Medications - quick links to common medications for sexual health.

Before you consider any medications, please ensure you have tested via a sexual health clinic, click below for the links to a free sexual health service in your area:

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Or click here for private tests.

Medications for Thrush

Canesten Thrush Combination treatment, in many cases, buying two 500mg clotrimazole pessaries and using one tonight and the next in 4 days after. Clotrimazole cream can also be used externally twice a day for upto 21 days.

Medications or methods to prevent HIV

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medication

Condoms

Medications to prevent pregnancy or control bleeding

Medications to prevent STI’s, DoxyPEP

Medications to treat Bacterial Vaginosis or Trichomonas Vaginalis

Medications for the treatment of:

  • chlamydia,

  • LGV

  • Non-Specific Urethritis (NSU)

  • Mycoplasma Genitalium

  • Syphilis

You should ensure you have done a full sexual health screen via a clinic or postal test kit.

No risk of pregnancy or male

Treatment is free from your local sexual health clinic

Risk of pregnancy or risk of pregnancy unknown, or contraception not being taken correctly

Medications for the treatment of Gonorrhoea

VERY IMPORTANT: The best way to get treated for gonorrhoea is by an injection in the muscle of bottom with 1 gram of Ceftriaxone, this should be mixed with lidocaine and be given via a sexual health clinic after allergies and interactions have been taken. If this is not possible then please speak to your GP (family doctor) or use the link below to have a medical review to get Cefixime 400mg orally as a single dose plus azithromycin 2g orally. Cefixime resistance is currently low in the UK. You MUST not have sex until you have tested again in 14 days to ensure the infection has cleared, and your sexual partners have also been tested and treated.

Medications for the treatment of herpes or coldsores

Available for free from your local sexual health service.

How to treat Ureaplasmas

Ureaplasmas are not treated directly, if you have symptoms then the symptoms should be treated, e.g. with a weeks course of doxycycline, which will also treat the ureaplasmas. Please speak to your local sexual health clinic if any further concerns.

Medications for the treatment of pubic lice and scabies

Permethrin 5% W/W Cream - Must be applied to all areas including genitals, do not put on face and MUST be reapplied 7 days after first treatment. Please click here to get the full advice on scabies or pubic lice