Contact details
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexual Health Screen - How to get a test kit
For a sexual health screening test kit to be sent to your home address order your free kit through www.safesexberkshire.com.
A full sexual health screening service including tests for: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphillis, HIV testing, Hepatitis B and C as well as vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B, free treatment and advice can be obtained from the Florey Clinic. Please call us on: 0118 322 7202.
Symptoms - of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)
Symptoms of any STI can vary from obvious itchiness, soreness, rashes, to pain when passing urine or opening your bowels, discharge from the penis or vagina, and lumps or sores on the genitals. Symptoms may also include pain in your stomach or groin. If you have any of these symptoms please book an appointment through Safe Sex Berkshire or call us on: 0118 322 7202 and request a telephone call back.
Sometimes you will get no symptoms at all or the symptoms will take a long time to show. This means you could be passing infections on to other people without knowing it. The only way to know you have an infection is to have an STI test. You can order your free testing kit through www.safesexberkshire.com.
Been told you have an infection or a contact of an infection?
If you have received a text message from the Florey unit that you have an infection then you should get a call from us to discuss having treatment being sent to you. Depending on the infection we may ask you to come in for further tests or to receive treatment. If someone has advised you to get tested as they have an infection and this was very recent, then please call us on 0118 322 7202 and request a call back.
If someone has called you to say that they have an infection or you may have an infection but the last contact you had was many weeks ago and you have no symptoms, we would advise you to test and stop having sex until your results are returned to you. You can order your free test kit through www.safesexberkshire.com.
If you are unsure what to do then please call us on this number 0118 322 7202.
If our team request that you need to come in for an examination, investigation or treatment, most of our appointments take place at:
The Florey Clinic
21a Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5LE
Please note parking facilities are generally very busy so we advise you to leave extra time.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
PEP is a course of anti-HIV medication that must be started as soon as possible after you've been exposed to HIV, ideally within a few hours.
PEP is also available from the Emergency Department (A&E).
If you think you have been at risk of an HIV exposure then you might be eligible for PEP. This is a month-long course of HIV drugs that someone takes very soon after sex which had a risk of HIV transmission. The drugs are the same ones taken by people with HIV. The sooner PEP is started, the more likely it is to work; within 24 hours is best, but no later than 72 hours (3 days). After 72 hours PEP is unlikely to work.
PEP is available from the clinic during our opening times. If we are closed then DON'T DELAY, go to A&E for assessment as the sooner you start to take the medication, the better chance you have of preventing HIV.
What happens when you come to a clinic?
When you come to the clinic the receptionist will give you a form to fill in, including some personal details such as name and date of birth and a few questions about your reason for attending the clinic. Depending on what you put on this form you will be seen by a doctor or nurse and you may have to wait to be seen. The tests that are taken will not have your name on them.
You will have a discussion with a doctor or nurse about your general health, any symptoms and about your sexual activity.
Not everyone will need an examination; if you do have an examination you will be offered a chaperone.
Everyone is offered tests for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV infection. Some people will need tests for herpes, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Some of the tests may be taken by you others may need to be taken by a doctor or nurse.
Important information: All male patients are required not to pass urine for at least 60 minutes prior to seeing the doctor or nurse. This is especially important for chlamydia testing.
When you come to the clinic the receptionist will give you a form to fill in, including some personal details such as name and date of birth and a few questions about your reason for attending the clinic. Depending on what you put on this form you will be seen by a doctor or nurse and you may have to wait to be seen. The tests that are taken will not have your name on them.
You will have a discussion with a doctor or nurse about your general health, any symptoms and about your sexual activity.
Not everyone will need an examination; if you do have an examination you will be offered a chaperone.
Everyone is offered tests for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV infection. Some people will need tests for herpes, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Some of the tests may be taken by you others may need to be taken by a doctor or nurse.
Important information: All male patients are required not to pass urine for at least 60 minutes prior to seeing the doctor or nurse. This is especially important for chlamydia testing.
Community Events
We're holding community HIV testing events across Berkshire over the coming months. Please check dates below and come down to learn more about knowing your status and protecting yourself.