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• Wards & departments | Sexual Health | Sexual Health pages |
  • Check ups for men

Male sexual health check up

This page explains what happens when you come for a sexual health check up at 21a Craven Road.

When you arrive:

• You will need to fill out a form with your details.
• The most important thing is to put down a way we can contact you.
• On the back you should say if you have any problems relating to your sexual health, for example, discharge or pain in your stomach, so we know if you need to see a doctor or nurse.
• If you have no problems and just want a screen or only want to talk to somebody that’s fine too!

When you see the doctor or nurse:

• Your visit to us is confidential – that means we won’t tell anyone about your visit. The only reason we may speak to someone else is if we feel we need to protect you or someone else from harm. We will talk to you first before we do this.
• You will be asked some very personal questions.
• You can choose to be seen on your own, with a friend or with a parent or we can provide another member of staff. Remember we will ask some personal questions.
• You can also ask to see a male or female doctor or nurse. If we don’t have your choice available when you are here, you may be asked to return when it is.
• We will always ask if it is okay to do the tests – you can choose to say no to anything if you don’t want it done.

What questions do we ask?

• We will ask about your general health and any problems you have that may make you think you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
• We will ask about when you last had sex and if the partner was regular or casual. We will also ask if you used a condom.
• You will be asked when you last passed urine (did a wee) as we can’t do the tests if you have urinated in the last 1 hour. This is because when you urinate it washes away the material that we need to test.
• We always offer a test for HIV and Syphilis. This is a blood test. It is your decision as to whether or not you want to do the test.

The tests

• We will ask you to undo your trousers.
• If you have no problems we will take one swab from where your urine comes out (urethra). This is to test for gonorrhoea.
• You will then be asked to give us a urine sample to test for Chlamydia.
• If you have any problems like a discharge or pain when you wee, we may take another quick swab to look at under the microscope. If we see anything wrong we may give you some treatment on the day.

Your results:

• You will be told of your results by text or sometimes phone call.
• You should hear within 2 to 3 weeks. If you haven’t heard in 3 weeks then you need to call us for your results.
• Remember to check your mobile number is correct before you leave, we won’t be able to get hold of you if it is wrong.
• If any of the tests come back showing you have an infection you will need to come back for some antibiotics (medication).
• We will discuss with you ways to tell your partners as they will need some antibiotics (medication) too.
• All medication is free.

Emergency contraception

It is possible for a female partner to take a tablet known as emergency hormonal contraception (morning after pill) to help prevent a pregnancy.

• This can be taken if you have had unprotected sex or a method of contraception has failed (such as a split condom) in the last 3 to 5 days.
• The sooner it is taken the more effective it is.
• This is available free from the sexual health clinic, Mon to Fri 7am to 7pm.
• Other places you can get this pill for free from are:

1. GP surgery or Westcall (when the GP is closed)
2. Connexions, Reading (Wednesdays 4pm – 6.30pm, Fridays 2pm-4.30pm)
3. The Walk-in Clinic in Reading’s Broad Street Mall (open 8am-8pm Mon – Sun)
4. Accident and Emergency Department
5. Some pharmacies have specially trained pharmacists who are able to do this for free if you are under 19.