NHS or Interval
Both are good, for different moments. Here they are side by side, plainly — including where the NHS is the better route.
If you think you have this for the first time, or something feels urgent, the NHS is the right place to start, and it is free. Search for your local sexual health clinic, or call NHS 111 for advice on where to go. A first diagnosis is normally confirmed in person, while an outbreak is present. We would rather you got that done properly than rushed anywhere.
The same facts, laid flat.
No selling against the NHS. Just what each route is good at, so you can choose the one that fits.
| What matters | The NHS route | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free. Prescriptions in England carry the standard charge; free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Paid, with the whole ladder published generic-first. See pricing. Figures illustrative. |
| First diagnosis | The right route. Diagnosed in person, usually by swab during an outbreak, by a specialist service. | Not for first diagnosis. Built for after you have one confirmed. |
| Expertise | Sexual health consultants and specialist nurses. Deep, and the reference standard. | A clinician reviews every plan. Dedicated to this one condition. |
| Access | Appointment-led. May involve waiting, and clinic hours. | From home, on your schedule, with a rescue pack kept in advance. |
| Continuity of record | Held within NHS systems; you may re-tell your history between services. | Your history kept, so you do not re-tell it. Reorder in two taps. |
| Managing recurrences | Daily suppression and episodic courses are available; access varies locally. | A daily plan and a rescue-pack-at-home, both on one page. |
| Privacy on shared surfaces | Confidential by law and by practice. | Neutral on your statement, plain packaging, minimal data kept. |
| Urgent or complicated cases | The right route. First outbreak, pregnancy, complications, or anything severe. | Not for emergencies or complex cases. We would point you to the NHS. |
Details of NHS charges and local access vary; check nhs.uk for the current position. Prices shown for Interval are indicative, and our care service is not yet open.
- You think you have this for the first time, or you are not sure.
- Anything feels urgent, severe, or unusual.
- You are pregnant, or there are other health conditions in the picture.
- You would simply rather it was free — which is a good enough reason on its own.
- You already have a confirmed diagnosis and want to manage recurrences.
- You are tired of re-telling your history on every order.
- You want a rescue pack already at home for the next outbreak.
- You want prices on the table and privacy engineered in.
If Interval is the fit, here is how it works.
Want to know when Interval opens?
Our care service is not open yet. Leave your email and we will tell you once when it is. Nothing else, and you can leave at any time.
- NHS. Genital herpes. www.nhs.uk
Last checked 10 August 2026. Read our editorial policy for how we source and review these pages.