What are sexual health services?
When you think about sexual health, your first thought might be protecting yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) . We hear a lot about chlamydia and HIV infection, but do you need to worry about genital herpes, genital warts or gonorrhoea? Do you need to get tested after a recent encounter?
Or maybe you want to know how to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. What methods of contraception are there, and how can you access them? How do you access emergency contraception if you’ve had unprotected sex? What do you do if you discover you are pregnant and you didn’t plan it?
But there’s even more to sexual health than this. Sex isn’t always part of a loving relationship – you may have been sexually assaulted or raped. Even here, there’s sometimes confusion: What does consenting to sex mean? What do you do if you’ve been sexually assaulted? Can you get counselling?
Maybe you think you might have been exposed to HIV. Can you get tested confidentially? Can you access post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce your risk of HIV? How effective is it?
Are sexual health services confidential?
Absolutely. You can visit your GP for some sexual health services and they will keep your details completely confidential. However, if you do not want even your GP to be informed, you can visit a sexual health service in confidence. The situations in which a clinic might break confidentiality are very rare and this would generally only be done if there was felt to be a significant safeguarding issue, such as sexual abuse of a child or other vulnerable person.
The team at your sexual health clinic may ask your permission to inform your GP. There are advantages to having details of all your medical care in one place, in your GP record. However, you have every right to say no. You will still receive exactly the same care, but nobody outside the clinic (including your GP) will be informed.
Are sexual health services free?
Sexual health services, treatment for HIV and contraception are always free – there is no prescription charge, even if you usually pay for your prescriptions.
What services are available in my area?
Blackpool and Lancashire Sexual Health Services.
The Blackpool and Lancashire Sexual Health Service expert advice, guidance and treatment on all aspects of sexual health.
This includes sexually transmitted infections, HIV and contraception such as pills, injections, implants and coils. Our team of doctors and nurses provide Sexual Health Services across Blackpool and Lancashire. They deal with a variety of sexual health related conditions, providing testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s), including HIV, in line with national guidelines.
For advice and appointments, you can call the booking line on 0300 1234 154 or visit their website https://www.lancashiresexualhealth.nhs.uk/
Psychosexual therapy (Blackpool & Lancashire)
Psychosexual therapy is the use of counselling to longer-term psychotherapy to help address sexual problems. The SHARE (Sexual Help And Relationship Enhancement) team consists of a number of therapists and dedicated administration team. All of the therapists have completed a postgraduate course in the assessment and treatment of sex and relationship problems, which is recognised by the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT). We therefore abide by the COSRT code of ethics.
To contact the Psychosexual service, please call 01253 958 020 or visit their website https://www.lancashiresexualhealth.nhs.uk/psychosexual-therapy
Young people’s Centre (Under 25’s)
Blackpool and Lancashire Sexual Health service also offer a dedicated space for under 25’s. They offer a combination of booked and drop in sessions for both contraception and sexual health screening across Blackpool. When you attend one of these Under 25 services, you can access a wide range of screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The Lancashire Community Education Sexual Health Team also co-ordinates and delivers sexual health and wellbeing services.
To contact the Young People’s Centre for under 25’s, please call 01253 955 856 or visit their website https://www.lancashiresexualhealth.nhs.uk/under-25s
All of the above services can also be booked online by clicking here.
