Let's Talk About Sex!
Your GP practice is there to provide honest advice about contraception, pregnancy, STIs and pleasure.
You can expect safe friendly, non-judgemental help and services at our practices, whatever your gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your GP or practice nurse if you’re worrying about anything - from how to have pleasurable sex to how to avoid unwanted pregnancy! They are highly-trained to help.
You can also check out these sites for lots more information about how to avoid unwanted pregnancy, have safer sex and avoid or manage sexually transmitted infections (STIs) options:
Sexwise: www.sexwise.org.uk
NHS website: www.nhs.uk
Your GP practice can help you have happy, healthy and pleasurable sex and also help when things go wrong.
Here is a helpful guide to sexual pleasure and problems. It includes anything from masturbation to orgasms, and help with enjoying sex.
Your GP practice can help you avoid unwanted pregnancy and ensure sex is still enjoyable.
But it can be tricky to know which type of contraception to choose that will protect you from pregnancy.
Your GP practice can help you! Examples include condoms, the pill, the coil and implant. Some practices can fit coils or implants that last for a few years so you don’t have to think about it, and they are reversible! Here is a helpful page to compare these options.
Condoms: If you are a patient at Barton House, Greenhouse, Lawson, Well Street, Lea or Wick surgery and are a 'high risk' patient you can request a pack of 12 condoms.
Coils and implants (LARC): ask your own GP practice first (rather than going to a sexual health clinic like the Clifden Centre or the Ivy). If your GP practice doesn’t do coil or implant fittings or removals, they may be able to book you an appointment at one of the following practices:
Using a condom helps protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) which can make you and your sexual partners very ill and cause long-term effects.
If you’re worried you might have caught a sexually -transmitted infection (STI), just contact your GP practice for confidential, sensitive help.
All practices can get you the right tests and help you make sure sexual partners are notified, if you test positive.
If you are over the age of 16 you can also order a free STI test kit to be delivered to your home via this website - www.shl.uk. You complete a simple form online, order the kit and your results are sent to you by text or email. It is simple, fast and secure!
Chlamydia testing: GPs and practice nurses will often offer chlamydia screening to people seeking sexual health advice. If you are between the age of 15 and 24 years old it is recommended that you have a Chlamydia test annually or on every change of person you have sex with.
HIV testing: If you are a newly registered patient with a practice feel free to ask for an HIV test.
Cervical screening: All women aged between 25 – 65 are entitled to participate in the national cervical screening programme - www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening. There’s information for all eligible groups including trans women, women who have undergone surgery, and had the HPV vaccination.