Planning a summer of love? Our sexual health services are here for you

Summer has begun and many of you will be jetting off on holiday, attending festivals and enjoying a summer of fun …and maybe love…

Whatever your plans we hope you have a great time. But first take a moment to think about checking your sexual health status and packing some protection so you feel safer in your sex life.

It’s never been easier to get tested regularly by ordering a testing kit online discreetly delivered to your front door or attending a sexual health clinic.

Do you know your status?

More than half of sexually active adults get an STI (sexually transmitted infection) at some point in their lifetime. In the UK a young person is diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhoea every 4 minutes.

During the summer there are often more group events where there is a risk of contracting and spreading STIs as people tend to let go and engage in more risky behaviours.  STIs often have no early symptoms so without a test you may not know you have it. CNWL offer STI testing kits that check for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV.

If you’re newly single and ready to mingle, looking for love or in a long-term relationship, CNWL’s Sexual Health Services have you covered with regular testing.

Dr Amy Bennett from Surrey Sexual Health says

“Even with 100% consistent condom use, STIs can still spread—especially through oral sex, where protection is often not used. Many people assume they’re low-risk based on how trustworthy or monogamous their partner seems, but you can’t really tell someone’s STI status just by appearances or assumptions. Regular testing is the only way to know for sure and help stop the chain of infection.

We continue to see high numbers of gonorrhoea and syphilis across the UK, and that rise is reflected in our Surrey clinics too. These infections can be transmitted easily—even from oral sex—so staying informed about your status matters.

Regular testing means you know where you stand—and you can tell new partners with confidence when your last test was. If you’re having multiple partners, testing every 4–6 weeks is a good idea. If it’s fewer partners, every 3–6 months works. And of course, if anything doesn’t feel right, come and see us as soon as you can.

Planning your contraception is just as important—especially with holidays and spontaneous summer plans. We offer a range of options, from daily pills to long-acting methods like implants that can see you through the summer and beyond. You can also arrange repeat pill prescriptions easily through our website.”

You should also get checked if:

• You’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner
• Your partner has a sexually transmitted infection
• You or your partner have had sex with someone else without using a condom
• You or your partner have any symptoms 
• You’re planning to get pregnant

CNWL’s Sexual Health Services in London and Surrey are free, non-judgmental and inclusive to everyone.

If you live in Surrey 

CNWL Surrey Sexual Health has a dedicated page to order home testing kits. There are two types of kits available, one for people aged 16 and over  (which tests for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis) and a Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea test for under 25s.  

You can also order repeat prescriptions for contraception here.

If you would like to start PrEP (HIV prevention medication), please book an appointment online here.

For all other appointments please book an appointment online here 

CNWL Surrey Sexual Health also now has a dedicated sexual health young person's clinic for 13 to 19 year olds every Tuesday from 3pm to 6pm at Buryfields Clinic, 61 Lawn Road, Guildford, GU2 4AX and at Earnsdale Clinic, 2 Whitepost Hill, Redhill, RH1 6BD and Woking Clinic, Woking Hospital, Heathside Road, Woking GU22 7HS. You can book an appointment at any of these clinics here. Alternatively, at our Buryfields Clinic you can just turn up during the young person’s clinic hours without an appointment and you will still be seen!

 The clinic offers:

• Sexual health testing and treatment
• Condoms and PrEP (a pill to prevent HIV)
• Contraception and sexual health advice 
• Contraceptive pills, patches, injections and implants 
• Pregnancy testing
• Advice and care for all who identify as LGBT+

In Surrey those aged under 25 can also access free condoms through our condom distribution scheme. See the Healthy Surrey website for details.

If you live in London

You can order a home testing kit online or attend a quick check appointment in one of our clinics.

You can also re-order or start PrEP (a HIV prevention medication) please visit this page to find out more.

If you need to see a clinician because you have symptoms or are a contact of a sexually transmitted infection, please visit www.sexualhealth.cnwl.nhs.uk for more information on booking an appointment in one of our sexual health clinics in London and Surrey. 

Getting a sexual health check is easy and shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful; sex is a normal part of our adult life, and STIs can be a part of it, so we encourage everybody to test regularly and be in control of their sexual health. It’s a quick, simple process that not only puts your mind at rest but could protect you from more serious complications like infertility. Protect your sex life – and protect your partner.