Private STI Screening and Treatment in Manchester and Cheshire

STI screening is appropriate for anyone who is sexually active and would like reassurance, has had a new partner, has had a possible exposure, has symptoms, or is starting a new relationship. We see women and men of all ages, and there’s no minimum or maximum age for testing.

No, and in fact most people who test positive haven’t noticed anything different. Many STIs sit quietly for weeks or months after exposure, which is part of why they pass between partners so easily. NHS guidance estimates that roughly 7 in 10 women and 5 in 10 men with chlamydia never develop signs they’d recognise, and HIV can stay silent for years before causing any noticeable change. Testing is the only reliable way to know where you stand, particularly after a new partner or any change in your circumstances.

We test for the four most common UK STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are detected via urine (or vulvovaginal swab); syphilis and HIV via a blood test. If you’d like testing for other infections (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, or trichomoniasis), please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll confirm what we can offer.

Yes, for chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Chlamydia is treated with a seven-day course of doxycycline (first-line per BASHH guidance). Gonorrhoea is treated with a single ceftriaxone injection given in clinic, also per BASHH guidance. For syphilis and HIV, we coordinate onward referral to specialist NHS services for ongoing treatment, and we’ll support you through that process.

Most results are available quickly, typically from the next working day up to 48 hours. We’ll contact you securely as soon as they’re back, using the method you chose at your appointment.

Fully confidential. Your STI screening is not shared with your NHS GP, employer or insurer without your written consent. Results, correspondence, and any prescriptions stay within our clinic records and are handled in line with GMC confidentiality guidance and UK GDPR.

No. Unless you specifically ask us to write to your NHS GP, no information is shared. If a positive result requires onward NHS referral (for example, for syphilis or HIV care), we’ll discuss exactly what information needs to be shared and seek your consent before doing so.

If you test positive for an STI, current and recent sexual partners may need to be tested and treated to prevent reinfection and onward transmission. We’ll talk through your options at your follow-up appointment. You can notify partners yourself, or use the anonymous NHS partner notification service, which contacts partners on your behalf without naming you. We’ll guide you to the right route and support you through it.

NHS sexual health clinics offer excellent, free STI testing and treatment, and we’d always encourage you to use them where they’re accessible. The advantages of private screening with Summerhill Health are same-week appointments, continuity with a named GP, a single 30-minute appointment that covers consultation, testing, and a clear results plan, and no shared records with your NHS GP. The right choice depends on your priorities around access, privacy, and convenience.

For most sexually active adults, an annual screen is a reasonable baseline. If you have new or multiple partners, are in a non-monogamous relationship, or have had a possible exposure, more frequent testing (every three to six months) is sensible. We’ll agree the right interval with you at your appointment.

If the encounter was within the last two weeks, testing for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is reliable now, but syphilis and HIV results won’t be definitive until later (see window periods above). We’d usually recommend an initial screen now and a follow-up screen at 45 days for full HIV and syphilis clearance. If you’re worried about HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, contact NHS emergency sexual health services or A&E about PEP straight away.

These aren’t part of our standard four-infection screen, but we can arrange additional testing on request. Trichomoniasis is tested via swab or urine. Herpes is generally only tested when active sores are present (via swab). Hepatitis B and C are tested via blood. HPV testing is offered as part of our cervical screening service rather than as part of STI screening. Please let us know what you’d like covered at the time of booking.

Yes. We’re happy to see partners together or in back-to-back appointments. Each person has their own confidential consultation and results process, but the practical side (timing, treatment, retesting) can be coordinated.

Our clinic is based in Hale, in the heart of South Manchester. We’re easy to reach from Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale Barns, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Alderley Edge, Stockport, Cheadle, Sale, and Manchester city centre. There’s parking nearby, and the clinic is a short walk from Hale train station.

See our Getting Here page for full directions and accessibility information.