Get Help

How can we help today?

Choose the path that matches what brought you here. Help now covers partner notification, recipient support, and general STI guidance in one place.

I need to tell people about my STI

Use TimeToTest to notify recent partners anonymously with a fixed message and clinic link.

Use the app

I received a message from TimeToTest

Find a clinic, understand the 72-hour PEP window, and get ready for testing without panic.

Find support

I just want general guidance

Read plain-English guidance about common STIs, treatment, sex during treatment, and follow-up.

Read a guide

For Senders

Tell people about your STI without exposing yourself.

TimeToTest is built for one difficult job: letting someone know they may have been exposed, without revealing who sent the message.

Adults 18+ only: the service is intended for adults and is not designed for minors.
Fixed message templates: users do not write free-text SMS, which reduces harassment and keeps wording clinically consistent.
Anonymous by design: the outgoing message does not include your name, your number, or your identity.
Recipient protections: recipients can reply STOP to opt out permanently, and misuse can be reported for device-level blocking.
NHS-aligned support: every notification points people toward sexual health testing rather than trying to replace clinical care.

Download the app Privacy policy

For Recipients

You received a message. Here is what to do next.

Start with the urgent HIV-specific check below, then use the clinic finder and visit guide if you need testing.

Someone who cares about your health sent you this. You're anonymous. No one knows you're here. Let's figure out what to do together.

If exposure was in the last 72 hours, act now.

Were you intimate with your sender in the last 72 hours? You may be eligible for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that can prevent HIV infection if started within 72 hours of exposure. Call NHS 111 immediately or go to your nearest walk-in sexual health clinic or A&E. Do not wait. PEP is HIV-specific, and testing for other STIs still matters separately.

Call 111 Find a clinic

PEP only applies to possible HIV exposure. The clinic finder and testing information below still apply if you are concerned about other STIs.

Need to stop messages or report misuse?

Reply STOP, END, CANCEL, QUIT, or UNSUBSCRIBE to the SMS if you still have it. If not, use the support paths below. We review misuse reports within 24 hours.

Report abuse Opt out permanently

Find your nearest sexual health clinic

Clinic Visit

What to expect at a sexual health clinic

Walk in or book online

Many sexual health clinics offer walk-in sessions, and some let you book online for a timed appointment.

Bring only yourself

You usually do not need ID, insurance, or a referral. Clinics are used to people arriving worried or with very little information.

Have a short private conversation

A nurse or doctor will ask what happened, when exposure may have happened, and what symptoms or worries you have.

Do the right tests

This may involve urine, swabs, or blood tests depending on the type of exposure and the infections being checked.

Get results securely

Most clinics send results by secure text or phone within a few days to a week, depending on the tests.

Start treatment or follow-up if needed

If anything needs treatment, the clinic will explain the next step clearly and help you arrange it.

Waiting times vary. If you are anxious, say so at reception. Clinics are used to helping people through this quietly and without judgment.

Questions To Ask

Questions to ask the doctor or nurse

Which tests make sense for me today based on what happened?
How soon will these tests be accurate, and do I need to come back later?
How will I get my results, and how long should I expect to wait?
If something comes back positive, can treatment start the same day?
Should I avoid sex, kissing, or sharing anything until results come back?
Do I need any vaccines, PEP, PrEP, or a follow-up test after this visit?

General Guidance

Read a plain-English guide for your result.

Help now includes guidance paths, and the detailed STI pages are linked here so you can go straight to the infection you need.

Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Herpes HIV HPV Mpox Mycoplasma genitalium Other Syphilis Trichomoniasis

These guide pages explain what the result usually means, what treatment and recovery often look like, sex during treatment, and what follow-up is commonly discussed with a clinician.

This page provides information only. It is not medical advice. For emergencies call 999 (UK), 112 (EU), or 000 (Australia and New Zealand).

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