Your Sexual Health 1045 Your Sexual Health Leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 25
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C1967 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 25 Your sexual health Where to go for help and advice R e f . 1 0 4 5 C1967 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 PageC1967 2 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 3 C O N T E N T S What is this booklet about? 2 Who can help me with Who can help me with my sexual health? 3 my sexual health? How can I find where my nearest b General practices. service is? 3 b Contraception clinics. Sexual health clinics. Contraception services 6 b b Sexually transmitted infection testing clinics Sexually transmitted infection services 9 (genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics). Planning a pregnancy 13 b Pharmacies. Unplanned pregnancy 15 b Specialist sexual assault centres. Abortion services 17 Sexual health clinics are clinics that provide Sexual problems 19 contraception and infection testing services. Sexual assault services 20 About the FPA confidential helpline 23 How can I find where How FPA can help you 24 my nearest service is? b You can find out about all sexual health services from sexual health direct, run by FPA, on 0845 122 8690 or at www.fpa.org.uk. What is this booklet b You can find details of general practices and about? pharmacies in England at www.nhs.uk and in Wales at www.wales.nhs.uk. In Scotland This booklet explains where you can get help you can find details of general practices at and advice if: www.show.scot.nhs.uk. In England and b you need contraception Wales you can call NHS Direct on 0845 46 b you think you might have a sexually 47 and in Scotland NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24. In Northern Ireland call the FPA helpline transmitted infection on 0845 122 8687 or for details of general b you’re planning to become pregnant practices see www.healthandcareni.co.uk. b you are pregnant and are not sure you want b You can also get details of your nearest to have a baby contraception, GUM or sexual health clinic from your local directory, health centre, local b you want to find out more about abortion pharmacy, hospital, midwife, health visitor or b you’re having problems with your sex life advice centre. b you have been sexually assaulted. 3 C1967 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 PageC1967 4 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 5 b You can get details of young people’s What will happen when I go to services from Brook on 0808 802 1234, or Q one of these services? at www.brook.org.uk. A This will depend on which service you use but may include the following: Q Who can use these services? b You will normally be asked to fill in a form with your name and address if it’s the first A Anyone can use these services, time you’ve used the service. regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, religion, b At contraceptive services you may be asked whether you are male, female, straight, gay or questions about your medical and sexual bisexual. Some services hold separate sessions history. If you choose certain methods of for men, women, young people, gay men and contraception you will need to have an lesbians. internal examination, have your blood pressure taken or may be offered a test for sexually transmitted infections. Q Are these services confidential? b If you are going for a check-up for sexually transmitted infections you will be asked A Yes, all the services discussed in this questions about your sex life. See How will I booklet are confidential. This means that your be tested for sexually transmitted personal information, any information about infections? on page 12. your visit and the tests and treatments that b If you are diagnosed with a sexually you’ve had will not be shared with anyone transmitted infection, support will be outside that service without your permission. available to help you tell a sexual partner(s) Even if you are under 16 you have the same to get a check-up too. right to confidentiality as anyone else. Don’t b Abortion services will ask you about your be afraid to ask if you are not sure who will medical history and help you decide which see your information. method of abortion to have. They may offer Health professionals may need to involve you a test for sexually transmitted infections. other services if they believe you, or another If necessary they will do a scan to see how person, to be at significant risk of harm (such pregnant you are, and a blood test. as physical or sexual abuse). They will discuss b If you have been sexually assaulted you may this with you. be offered a more specialist service. They can also help you report the assault to the police, if you choose to. 4 5 C1967 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 PageC1967 6 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 7 It’s fine to take a friend with you for support. Is contraception free and where If you need to have an examination you should Q can I go to get it? be offered a chaperone. This means that someone else can be with you when you have A You can obtain free contraception, the examination. including emergency contraception, from: b a general practice, unless they say they don’t What if I have special provide contraception services Q requirements? b a contraception clinic b a sexual health clinic A Everyone has a right to access health b a young people’s service (these will have services. If you have special requirements an upper age limit) (such as a disability or if English is not your b some GUM clinics. first language) contact the general practice or clinic in advance to make sure it can meet your You can also get free emergency contraception needs. In some circumstances you may be from: able to be seen at home. b most NHS walk-in centres (England only) and minor injuries units How can I make a complaint if b some hospital accident and emergency Q I’m not happy with the service? departments (phone first to check) b some pharmacies (there may be an age limit). A If you are not happy with the NHS service you have received you have the right to make Contraception is free even if your service gives a complaint through the NHS complaints you a prescription to take to the pharmacy. procedure (see www.nhs.uk). You can also get Some pharmacists are able to provide a information and help from The Patients range of sexual health services including Association, Helpline 0845 608 4455, contraception. If you are 16 or over you can www.patients-association.com or from your buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies local Patient Advice Liaison Service (see for around £25. They also sell condoms, www.pals.nhs.uk). See your local directory, or diaphragms, caps and spermicide. ask at the service you attended. Contraception services This section explains the choices you have to help you find the contraception service that’s most suitable for you. 6 7 C1967 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 PageC1967 8 Your sexual health 1045_your sexual health leaflet 03/01/2013 12:28 Page 9 Do services supply all methods What if I need emergency Q of contraception? contraception? A There are many different methods of If you have had sex without using contraception available. Health professionals contraception, or think your method might can talk to you about them to help you have failed there are different types of choose the one that is best for you. They can emergency contraception you can use. also talk to you about safer sex. Not all b The emergency contraceptive pill, services supply all methods but they should Levonelle – must be taken up to three days be able to give you information about what (72 hours) after sex. It is more effective the contraceptive methods there are and where earlier it is taken after sex. It is available you can go to get them. with a prescription or to buy from a You can get information on each method pharmacy. of contraception from FPA (see back cover). b The emergency contraceptive pill, ellaOne – must be taken up to five days (120 hours) after sex. It is only available with a What other services are available? prescription. Q An emergency IUD – must be fitted up to b A Contraception clinics sometimes provide five days after sex, or up to five days after far more than contraception. This may include: the earliest time you could have released b pre-pregnancy advice/pregnancy testing an egg (ovulation). b help and advice on an unplanned pregnancy (including abortion, adoption and continuing Ask your doctor or nurse about getting the pregnancy) emergency pills in advance, just in case you b safer sex advice need them. b advice on sexual problems b cervical screening tests and breast awareness Sexually transmitted b checks for sexually transmitted infections b menopause advice infection services b infertility advice. This section explains where you can get help and advice if you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection or would like a check-up.