Demand for at-home STI tests rockets by nearly 200% in a year
- Further to new figures released from Public Health England and Terrence Higgins Trust showing a huge increase in STIs amongst Brits, sales of at-home STI screening tests double in a year
For Immediate release – 7 Feb 2020: Sales of direct-to-consumer, at-home tests for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have increased by 186% in the last year. The figures from LetsGetChecked, a leading at-home health screening and insights company, compared sales figures for their STI kits from January 2020 to the same month last year.
The company has released the sales data following revelations by The Terence Higgins Trust (THT) that show cases of syphilis are at their highest levels since World War Two, having risen 165% since 2009.
The startling statistics show that as well as Syphilis, gonorrhea rates have risen by an astonishing 249% over the same period.
LetsGetChecked’s sales figures mirror that of the Trust and Public Health England – demonstrating a desire from consumers to choose discreet at at-home private screening, to check their sexual health.
Genitourinary Consultant, Dr Dominic Rowley, said: "Of course we are happy to see the number of people using our service growing so rapidly, however so is the number of STIs. There is an epidemic in the western world at the moment. This is something that urgently needs to be addressed. The findings are particularly alarming in this era of increased information and ease of access to testing.”
Some of LetsGetChecked own research last year discovered that young people are frequently checking the internet for answers, when they are concerned about STI symptoms.
LetsGetChecked’s survey found that 37 per cent of 18–24 year olds have researched their STI symptoms online, while 27 per cent of 25–34 year olds did the same.
The online ‘self-diagnosis’ phenomenon is often motivated by symptoms, but the reality is that many STIs have no symptoms at all.
Dr Rowley warned against such behaviors, “While checking for symptoms online from a trusted source is reasonable, it is vital to remember that many STIs are silent, particularly in women.
“My concern about this is that silent STIs can lead to serious problems later in life, such as infertility. For this reason, we suggest getting regular STI checkups every three months if you consider yourself to be regularly sexually active, had a recent high-risk sexual encounter, or you are at the beginning or end of a relationship.
He continued: “Speed of diagnosis is critical with STIs, as the longer these things go undiagnosed, the more damage they can do.”
For those who feel uncomfortable about talking to a medical professional face to face about their sexual health, services such as LetsGetChecked offer a discreet alternative.
LetsGetChecked have performed thousands of sexual health tests to date via their private at-home tests and currently offers six types, to suit every need. They also provide prescriptions, in some cases with no additional charge, should your online results test positive.
As the majority of STIs will show no symptoms, they encourage regular screening amongst the sexually active, as a healthy habit. To this end, they have just launched a ‘subscribe and save’ service to make regular screening as budget friendly and hassle free as possible.
For media enquiries
Liam Maguire E. LMaguire@vccp.com T. 07464 985 052
Jess Duffin E. JDuffin@vccp.com T. 0207 592 2973
Press Office Email: LetsGetChecked@vccp.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About LetsGetChecked
LetsGetChecked is a health insights platform which allows consumers to access health testing and telehealth services in the home. The company provides fast, accurate and confidential home health tests, with online results in a matter of days. Their tests cover sexual health, men’s health, women’s health and general health, available to order nationwide.
Serving 30 markets globally, LetsGetChecked is all about empowering people, by making the screening process patient-led. By combining health data and diagnostic results, LetsGetChecked provides accurate insights for patients, enabling them to make better decisions about their health. Available nationwide in the US, Canada, and Europe, LetsGetChecked has corporate offices located in New York City and Dublin. For more information, visit letsgetchecked.com.