Sexual health: infections, screening and sex

Common infections and how they’re treated, where to get tested, screening, and the parts of sex that are worth talking about with a clinician.

4 min read Bacterial vaginosis (BV) Changes in discharge, treatment and recurrence, including pregnancy advice and the changing guidance on partner treatment.
4 min read Cervical screening What screening checks, the latest England and US intervals, self-sampling, and ways to make an appointment more manageable.
4 min read Common STIs: symptoms and treatment A plain guide to common STI symptoms and treatment types, including infections without symptoms and pelvic pain that needs urgent care.
4 min read Consent and healthy relationships What freely chosen consent looks like, how control can affect sex and pregnancy decisions, and where to find support safely.
4 min read Cystitis and urinary tract infections Recognise possible UTI symptoms, find the right care, and understand kidney infection warning signs and prevention evidence.
4 min read HIV: testing, PrEP and PEP Testing, undetectable equals untransmittable, ongoing prevention with PrEP, and urgent help after a possible HIV exposure.
4 min read HPV and the HPV vaccine How HPV spreads, what the vaccine prevents, and how vaccination programmes differ between countries. Vaccination does not replace cervical screening.
4 min read Itchy or sore vulval skin: common conditions How irritation, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and vulval pain differ, and which skin changes deserve an appointment. Includes when to get help.
4 min read Low libido and changes in desire Why desire can change, how responsive desire works, and when to ask about medicines, pain or other concerns. Includes when to get help, with UK and US notes.
4 min read Pain during sex Possible causes of painful sex, what an assessment involves, and how treatment, including pelvic physiotherapy, may help.
4 min read Sexual health for LGBTQ+ people Screening, STI care and contraception based on your body and sexual contact, with practical ways to ask for inclusive care.
5 min read STI testing: where to go and what happens What happens at an STI appointment, how samples are taken, and how confidentiality, home kits and follow-up work. Includes when to get help.
4 min read Vaginal thrush What thrush can feel like, when pharmacy treatment is appropriate, and why pregnancy or returning symptoms need a clinician.

Written by the Veya team from the sources listed in each guide. They aren’t medical advice; if you’re worried about a symptom, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.