Full STI Test Kit

Our at-home full STI test kit can test for a wide range of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), enabling you to get quick and effective treatment for:

• genital chlamydia
• genital gonorrhoea
• herpes
• mycoplasma
• trichomoniasis
• ureaplasma
• Gardnerella vaginalis

Genital chlamydia

Genital chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the UK. Genital chlamydia doesn’t always cause symptoms, 70% of women and 50% of men do not experience any signs and are unaware they may be infected. However, if you get chlamydia symptoms, they can present differently if you have a penis or a vagina.

Genital chlamydia symptoms in women include:

• pain when going for a pee
• unusual vaginal discharge
• tummy pain, bleeding after sex, and bleeding between periods

Genital chlamydia symptoms in men include:

• pain when going for a pee
• unusual discharge from the penis
• testicular pain

Chlamydia can be spread through unprotected sex or coming into contact with genital fluids, but it cannot be passed on by sharing towels, baths, toilet seats, or by kissing or hugging.

What happens if chlamydia is left untreated?

Leaving genital chlamydia untreated can lead to long-term health problems as the infection can spread to other parts of the body.

In men, untreated genital chlamydia can:

• spread to the testicles and the tubes that carry sperm called the epididymis, causing pain and swelling (epididymitis)
• in rare cases, lead to infertility

In women, if chlamydia is left untreated, it can lead to:

• pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• ectopic pregnancy
• infertility

That’s why it is important to get tested and receive treatment as soon as possible.

Genital gonorrhoea

Easily passed through unprotected sex or coming into contact with sexual fluids, genital gonorrhoea is an STI caused by bacteria. Most men (90%) and half of women (50%) get no symptoms.

If you do get them, gonorrhoea symptoms include:

• thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis
• pain when going for a pee
• bleeding between periods in women

What happens if genital gonorrhoea is left untreated?

It is important to get tested for gonorrhoea as soon as possible because it can lead to long-term health complications, such as PID in women, or infertility in both men and women.

Herpes

Genital herpes is another common STI in the UK and can be passed on through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The symptoms include:

• small blisters that burst, leaving open, red sores around your genitals, anus, thighs, or bottom
• tingling or burning sensations around your genitals
• pain when going for a pee
• unusual genital discharge

What happens if genital herpes is not treated?

There is no cure for genital herpes and the symptoms will clear up by themselves but the sores can come back. This is known as an outbreak or recurrence. You can pass genital herpes on even if you do not have visible sores or other symptoms.

Treatments for genital herpes can help to relieve some of the symptoms and stop them getting worse, or shorten recurrent outbreaks.

Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacteria that is spread through sexual contact. Most mycoplasma infections are symptom-free, but occasionally the infection can cause symptoms that are different for men and women

Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms in men include:

• pain when going for a pee
• white discharge from the penis
• burning or itching in the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra)
• testicular pain
• discomfort or discharge from your anus (if you’ve had anal sex)

Mycoplasma genitalium symptoms in women include:

• pain when going for a pee
• unusual vaginal discharge
• tummy or pelvis pain
• pain during sex
• bleeding after sex
• painful bleeding between periods
• discomfort or discharge from your anus (if you’ve had anal sex)

What happens if mycoplasma genitalium is left untreated?

The infection can cause PID in women, which can lead to reduced fertility. Therefore, if you think you may have been infected with mycoplasma, it is important to get tested as soon as possible.

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is an STI that’s caused by a parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis and is spread through unprotected vaginal sex. The symptoms usually develop within a month of infection. Although half of people do not experience any symptoms, they can still pass the infection on. The symptoms are similar to other STIs which is why it is important to get tested so you can receive the right treatment.

Trichomoniasis symptoms in women include:

• unusual vaginal discharge that may be thick, think, frothy, or yellow-green
• increased vaginal discharge that may have a fishy smell
• soreness, swelling, or vaginal itching
• pain or discomfort when going for a pee or having sex

Trichomoniasis symptoms in men include:

• pain when going for a pee or during ejaculation
• peeing more often than usual
• thin, white discharge from the penis
• soreness, swelling, and redness around the head of the penis or foreskin

What happens if trichomoniasis is left untreated?

Long-term complications caused by trichomoniasis are rare, but some women can be at an increased risk of further complications. In pregnant women, trichomoniasis can cause premature birth or a low birth weight in babies.

Ureaplasma

Ureaplasma is a bacteria that’s passed between people during sexual contact. A large number of sexually active people are infected with ureaplasma and it causes no symptoms. However, it may cause pain when you go for a pee or needing to pee more often than usual.

It is important to test for ureaplasma as it has been associated with other genitourinary (urinary and reproductive) tract infections, pregnancy complications, and neonatal diseases when passed from a pregnant person to their baby.

Gardnerella vaginalis

Gardnerella vaginalis is a normal member of the vaginal microenvironment or microbiome. However, high numbers cause bacterial vaginosis in women and rarely, urethritis (a swollen urethra) in men.

Bacterial vaginosis symptoms include:

• unusual vaginal discharge with a strong, fishy smell
• changes in colour or consistency of your discharge

It is important to get treatment if you have a positive Gardnerella vaginalis result and you’re experiencing symptoms as it can lead to:

• an increased risk of getting STIs
• PID
• pregnancy complications

Anyone who is sexually active should consider getting tested for sexually transmitted infections regularly, particularly if you:

• have recently changed partners
• think you have been exposed to an STI or a sexual partner tells you they have tested positive for one
• have had unprotected sex
• have more than 1 sexual partner
• are pregnant
• have HIV

Anyone can get an STI, even if you’ve only had sex once. It doesn’t matter about your age, gender, or sexuality. However, some groups of people are thought to be at a higher risk of catching an STI, such as:

• men who have sex with men (MSM)
• sex workers
• trans women
• black ethnic groups
• anyone aged 15 to 24

Although getting an STI test may seem daunting, STIs are common, and if you test positive, you are not alone. There is also treatment available.

Why should I use the full STI test kit?

The full STI at-home test kit screens for 7 common sexually transmitted infections, some of which commonly cause no symptoms. So, by testing for all of these STIs at once, the full test kit is not only cheaper but more convenient. It can also keep you and your sexual partners safe from catching or spreading an infection you do not know you have.

There are also several specific STI test kits available from ZAVA, including:

• chlamydia test
• chlamydia and gonorrhoea test
• genital herpes

However, as many of these STIs are common, you may need to take several tests to make sure you’ve not got the infection unless you choose a full STI test. It is cheaper and more convenient to check for all of these infections with a single test kit.

You should get tested for STIs if you:

• think you have caught an infection, perhaps because you are getting symptoms or a sexual partner has told you they’ve got an STI
• have had unprotected sex with a new or casual partner– they should also get tested

Otherwise, you should get tested at least once a year, or every 3 months if you change partners frequently. Don’t wait for symptoms before testing as many common STIs don’t cause symptoms for most people. The exception is for herpes which can only be tested when you have sores to swab.

It is important to note that STIs have different windows for when the infection may be detectable. Some can take a few weeks, others can take months. The table below has information on when to test for each STI screened for in our extended test. You’ll need to wait at least 2 weeks for most infections.

The full STI test kit is supplied with detailed instructions and contains all the equipment you need to provide a sample and post it back to our partner laboratory.

You must read the instructions carefully before providing your sample because there are different instructions for men and women.

How to use a home full STI test for men

1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
2. Unpack your test kit on a clean surface, preferably in a bathroom near a toilet.
3. Remove the cap from the sample bottle and stand it nearby on a flat surface.
4. Pee into the sample bottle.
5. Tightly secure the cap.
6. Wash your hands before attaching the label with your details on the bottle.
7. Place and seal in the prepaid envelope.

How to use a home full STI test for women

1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
2. Unpack your test kit on a clean surface, preferably in a bathroom.
3. Remove the swab from its protective packaging but avoid touching the tip or placing it down on a surface.
4. Carefully insert the swab about half a finger's length into your vagina.
5. Rotate the swab around the inside of your vagina 5 to 10 times.
6. Gently remove it and place the swab in the tube provided and close it securely.
7. Wash your hands before attaching the label with your details on the tube.
8. Place and seal in the prepaid envelope.

Your sample can now be posted in any UK post box as soon as possible to avoid delays and to give you the most accurate results.

Our at-home full STI test kit is up to 99% accurate. However, no STI test kit is 100% accurate, but you can improve the accuracy of your test results by:

• following the instructions on how to collect your sample exactly
• waiting at least 2 weeks after having unprotected sex to collect your sample
• avoiding delays in sending your sample back to our partner laboratory

Some research shows that at-home test kits are just as effective as those carried out in STI clinics and that people can collect their own samples just as effectively as health professionals.

Once you have placed your order, you will receive your test kit within 1 to 2 days. When you post your sample back to our partner laboratory, you should receive your results 2 to 3 days after they have received it. You will receive your results via your ZAVA patient account. We will never email or text your results to you.

Our doctors will review your results, let you know what they mean, and what you’ll need to do next.

What does a negative test result mean?

A negative result means that at the time of testing, there was no infection present in your sample.

You do not need to do anything else and will not need a follow-up test. However, if you develop any symptoms or have unprotected sex again, it is important to have another test.

What does a positive test result mean?

A positive result means you have one of the STIs being tested for and you will need treatment.

A ZAVA doctor will contact you via your patient account, or a phone call if you would prefer, and advise you on the next steps you’ll need to take.

At ZAVA we offer the following treatments:

• chlamydia – doxycycline
• genital herpes – aciclovir, famiciclovir, or valaciclovir
• trichomoniasis – metronidazole

You should avoid sexual contact with anyone until you have finished your treatment course or a doctor advises that it is safe to do so.

You should also let any sexual partners you’ve had in the last 6 months know that you have had a positive STI test result. If you do not feel confident doing this, you can speak to a sexual health clinic who can arrange to send an anonymous text message for you. We also provide this service if you get a test kit through ZAVA.

You may need a follow-up test around 6 weeks after your treatment to make sure the infection has cleared up.