SYDNEY, Australia, 19th July 2023 - Forget the awkward doctor visit excuse, Stigma Health Australia’s largest sexual health clinic group has thrown that out the window by announcing the availability of free* STI testing through their market leading telehealth service.
James Sneddon, co-founder of Stigma Health shared “The availability of bulk-billed referral for testing means wider access to sexual health services such as these that help keep the community healthy and safe”.
The importance of increased access to fast and effective testing has never been greater as people have put off testing.
The most recent report into sexually transmissible infections in Australia identified the hidden dangers of putting off testing, highlighting that more than 1 in 25 young people aged 15-29 in Australia had chlamydia during 2021 but less than a third of those received a diagnosis^, and an estimated 2,630 people living with HIV in the community were unaware of their status+.
“If just 50% of those people came forward for testing, we could potentially see a 300% increase in diagnosis. STIs are one of those awkward topics we avoid speaking about with a doctor face-to-face - we want to make sure this is no longer a factor for not being tested and ensure people are swiping right on getting it done” Sneddon said.
“Our service removes that cringe factor by offering bulk-billed online referral with results delivered directly to your phone via a convenient app within 2-3 days.” Sneddon continued.
Stigma Health has been a significant part of Australia’s STI testing ecosystem and growing at a fast pace, identifying 1 in 25 HIV cases and 2,622 STIs nationwide in the last year alone**.
“Early detection is crucial to improving sexual health across the country by enabling the opportunity for early intervention treatment and ultimately reducing the longer-term burden they can place on people’s lives”. Dr Mitchell Tanner, co-founder of Stigma Health said.
Stigma Health offers comprehensive testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.
-ENDS-
References
* Bulk-bill service available to Medicare card holders.
^ HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual surveillance report https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/news/australias-annual-sexual-health-check-up
+ HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia Annual surveillance report 2022 - HIV https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/Annual-Surveillance-Report-2022_HIV.pdf ** Stigma Health internal data.
Key Facts:
- Stigma Health announces free STI testing Australia wide.
- Increases access to sexual health services.
- Focused on increasing testing rate within the community.
About us:
About Stigma Health
Stigma Health is making sexual health sexy AF!
Established in 2015 by practitioner Dr Mitchell Tanner and rugby-playing accountant and entrepreneur James Sneddon, these two blokes are on a mission to make STI testing available to every Aussie who’s DTF. That means removing the need for that awkward face-to-face doctor visit that is just cringe (*dead*). Stigma Health is already Australia’s largest sexual health clinic group, delivering STI testing to over 30,000 lovers, through an online, discreet, convenient sexual health service. So, no more excuses honey - go and get tested today at www.stigmahealth.com!
Contact details:
For any questions in relation to this release or to discuss interviews, please contact:
Nicole Papoutsis
[email protected]
0422 418 099
