for you. You can decide whether to continue this review with your Better2Know doctor or through your own Doctor.

Treatment may include antiviral drugs to help your body combat the effects of the virus. You will be advised to have regular check-ups to monitor your reaction to the drugs.

HPV/ Genital Warts/ Cervical Cancer

Sexually transmitted HPVs fall into two categories:

  • Low-risk HPVs, which do not cause cancer but can cause skin warts on or around the genitals or anus. For example, types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts.
  • High-risk HPVs, which can cause cancer. At least a dozen high-risk HPV types have been identified. Two of these, types 16 and 18, are responsible for the majority of HPV-caused cancers.

Just because you test positive for  HPV, even if it is a high risk type, it does not mean that you will go on to develop cervical cancer. You will be referred to a specialist (available through your Better2Know Doctor or your own Doctor) who will be able to recommend follow up tests, and to advise you on the most appropriate treatment for you.

If you have a confirmed genital wart, this can be removed (usually through cryotherapy – which involves freezing the infected cells), there are also creams that can be prescribed to help remove warts, reduce their symptoms and prevent their reoccurrence.

HIV

With early identification and appropriate treatment, HIV is no longer a life threatening virus. You should test regularly, so that if you test positive you can start your treatment early, as this is the best thing you can do for your long term health, it also helps with contacting recent and ex partners. Better2Know can detect HIV from as early as ten days after any exposure.

Many people do not even have to start taking medication straight away, but you should start to monitor the effects of the virus. You can choose whether to continue your treatment privately or your own Doctor. There are also apps and websites to help you manage and monitor you condition so that you can take control of the virus and maintain your health and lifestyle.