STI testing is free on the NHS for everyone in the UK, including if you have no GP, no fixed address, or are not a UK citizen. You can go to a sexual health clinic in person, or in most areas order a free postal kit online, do it at home and post it back. Results usually come by text within a week.
- Free and confidential, with no charge at any point.
- Postal kits are available in most of the UK — no appointment, no conversation.
- Your GP is not told unless you ask them to be.
- Sexual health clinic records are kept separately from your main NHS record.
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The three routes
| Route | How it works | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Postal kit | Order online, sample at home, freepost back, result by text | No symptoms, routine check |
| Sexual health clinic | Walk-in or booked; can test, examine and treat same day | Symptoms, or you want to be seen |
| GP | Can test for some infections, refers on for others | You would rather use your usual practice |
Find services through NHS sexual health service search. In Scotland use NHS inform. Postal kit availability varies by local authority — the NHS finder shows what your area offers.
What a postal kit involves
- Order online through your local service — you enter a postcode to check eligibility.
- The kit arrives in plain packaging, usually within a few days.
- You take the samples yourself following the instructions provided.
- Post it back in the freepost envelope included.
- Results typically arrive by text within about a week.
- If anything needs treatment, the service contacts you and arranges it — also free.
Confidentiality
This is the question people most often want answered before they book:
- Your GP is not automatically informed. Sexual health services in England operate under specific confidentiality rules and keep records separately from your main NHS record.
- You do not need to give a permanent address to attend a clinic.
- You can attend any clinic, not just one in your registered area.
- Contact tracing is anonymous. If you test positive, partners can be notified without your name being given.
How often
NHS and sexual health charity guidance generally suggests men who have sex with men test regularly, and more frequently with new or multiple partners. The specific interval that applies to you is a clinical question — a sexual health service will tell you based on your circumstances rather than a rule of thumb from an article.
Test sooner than any schedule if you have symptoms, if a partner tells you they have tested positive, or after a condom failure.
What it means for dating
Two things worth stating plainly, because they come up constantly on apps:
- Nobody is entitled to demand proof from you. A conversation about testing is reasonable; being asked to produce documentation is not, and it is not how any of this works.
- Nobody should pressure you out of the conversation either. Someone who refuses to discuss it at all has told you something.
See also U=U explained and the sexual health hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is STI testing free in the UK?
Yes. NHS sexual health services are free for everyone, including people without a GP, without a fixed address, and regardless of immigration status. There is no charge at any stage, including treatment.
Can I get a test without going to a clinic?
In most areas yes — free postal kits can be ordered online, taken at home and returned by freepost, with results usually by text within about a week. Availability varies by local authority.
Will my GP find out?
Not unless you ask them to be told. Sexual health services keep records separately from your main NHS record and operate under specific confidentiality rules.
How long do results take?
Typically around a week for postal kits. Clinics can sometimes give some results the same day. The service will tell you what to expect when you test.
Do I need to be registered with a GP?
No. You can attend a sexual health clinic without a GP, without a permanent address, and you can use any clinic rather than only one in your own area.
What if I test positive?
The service contacts you and arranges treatment, which is also free. Most common STIs are straightforward to treat. Partner notification can be done anonymously so your name is not given.