Freetest.me Blog

Safe Sex on Holiday

Freetest.me — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Last year we wrote about where Brits were having the most unprotected sex on holiday. This year we're back with a bit more detail on how to stay safe if you end up having a holiday romance while you’re abroad. If you're headed to Benidorm, pay extra attention.

A History of Sex Education in the UK

Freetest.me — Fri, 22 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Sex education can play a big role in a young person's sexual health both while they're in their teens and when they're older too. From hidden messages in biology lessons to changes in sexual health services outside the classroom, here's a brief history of sex education and sexual health services in the UK.

Why more people should be talking about STIs

Freetest.me — Fri, 08 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

You've been told you've got an STI. You've let your past partners know and you've finished your course of antibiotics to clear it up. Now you're ready to forget that it ever happened, right?

5 Valentine’s Traditions from Around the World

Freetest.me — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Here in England, Valentine's Day is usually celebrated with a box of chocolates, a Valentine's card and maybe a romantic dinner date. But not everywhere celebrates the day of love like this, or even on the same day. Here are 5 traditions from around the world to inspire you to do something different this 14th February.

5 Methods of Contraception that Should Stay in the Past

Freetest.me — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Downton Abbey recently broached the subject of contraception, which had a lot of people asking, what did Anna buy for Lady Mary? Was it a condom? Did they even have condoms back then?

New Year, New Start

Freetest.me — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The New Year is often seen as a time for a new start - a time for change. Many people set themselves New Year’s Resolutions to help them get improve at certain things and generally become better people all round.

How to Survive the Festive Season in One Piece

Freetest.me — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

At the risk of repeating ourselves, this week's post is going to be all about staying safe over the Christmas period. If you caught our freshers’ survival guide, you might already know some of this, but it doesn't hurt to stick around and refresh your memory. September? Might as well be last year.

When should you get tested for chlamydia?

Freetest.me — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Until you or your partner both get tested and are sure as can be you’ve not got any STIs, you should use a condom whenever you have sex. Don’t take any excuses either, now condoms come in a variety of materials, there’s no real reason a person can’t wear one.

Home-Based STI Testing More Popular Among Men

Freetest.me — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Home-based STI testing might just have the upper hand on the clinic. A recent study of 200 men in the US concluded that they were 60% more likely to get tested for STIs if they were able to do the test at home rather than in the clinic.

7 Chlamydia Myths that Are Dangerous for Your Health

Freetest.me — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The clinic will know what they're talking about when it comes to STIs, but how do you know what you find on the internet or what your friends tell you is right? Some of the most common myths about chlamydia can be dangerous for your health, so this week we're putting the record straight.

Scrotal Recall - How to Avoid Dating Disasters (and Spreading Chlamydia too)

Freetest.me — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

With a name like Scrotal Recall, it's easy to write off Channel 4's latest Thursday night offering as a laddish comedy full of inappropriate banter. But don't let the title put you off. It was originally intended as a joke by the show's creator, Tom Edge, and the show is nowhere near as crude as the name suggests.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Condoms

Freetest.me — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Chlamydia Testing - What's All the Fuss About?

Freetest.me — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Even though it's recommended that you get tested regularly for chlamydia and other STIs, going for a sexual health check-up might still be the last thing on your mind. You've not got any symptoms, and you haven’t got the time to spare for a trip to the clinic anyway.

Survey Shows Increasing Demand for Online Healthcare

Freetest.me — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Most of us now find it impossible to go a day without checking Whatsapp, sending a Snapchat or tweeting about the pile of work we really should be doing. Let’s be honest, much of our time online is spent procrastinating, but there are plenty of apps and websites there for us to help us get organised too. From savings accounts to STI testing, it’s all there for us.

Party's Over, Time to Get Tested

Freetest.me — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Unless you're lucky enough to have a freshers' fortnight, freshers' week will almost be over. You've been eased in to uni life with a couple of sign up classes and a load of nights you’ll never want to forget. Now it's time to buckle down and start studying.

How’s Your University’s Sexual Health Report Card?

Freetest.me — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

When you're picking a university to apply to, you want to make sure you're going to get your money's worth every year. A lot is down to academic performance, but should you be looking for more than just a good track record for grades?

Know Your Limits during Freshers' 2014

Freetest.me — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

It's Freshers' Week. It's your first time away from home and you're determined to make the most of it. There's no one to tell you off for staying out too late, getting too drunk or bringing someone home with you.

3 Things to remember if you’ve Moved Away for University

Freetest.me — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

If you’ve moved away from home for university, chances are you’ll be making the most of your new found freedom. You’ve made it past the awkward introductions with your new flatmates and unpacked all your belongings – who knew you had so much stuff? Finally there’s no one to nag you about tidying your room, staying out too late or drinking too much.

Benidorm Named the Mediterranean’s Unsafe Sex Hot Spot

Freetest.me — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

In a national survey, almost one in ten of the 2,029 that took part said that they’d had sex with a stranger on holiday without using a condom.

The Secret Life of Students - Why Chlamydia Testing is Important

Freetest.me — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Last month Channel 4 brought the Secret Life of Students to our TV screens. On his own first year mission 'to get laid', Aiden finds out he's caught Chlamydia.

Freetest.me Universities Rate Highly in Sexual Health Report Card

Freetest.me — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Sexually transmitted infections are easy to push to the back of your mind, but with rising rates and almost three quarters of new diagnoses among those aged 16-24, sexual health is especially important at university.

Tuesday 14th January is National STI-Q Day 2014

Freetest.me — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

National STI-Q Day is held two weeks after New Year and a month before Valentines Day, to encourage people to question their sexual health.

One in Four Students Contract an STI in Their First Year of University

Freetest.me — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students: Get Tested Summer 2013!

Freetest.me — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Students - whether in your first or final year of University you should always be keeping an eye on your sexual health. The summer vacation is a great time to get tested for chlamydia, whether you are working, travelling, returning home or graduating.

Chlamydia on the Rise in England

Freetest.me — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The latest data and reports published yesterday by Public Health England (PHE) claims that STIs being diagnosed are up 5% in England. This story has been taken up by the national media, reporting how 450,000 STIs were diagnosed in the UK last year.

Can you get Chlamydia by Kissing?

Freetest.me — Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a common myth that Chlamydia can be passed on through mouth-to-mouth contact or kissing.

Chlamydia – testing, testing...

Freetest.me — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Chlamydia is the UK's most common sexually transmitted disease, with one out of every 14 young people directly affected by it every year. Unlike other STIs, Chlamydia is easy to pass on or pick up unwittingly because it's often impossible to tell if you or your sexual partner has been infected. The disease has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

Valentine’s Day is on the Horizon

Dr. Christian Jessen — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

February means Valentine’s Day is on the horizon –chocolates and flowers may be on the cards but there is a present that you definitely don’t want: chlamydia!

Chlamydia - Why can it affect women so badly?

Dr. Christian Jessen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The reason why chlamydia can have such a devastating effect in women is because it can travel to the delicate reproductive organs. The uterus, or womb, is shaped like an upside-down pear with its lower end narrowing to form a protective opening called the cervix. In teenage girls the cervix is still not fully developed and matured and is lined with fresh tissue that is easily infected by chlamydia

Monday 14th January is National STI-Q Day 2013

Freetest.me — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

National STI-Q Day is held two weeks after New Year to encourage people to question their sexual health. Two weeks is the time after which common STIs such as Chlamydia can be tested for. Around 1-in-12 test positive.

Chlamydia - What is it?

Dr. Christian Jessen — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Why is it that we get nagged so often in magazines and health campaigns about getting tested for chlamydia? Why is it so important to get tested for something that you can’t see or feel?

Chlamydia and Your Health

Dr. Christian Jessen — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Chlamydia is a bacterium, a microorganism that invades human cells. Like other sexual infections it can enter your body through sexual contact and the exchange of body fluids like semen or vaginal secretions. It is a concern because if undiagnosed and untreated it can cause serious long term problems that it may not be possible to put right.

Chlamydia - Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Christian Jessen — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Having worked as a sexual health doctor for many years I have noticed that people ask certain questions substantially more than others. So I thought I would answer some of them here.

Chlamydia - What else should I know?

Dr. Christian Jessen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you do test positive for Chlamydia then it would be strongly advisable for you to go and get checked out for other sexually transmitted infections at a GU clinic. Chlamydia is certainly the more common STI and so is good to screen for, but being infected with Chlamydia means that you might be at risk of catching other infections as well.

Chlamydia - So what can I do?

Dr. Christian Jessen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If we are going to look at all the options then the most successful way to avoid catching chlamydia is to not have sex at all – known as abstinence. This is because unless they have been tested at the right times then you can’t know if your partners are infected or not. I appreciate that this is not necessarily the most desirable way to go about things and so the next most important thing you can do is to always use a condom when having sex.

Adam: My Story (Part 2)

Freetest.me — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

So – here’s the second part to my story. After testing positive and being treated for Chlamydia, I’d learned my lesson.

Valentine’s Day is on the Horizon

Dr. Christian Jessen — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

February means Valentine’s Day is on the horizon –chocolates and flowers may be on the cards but there is a present that you definitely don’t want: chlamydia!

Adam: My Story (Part 1)

Freetest.me — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hi, I'm writing to share my experience...

New Freetest.me Poster Designs

Freetest.me — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Check out our new poster designs, full downloads are available from our resources page. You are welcome to download, distribte and print these posters to promote the freetest.me brand in your area.

Freetest.me could save the NHS millions of pounds

Preventx Limited — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New figures from the National Audit Office reveal the Chlamydia Screening Programme is not cost-effective. However, there is compelling evidence that most NHS Primary Care Trusts who are responsible for delivering the service are still failing to use the most cost effective option at their disposal.

Freetest.me proving to be a massive hit with under 25s

Freetest.me — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The free online Chlamydia test is proving to be a massive hit with the under 25s. Tens of thousands of people have used the freetest.me website to get tested so far - and more are joining them every day!

Free Chlamydia Testing at FreeTest.Me

Preventx Limited — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our unique new service, enabling young people to access a free online Chlamydia testing has been launched today at www.freetest.me.