Sexual Health, Testing and Contraception
What sexual health is and where to go for advice, health check-ups, contraception and condoms.
Sexual health covers the physical, mental and social wellbeing around your sexuality. It's about enjoying safe sexual experiences without yourself or anybody else suffering physical or emotional harm or coercion - persuading someone to do something using force or threats.
The physical aspect of sexual health includes avoiding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. Mental and social wellbeing aspects of sexual health include valuing who you are, being able to decide what is right for you, treating your partners well and expecting them to treat you well too. All these aspects are important because you may be physically healthy, but if you find your in a position where you are doing things you don't want to do or don't understand, the risks increase and sex can stop being enjoyable.
Things that make for good sexual health include:
- Knowing about your body, sex and the law. This NHS Guide 'Are you ready for sex?' covers the facts, the law and talking about sex.
- Being safe by protecting yourself and your partner. This includes using contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy. Using condoms to prevent STIs and getting sexual health checks regularly.
- Being able to talk about sex and sexuality with your partner(s), your friends and possibly your family. Many people can feel unforgettable or awkward talking about sex, but sex is a natural and important part of life.
- Respecting yourself and others. It's your right to decide what you feel comfortable with and to feel safe.
Buckinghamshire Sexual Health and Wellbeing (bSHaW) is a free, confidential service. bSHaW have clinics, outreach health clinics, services at GP surgeries, C-Card sites offering free condoms, and sexual assault referral centres. They can offer:
- Chlamydia Screening for 15 to 24 year olds
- Contraceptive and/or STI Checkup
- Postal test kit
- Emergency Contraception
- Free condoms (C-card Scheme)
- Free Pregnancy Testing
- HIV Testing
- HIV Treatment and Care
- Long-Acting Reversible Contraception for instance Implants, IUD, IUS and Injectables
- Vaccinations as for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - for both males and females
- Confidential advice over the phone for Under 25s
> Find your nearest bSHaW service
Contraception under 16
Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16. The NHS says if you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents or carer, as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given and your decisions.
Read more about Where can I get contraception?
What's a Sexual Health Check like?
The Mix's presenter Rhys, goes to a sexual health (GUM) clinic to find out what happens when you go to get tested for STIs.
bSHaW has information, resources and links to Buckinghamshire based LGBT+ support. They explain the various sexualities and genders.
Need to talk to someone? Call bSHaW on 0300 303 28 80
Sex, sexual health and relationships are important to everyone. Those with a disability can feel more excluded from the conversation about sex, or face the assumption that disabled people don't have sex. This is not true. In fact, according to the BBC, disabled women are almost twice as likely to experience sexual assault as non-disabled women. In this video, BBC reporter Octavia Woodward, talks to Fiona Allan and Aaron Simmonds about their experiences, while asking Enhance the UK's Emily Yates what we can do to improve the situation. Read more about Octavia's report.
Also of interest
Our Autism Toolbox has a section on friendships and relationships cover local support, dating and health.
Need to talk to someone? Call bSHaW on 0300 303 28 80
In addition to bSHaW, the following organisations provide information and support sexual health services.
Brook
The sexual health charity for young people under 25 offering confidential advice.
You can use the Ask Brook text and webchat service: 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday.
Contact
Information and advice on all aspects of caring for a disabled child.
Helpline: 0808 808 3555, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
Information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual or transgender people.
Helpline: 0300 330 0630, daily 10am to 11pm
Family Lives
Twenty-four-hour information and support on all aspects of parenting, including talking with your teenager about sex and relationships. The website includes a special area for parents of teenagers.
Helpline: 0808 800 2222, all hours daily.
Relate
Relationship support for people of all ages, including counselling for individuals, couples, children and young people, families and sex therapy.
Information line: 0300 100 1234 (a trained consultant will point you towards the help you need).
Terrence Higgins Trust
Information, support and advice on HIV and sexual health.
Helpline: 0808 802 1221, Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm. You can also use their online contact to send your questions to THT.
Worth Talking About
Advice on contraception, sexual health and relationships.
Helpline: 0300 123 29 30, Monday to Friday, 2pm-8pm Saturday to Sunday 2pm to 4pm.