Informing your partners of an STI

If you are diagnosed with an STI it is important to let your recent sexual partner/s (the people you have had sex with) know that they may have come into contact with an STI. This is so that they can also get tested and treated and also stops other from coming into contact with an STI. This is called Contact Tracing or Partner Notification. You can let your partners know yourself or we can do this on your behalf which is called a provider referral.

If you let your partners know yourself you may be given a slip of paper to give to your partner/s that has the infection you were diagnosed with on and a unique that identifies the Doctor or Nurse that they are/were your partner/s. 

We never share your name, personal details or information about your visit to us with your partner/s so the more information you share with your partner and us the easier it is to help your partner/s get the help they need. 

Often we will contact you a few weeks after you have given us your partner/s details to see if you have managed to contact your partner/s and to make sure you have had no problems with treatment. 

A provider referral is where we contact your partner/s on your behalf; if they live outside the local area we may ask their local clinic to contact them. 

We never share your name, personal details or information about your visit to us with your partner/s and unless you say so we would not even share the name of the infection. This can be discussed with your doctor or nurse.