Sexual health advice and information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy.

Self care is about looking after yourself in a healthy way​

Both men and women need to look after their sexual health and take time to understand the issues that surround contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

For instance there are some STIs, like chlamydia, that you could be carrying without having any symptoms. This infection can affect fertility, so it’s important to make use of the sexual health services available for free on the NHS.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection among under-25s. Often there are no symptoms, but testing and treatment are simple.

Causes and risk factors Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral or anal sex, or by sharing sex toys. It can live inside cells of the cervix, urethra, rectum and sometimes in the throat and eyes.

NHS – focus on Chlamydia Information, videos and advice from the NHS website.

Sex & Young People
A comprehensive guide to the questions you may have about sex from the NHS.

Sexually Transmitted Infections
Issues, symptoms and treatments.

Sexual Health FAQs
Expert answers from a qualified Doctor.

FPA – The Sexual Health Charity

Contraception

A Family Planning specialist writes about the different types of contraception, the benefits and pitfalls and how effective they are. NetDoctor

Information on Contraception from NHS Choices including why, when and how it should be used and with links to other useful resources. Contraception – NHS

This factsheet is for women who are taking hormonal contraceptives, or who would like information about them. Hormonal Contraception

Improved Access

We are working together with other local practices to offer patients access to more appointments in the early mornings, evenings and at weekends. To find out more about these services, please contact the practice.

Appointments

We offer a Sexual Health Clinic on Thursday afternoons, once a month. These are led by a female Nurse, Zita Gough and aided by our Health Care Assistant, Lesley Burne. These appointments can be prebooked in advance.

At this clinic we offer:

Coils/IUDs – initial fits, renewals, changes, checks for threads and removals. Click here for more information.

Implants – Implanon.

General Contraception Advice. Click here for more information.

If you have never had a coil or implant before, then an initial consultation is required to ensure it the best option for your needs. You may also be given a pregnancy test to ensure you are NOT pregnant and a swab or smear test may be required.

Other options

There is a WISH clinic at Weston General Hospital that open 6 days a week, and have a walk in clinic (sit and wait) on a Wednesday afternoon between the hours of 3:00pm and 7:15pm only. Their contact no. is 01934 881234. They provide all the services we provide at our Sexual Health Clinic and more, but if you prefer to go there, you are welcome to. Please be advised that if you are attending there for something that we could provide for you, they will require a referral letter from us. You can ask for a referral letter at reception, or call us, and this request will be passed to the Doctors to complete. They may also ask you to come back to us instead to have the procedure done.

Information about all of the WISH clinic services and opening hours can be found here.