Sexual Health
Regents Park Clinic, based in Harley Street London and St Ann's Square Manchester, is a private sexual health clinic.
We are were founded in 1985 as the first private sexual health clinic in the UK. A high proportion of UK Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) consultants worked during their training within the Regents Park Clinic.
Sexual health testing has been dumbed down in the UK over past few years. Simple testing kits mean that tests can be carried out by untrained personnel in order to roll out screening programmes. Even "specialist clinics" increasingly use nurses or GPs and testing kits rather than proper microscopy.
However, the interpretation of the results and treatment often leave a lot to be desired. The Regents Park sexual health clinics still run their services on the specialist model with all patients seen and treated by a specialist genito-urinary physician. We retain on-site microscopy and testing.
Where appropriate, we can refer use our long-established referral network to get you into the top hospitals in the NHS or the private sector.
Our in-house pharmacy stocks all medicines you are likely to require so that we can initiate treatment immediately, during the course of your first consultation.
Speedy Private Tests and Treatment
We recognise that our patients come to us both for our experience and expertise but also for rapid results and treatment. At the Doctorcall Regent's Park Clinic, we offer same-day or short-notice appointments from Monday to Saturday including evening appointments.
Your Results
- We have on-site microscopy and testing so that we can provide instant results for a range of conditions including gonorrhoea, HIV, warts, bacterial vaginosis, non-specific urethritis (NSU) and urinary infections.
- Sophisticated tests using PCR technology for other conditions including syphillis, human papilloma virus (HPV) and early HIV testing take approximately 48 hours.
- You can choose how we get the results to you, whether by post, email, text or telephone, or whether you prefer to call us for them.
Your Treatment
- We offer rapid treatment with our in-house pharmacy. In conjunction within-house testing you can start treatment without delay
- If you need a referral to hospital for any reason, we are well connected to get you to the best place as soon as possible, whether private or NHS.
Confidentiality
- Our service if entirely confidential.
- Our clinics and waiting areas are used by a wide range of different practitioners so the reason for your visit remains confidential
- You do not even need to give us your real name or contact details and you can contact us for results if you prefer.
About HIV Tests
When you attend for a HIV test at the Regents Park Clinic, you see a specialist genito-urinary physician in discrete private surroundings
The GUM doctor takes your history and discusses what an HIV test involves and what the results may means. Your consent is required before an HIV test can be performed and before you give that, we can answer any questions you may have.
At both our sexual health clinics in London and Manchester, we provide three different types of HIV test. This enables greater accuracy and earlier testing than generally available.
Your specialist Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) physician will advise you on which tests you should have.
The standard HIV Antibody Test
The usual way of testing for HIV infection is by testing for the presence of antibodies to the HIV virus in a blood sample. Antibodies are specific proteins which the immune system produces in response to infections. Although 90% of individuals will have detectable antibodies as early as 6 weeks after HIV infection, in 10% of cases antibodies to the HIV virus may not become detectable in a blood sample for up to 12 weeks.
Because of this, a "window" of 12 weeks from exposure is often referred to and using ordinary HIV testing it is is necessary to wait 12 weeks before testing.
The standard HIV antibody test we use at the Regents Park Clinic for patients who are already 12 weeks post-exposure is the INSTI rapid assay test and the Abbott HIV test. These rapid HIV tests detect both HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies. The sensitivity of these tests is reported in the medical literature as 99.6% which makes them at least as good as any antibody tests available. The blood is taken from a fingerprick and the results are available in 60 seconds.
The p24 Antigen/Antibody Test (the '28 Day HIV Test')
P24 antigen is a protein derived from the HIV virus. It becomes detectable in a blood sample for a short period after infection (normally from 2 to 5 weeks) and rapidly becomes undetectable when antibodies to HIV start to develop. It is therefore useful in identifying early HIV infection.
The P24 antigen test is combined with an antibody test and this test is known as the HIV DUO test. Using P24 testing reduces the window from 12 weeks to 4 weeks post-exposure.
The HIV DUO test is recordes as 99.8% accurate at 28 days and is now the test of choice recommended by the UK Guidelines on HIV testing 2008.
Results are available within 24 hours.
The 'Early' HIV-1 Proviral Test
Another way to test for HIV infection (other then looking for antibodies and proteins) is to test for the HIV virus itself.. We test for the genetic material (DNA/RNA) of the HIV virus in a blood sample.
Proviral testing uses a complex technique called PCR to detect the virus.
This test reduces the window from exposure to only 10 days. Because of the complexity of the test, the result takes apprimately 5 working days.
Proviral testing detects HIV with a sensitivity of 96 to 99%.
If you have Proviral testing you may be advised to have a standard HIV test in addition after the twelve-week window has elapsed to provide additional confirmation.
If your HIV test is positive...
If your HIV test result is positive, this will need to be confirmed with a further set of three confirmatory HIV tests to ensure that it is not a false positive. The likelihood of receiving a false positive is around 4 in 1000 for a standard HIV test and less then 1 in 100 for a HIV-1 Proviral test. The confirmatory tests yield a result within 24 hours.
If HIV infection is confirmed, we advise you on what you need to do next and we guide you to the appropriate HIV services, either through the NHS or privately.
Information about Avoiding Infection
Visit Condoms - Information and Advice for general advice on condoms
See Condom Essential Wear for general information on sexual health
See Live Well for information on contraception
For more information, try Safer Sex or Sexual Lifestyle
The Doctorcall Regent’s Park Clinic
The Doctorcall Regent's Park Clinic, based in Harley Street London and St Ann's Square Manchester provide private specialist sexual health services.
The clinics were founded in 1985 as the first private sexual health clinics in the UK. A high proportion of UK Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) consultants worked during their training within the London Regent's Park Clinic.
Sexual health testing has been dumbed down in the UK over past few years. Simple testing kits mean that tests can be carried out by untrained personnel in order to roll out screening programmes. Even "specialist clinics" increasingly use nurses or GPs and testing kits rather than specialist sexual health doctors and proper microscopy.
However, the interpretation of the results and treatment often leave a lot to be desired. The Regents Park sexual health clinics still run on the specialist model with all patients seen and treated by a specialist genito-urinary physician. We retain on-site microscopy and testing.
Where you require hospital treatment, we can refer you using our long-established referral network to get you into the top hospitals in the NHS or the private sector.
Our in-house pharmacy stocks all the medicines often required so that we can initiate treatment immediately during the course of your first consultation.
Impotence and Erection Problems
Our specialist physician will discuss the causes of sexual dysfunction and advise on the treatment which may involve advice, psychosexual counselling, sex therapy or medication such as Viagra or Cialis.
Erectile Dysfunction
Background
10% of men experience erection problems. These may involve difficulty with getting an erection or with maintaining an erection.
Most men experience occasional erectile dysfunction, which can be associated with stress or tiredness, but when experienced consistently for over three months we recommend it should be reviewed.
Our Approach
First of all we exclude metabolic and neurological conditions which can cause impotence, erectile dysfunction, reduced libido and male menopause.
Our specialist Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) physician will discuss the causes of sexual dysfunction and advise on the treatment which may involve advice, psychosexual counselling, sex therapy or medication such as Viagra or Cialis.
HPV Vaccine
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine of choice remains Gardasil which guards against cervical cancer and genital warts. It has caused something of a revolution in the medical world because it provides the first effective prevention against cervical cancer.
HPV vaccine is normally recommended for girls and young women between the ages of nine and twenty six and boys from nine to fifteen. Our specialist GU Physicians can also prescribe it to other age groups where appropriate.
We can provide advice on the choice of HPV vaccine and as well as Gardasil, we have Cervarix available where appropriate.
HPV vaccine is available on the NHS but only for girls and only within a very limited age group. Unfortunately HPV is both very infectious and harmful.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is both the cause of genital warts and is linked to the slow development of cervical precancers and cancers.
HPV is an extremely common infection that is transmitted sexually and approximately 70% of infections are found in the 15 to 24 year old age group.
Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in women under thirty five. Cervical smears to test for cancer offer an effective screening programme if they are carried out sufficiently frequently. In most countries apart from the UK the recommended frequency of testing is annual and that is what we recommend in our clinics. However, it is believed that with HPV vaccination the risks of cervical cancer and the need for smear tests may be eradicated altogether
Gardasil HPV vaccine works by immunising against certain types of HPV or human papilloma virus. Types 16 and 18 are the cause of 70% of cervical cancers and types 6 and 11 cause 90% of unsightly genital warts. It is these four types against which Gardasil is active.
HPV vaccination is very important for the young who are not yet sexually active in order to prevent HPV infection. However, it is also recommended in older groups who may already have become infected because it is unlikely they will have been infected by all the four strains so it still provides an important opportunity for prevention.
HPV Vaccine for Gay and Bisexual Men
HPV vaccine is generally recommended for young girls; however Gay and Bisexual Men can also benefit.
What is the HPV Vaccine?
We feel that this vaccine should be available to men who have sex with men to protect against AIN and anal cancers as well as unsightly external genital warts.
How can I get myself immunised against HPV?
Gardasil vaccination protects against infection (or reinfection) with 4 strains of HPV virus: 6,11,16,18. It is given as 3 doses. The 2nd vaccination is given 2 months after the initial dose, and the 3rd a further 3 months after this. (It is possible that booster doses may be required in the future but the timing of this is not yet clear.)
What is HPV?
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is primarily acquired through sexual intercourse and can infect the cells of the cervix, vagina, vulva and anus.
Although most ano-genital infections clear without intervention within 1-2 years, persistent infection with high risk types can cause abnormal changes within the cells which may ultimately result in cancer.
Why should I have the Vaccine? / Why am I at risk?
HPV is estimated to cause around 80-95% of anal cancers and 30-50% of penile cancers. In the same way that cervical cells can be infected with HPV and undergo abnormal change to CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) and pre cancerous cells, the anal cells can undergo a change known as AIN (anal intraepithelial neoplasia) and ultimately develop into invasive anal cancers.
These anal cancers are becoming increasingly prevalent in men who have sex with men, particularly in those who have HIV infection.
-Ref: Parkin DM, Bray F Chapter 2 :the burden of HPV related cancers. Vaccine 2006 ;24(supplement 3):11-25.
HPV has many subtypes, the most common of which are types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
Types 6 and 11 cause external genital warts which often require prolonged treatment using creams or freezing with liquid nitrogen.
Types 16 and 18 are responsible for the majority of the cell changes which can lead to cancers as described above.
To book an appointment call the Regents Park Clinic in Harley Street, London or St Ann's Square Manchester on 0844 257 0660
HIV Test London and Manchester
Private HIV testing from only £99
We offer short-notice appointments for instant HIV testing using Insti Testing, Abbot HIV testing, P24 duo testing or proviral testing as required. We choose the tests you need depending upon your window, ie the duration since your exposure to a high-risk sexual encounter.
When you attend for an HIV test, you will see a specialist sexual health physician in private surroundings and your test results can be available within 60 seconds.
At the same time, we can test you for other STDs as appropriate.
For more information on HIV testing, click here
