STI testing is free in Northern Ireland. You can obtain advice, testing and treatment from your GP.
There are also other services in Northern Ireland which provide advice, testing and treatment for STIs. These include sexual health (GUM) clinics and the online testing service (SH24).
When should I get tested?
If you are sexually active and if you are unsure about your partner’s sexual history, you risk getting STIs. People at any age can get a sexually transmitted infection. Reasons to have a sexual health check-up include if:
- you think you might have an STI;
- you have had sex without using a condom, including vaginal, oral and anal sex;
- a condom split or came off during sex;
- you are at the beginning of a new sexual relationship;
- you or your partner have more than one sexual partner;
- you shared injecting equipment.
The frequency of check-ups depends on your lifestyle and sexual activity.