What services are offered at a sexual health clinic?
There are lots of services on offer at clinics including:
- Contraception
- Emergency contraception
- Condoms
- Smear tests
- Information on period problems
- Information on pre-menstrual syndrome
- Advice and information on the menopause
- Information on breast problems
- Pregnancy testing
- Advice on planning a pregnancy
- Counselling and referral for termination of pregnancy
- Testing, treatment and information on sexually transmitted infections
- Information & testing for HIV
- Testing and vaccination for Hepatitis B
- Testing and information for Hepatitis C
- Sexual problems
- Information and advice on all sexual health issues
How do I make an appointment?
Although you usually need to phone for an appointment, clinics will always do their best to help you if you need to speak to someone urgently. Details of these clinics can be found in the sexual health services directory section of this website.
What happens when I go to the clinic?
After booking in at reception, you will usually talk to a doctor or nurse. They may examine you and suggest that you have some tests if you need them. These can be swabs, blood or urine tests. You will be given information about your tests, any treatment you need and answer any questions you may have. You may need to have a follow-up visit, but remember that most infections can be treated easily and successfully.
How do I know my visit to the clinic will stay confidential?
Any notes taken are separate from all your other medical records and they never leave the Genito-Urinary Medicine department. They will not even write to your family doctor unless you ask or they referred you in the first place.
How much does it cost?
All sexual health services are free.
Different Types of Clinics
There are different types of sexual health clinics that specialise in various areas. For example:
- Family planning clinics provide all types of contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, pre-pregnancy advice, termination of pregnancy counselling, smear tests, and advice about sexual health issues.
- Young peoples clinics are clinics for people (usually under 25). These can cover a variety of health issues, not just sexual health.
- GUM clinics (Genitourinary Medicine clinics) specialise in the screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV information and testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, and advice about safer sex. They also provide emergency contraception.
