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.

Good sexual health

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.

Getting a test, contraception, condoms and advice

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.

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.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans+

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

Disabilities and sexual health

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.