This year STIQ Day takes place on 14th January, a date chosen because many common STIs such as Chlamydia can take two weeks to be detectable. If you have had unprotected sex throughout the festive season then it is a wise idea for you to think about getting tested now.

Did you know that STIQ Day was launched with the view to get people thinking about their sexual health and to, therefore, encourage more people to get regular sexual health checks?

STIQ Day takes place on 14th January, this date was chosen because many common STIs can take two weeks to be detectable, such as Chlamydia. Also with Valentines Day just around the corner, wouldn’t it be nice to be infection-free and not put anyone else at risk?

Sadly more and more people in the UK are catching STIs and each year the infection rate is rising. Regardless of age, gender and sexuality, even if you’ve had one or 100 partners – just one unprotected sexual encounter can put you all at risk of catching an STI.

You could feel perfectly healthy but you still might be carrying something. The best way is to get routinely tested to detect an infection – the earlier they are tested and treated, the less chance there is of the long-term damage being caused.

Getting a sexual health check is extremely easy and it shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful so do not worry about having a test done. Sex is a normal part of adult life so don’t you think that sexual health checks should be just as normal?

It’s a very quick and simple process that not only puts your mind at rest but could protect your fertility or even save your life – or that of your partner too.

The only 1 way of knowing if you are infected or not is to get checked today.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.