Celebrating 10 years of SH:24
We've sent out 3.1 million STI kits in the last 10 years - and pioneered new ways of supporting your sexual health.
A decade ago, if you wanted an STI test or needed emergency contraception you'd probably need a trip to the nearest sexual health clinic. And clinics were getting overwhelmed with the number of people needing their service. Appointments were hard to get, waiting rooms were full and walk-in clinics could not handle the demand.
Determined to pioneer a new kind of sexual health service, to ease pressure on clinics, SH:24 was started. Working in partnership with the NHS, the beginnings of SH:24 saw clinicians, designers and academics working together — their innovative and user-led approach developed a new digital sexual health service. And SH:24 was launched.
And now, 10 years later, getting tested or getting the contraception you need can be done quickly, conveniently and discreetly, online and without leaving your home!
We’ve always believed that services like ours can enhance and support the care of in-person clinics. So we work closely with the NHS and HSE to build a sexual health ecosystem where everyone can access the best possible care, regardless of their postcode, situation or income. We’re excited to grow our service in the future and work with local partners to deliver exceptional, free sexual health care to as many people as possible.
Easy, efficient sexual health
At first, SH:24 was offering STI tests in 2 London boroughs. 10 years later, we’re active in 40 areas of the UK, reaching a total population of 14.3 million. Our service has grown to include chlamydia treatment, herpes and warts treatment, contraception and emergency contraception - all online and in the post.
To help people in the areas where SH:24 was not commissioned, we started offering the same expert service at an affordable price through Fettle.
Fast delivery, rapid results and our clinical team on hand to answer any questions means managing your sexual health with us is simple and accessible. And don’t just take our word for it! Our approach has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise and an award for innovation at the Irish Healthcare Awards 2023. And we were rated 'outstanding' by CQC (Care Quality Commission).
Customers tell us we’re "Excellent in all respects" and say "From ordering the tests to getting the results, everything was easy to understand and the whole process was efficient."
10 years of digital sexual health, in numbers
3.8 million people helped through our service
110,000 orders for emergency contraception
3.1 million STI test kits sent to people’s homes
172,000 STIs diagnosed
100,000 prescriptions of chlamydia treatment sent by post
247 articles shared in our help centre
92% of people using our service give us 5-star reviews
Looking for something more?
Since 2014, SH:24 has been making it easier to manage your sexual health with our free, online services. All delivered in partnership with the NHS.
All our information and articles are written by the SH:24 team and reviewed by medical experts.
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