It only takes a finger-prick to know your HIV status and it’s free regardless of your immigration status or how long you’ve lived in the UK. If you test in-person with Positive East you’ll get your HIV result in the session.

Your HIV status won’t be shared with other healthcare agencies unless you ask for them to do so or you share your status yourself.

Testing for STIs requires a small blood sample for syphilis and hepatitis B and C, and swabs (anal, oral and/or vaginal) or a urine sample for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. You’ll usually get your results for these within a week.

At Positive East our friendly and professional Testing and Prevention Team deliver in-person HIV & STI testing at community venues across East London including our building in Stepney Green, libraries, bars, pharmacies and sex-on-premises venues.  Visit www.positiveeast.org.uk/hivtest to book your test with Positive East.

Other ways to test for HIV & STIs

• Many pharmacies in Hackney provide a walk-in option to collect STI tests for Chlamydia and also treatment.  Click here to find a pharmacy near you.
• If you live in Hackney and you’re over 16 and have no STI symptoms, you can order a free kit to easily test yourself for STIs in the privacy of your own home through Sexual Health London. There is no referral process
• If you are aged between 16-24 years old and live in Hackney you can order a free home chlamydia test through Checkurself. If you have chlamydia symptoms, or have received a positive result, then you need treatment. Find out how to access treatment
• Hackney residents who may be at-risk of having contracted Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV, can take a free, confidential test at a local GP surgery, or at Homerton Hospital

Condoms are the best form of protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms come in a range of sizes, textures, materials and flavours. It is important that you’re able to find the right fit and feel for you and your partner(s). Exploring what feels right for you and your partner(s) should be fun and enjoyable.

Before using a condom make sure it has a CE mark and that it has not passed its expiry date. If you are using sex toys do not forget to cover them with a condom and wash the toys after each use. If the condom comes off, open a new condom and put it on before continuing sex. Change condoms between partners and regularly replace them during longer sex sessions.

Lube makes sex smoother, more pleasurable and reduces the chance of a condom breaking. When using lube, stick to a silicone or water-based lube. Silicone-based lube will not damage condoms but may damage silicone sex toys. Avoid oil-based lubes like Vaseline, baby oil and lotions. They damage latex condoms.

A list of outlets providing free condoms to under-25s can be accessed on the Young Hackney website. Free condoms for 25+ in higher-risk groups can be accessed from the pharmacies listed on this page.

HIV treatment and medication have improved vastly since the 80s when HIV was first discovered. There is still no cure for HIV, but we know all the tools and resources to ensure that people living with HIV in the UK have healthy and fulfilling lives in the same way that HIV-negative people can. HIV medication reduces the number of copies of HIV in someone’s system and for the majority of people they can get this to levels known as ‘undetectable’. This does not mean they are no longer living with HIV but the amount of HIV in their blood is so low, it can not be picked in particular tests.

Studies have also shown that if someone has an undetectable HIV status, they are unable to pass on HIV to someone else when not using condoms. People who are undetectable can have children who are HIV-negative and have unprotected sex without transmitting HIV. This is known as U=U or undetectable = untransmittable.

The U=U message is very important for anyone affected by HIV to address the fears and stigma of becoming HIV positive or knowing someone who is living with HIV.

Please visit the Jonathan Mann Clinic for more information.

Non-hormonal contraception is contraceptives that do not have any hormones in them. An IUD is a small copper and plastic device that is inserted into the womb. It works by creating an environment where sperm can not survive which then means the sperm can not reach the egg and fertilize it.

Diaphragms fit inside the vagina and cover the service and stop sperm from entering the womb. The diaphragms need to be used with spermicide which contains chemicals to stop sperm from meeting the egg.

If you live in Hackney and are aged over 16, and you’d like to start using contraception, or carry on with your current method and would usually get it from a sexual health clinic, you can now order it from Sexual Health London.

Hormonal contraception includes the contraceptive pill, the combined vaginal ring, the contraceptive patch, the progestogen-only pill, the progestogen-only injection, the progestogen-only implant and progestogen-only intrauterine system (IUS).

These methods are called hormonal because they work by releasing hormones into the body which then prevent pregnancy. The hormones work by stopping ovulation, making cervical mucous thicker to stop sperm meeting an egg and by thinning the womb lining so eggs can not implant.

Some hormonal contraception may have side effects including breast tenderness, headaches and nausea. These often subside as your body gets used to the contraceptive.

If you live in Hackney and are aged over 16, and you’d like to start using contraception, or carry on with your current method and would usually get it from a sexual health clinic, you can now order it from Sexual Health London.

Condoms are the best form of protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). External condoms are a made of very thin plastic or rubber and creates a barrier between sperm and the vagina. Internal condoms are similar to external but the internal condom goes inside the vagina and works by stopping sperm entering the vagina. They also give protection from STIs.

Condoms come in a range of sizes, textures, materials and flavours. It is important that you’re able to find the right fit and feel for you and your partner(s). Exploring what feels right for you and your partner(s) should be fun and enjoyable.

Before using a condom make sure it has a CE mark and that it has not passed its expiry date.

If you are using sex toys do not forget to cover them with a condom and wash the toys after each use. If the condom comes off, open a new condom and put it on before continuing sex. Change condoms between partners and regularly replace them during longer sex sessions.

Lube makes sex smoother, more pleasurable and reduces the chance of a condom breaking. When using lube, stick to a silicone or water-based lube. Silicone-based lube will not damage condoms but may damage silicone sex toys. Avoid oil-based lubes like Vaseline, baby oil and lotions. They damage latex condoms.

A list of outlets providing free condoms to under-25s can be accessed on the Young Hackney website. Free condoms for 25+ in higher-risk groups can be accessed from the pharmacies listed on this page.

Emergency contraception is for people who have had unprotected sex recently and are worried about the risk of pregnancy. The pill also known as the morning-after pill can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. The sooner it is taken the better.

You can access the morning-after pill at pharmacies, sexual health clinics and your GP.  You can also access through the SHL website

A copper IUD can also be used as emergency contraception. This is the most effective option and can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex.