If you’re concerned about your sexual health and always find excuses not to get checked out, then the new Confidante STI home test may be for you. I try out a kit to find out just how easy it is to use.
The kit tests for ten different STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) from either a urine sample or a swab. Using the urine pot I collected my sample, filled a vile and that was it. Simple. No needles, no umbrella metal objects to push down anything! You then just fill out the form and return with your sample in the pre-paid envelope provided.
It says test results can take up to a week and as soon as I’d posted the kit, though fairly confident on my results having been in a long term relationship, I still felt that sudden ‘Oh dear, what if something comes back positive?’
The results can be sent a number of ways via post, email, phone or online. I opted for online and as soon as I received the email to say they were in, I logged onto the website with my unique reference number to discover I was in fact clear in all ten tests. It’s always reassuring to know you’re not carrying an STI that you didn’t know about, especially as some can go undetected for years.
Of course had any of the tests come back positive then you will be advised to seek appropriate treatment either from a Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic or your GP. Should you not want to discuss results with your GP then other advice can be offered on services available to you.
The Confidante lab uses your sample to test for the following:
1 – Chlamydia trachomatis
2 – Neisseria gonorrhoea
3 – Treponema pallidum (Syphilis)
4 – Herpes Simplex Virus 1
5 – Herpes Simplex Virus 2
6 – Trichomonas vaginalis
7 – Mycoplasma hominis
8 – Mycoplasma genitalium
9 – Ureaplasma genitalium
10 – Haemophilus ducreyi (Chancroid)
You can order your kits online at www.confidantetest.com
