Sexual health

Services might be delivered by nurses, specialist doctors, your local/regular doctor, pharmacists or outreach workers.  Not all service providers offer the full range of sexual health services as outlined above, and it’s always best to check what’s on offer in advance.

It is fine to take a friend with you for support. If you need to have an examination, you should be offered a chaperone. This means that someone else can be with you when you have the examination if you want them to be.

If you visit a sexual health service for the first time, you are usually asked to fill in a form with your name and contact details. With the exception of the GP, you do not have to give your real name or tell staff who your GP is if you do not want to. You can visit any sexual health clinic, it doesn’t have to be one in your local area.

As part of your consultation you may be asked some personal questions, such as your medical and sexual history, what methods of contraception you use and other questions about your sex life and sexual partners. If you need to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), you may need to provide a blood or urine sample.

All information regarding your visit will be treated confidentially. This means that your personal details and any information about the tests or treatments you have received will not be shared with anyone outside the sexual health service without your permission. This includes your GP.

If you are under 16 years of age, your details will still be treated confidentially and no-one in your household will be contacted without your permission. However, staff may encourage you to talk to your parents, guardian or another trusted adult.