Daye expands its revolutionary Diagnostic Tampon at-home vaginal screening to include STIs and HPV. 

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Our pioneering new tampon testing kit utilises cutting-edge PCR testing technology to allow  women and AFAB folks to test for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichomonas, HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus), Herpes (for HSV), Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma from the comfort and convenience of home. As part of the new service, we will also offer personalised aftercare including prescription treatments such as antibiotics and antivirals, as well as consultations with our sexual health nurses, gynaecologists, and fertility specialists. 

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Could you have an STI? STIs are widespread, and for many women, the stakes are getting higher. 

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The latest statistics from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show a 24% increase in sexually transmitted infections in comparison to the previous year. Experts say that post Covid-19, they are becoming more common, and that women are statistically more vulnerable than men, due to our vaginal physiology. In contrast, less people are getting tested – last year 59% of Brits said they had never been checked, and awareness appears to be decreasing. 

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STIs are very common and perfectly treatable if caught on time. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of – in fact, if you do have an STI, you’d be one of 400,000 people in the UK who currently have one, or 9 million in the US! 

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In 2023, STIs still carry a stigma of shame, and testing can still be an awkward, embarrassing or uncomfortable experience for many. Factors including not knowing what the test consists of (12%), concerns about undressing in front of the doctor (10%) and feeling as though they’d slept around (10%) were all reasons why people have put off getting a sexual check. 

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Waiting times are also contributing to the issue. In the US, women can wait 3-6 months to book an appointment, in the UK it can take over a year. 

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Getting checked is important for the general health and wellbeing for both you and your partner, but for women and AFAB individuals, there is more at stake. 70% of female STIs are asymptomatic, so you might not even realise you have one unless you proactively make the choice to get tested. Untreated STIs also pose further risks to long term health and fertility, as research continues to link vaginal infections and STIs to increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth. Beyond fertility, untreated STIs can also lead to chronic pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory disease. 

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With our new STI Diagnostic Tampon, you will be able to collect a sample from the comfort of your own home, and then discreetly send it to our lab where we will test for multiple STIs and vaginal infections. Our unique tampon sample collection approach provides our laboratory with a larger sample area, providing a more accurate reading than the traditional swab sample and much more comfortable than a speculum.

The process is quick and simple - we’ll send the kit out to your chosen address. Once the sample is collected, simply post it to us in the pre-paid envelope and await your results, received confidentially via our online portal within 10 working days depending on the screening option.