Sex can evoke powerful emotions - give it the respect it deserves. Find out the facts for yourself, and make up your own mind - don't let others make it up for you.
in this section
Contraception.
If you're under 16
Emergency contraception
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Pregnant?
Sexually transmitted infections. HIV and AIDS
Sexual health and young men
For Contact Details see our A-Z
Check out condomessentialwear.co.uk or RUthinking.co.uk or brook.org.uk or thesite.org
Brook also run a sexual health advice service for young people under 25. You can contact them in confidence on their helpline or text them for automated information. If you are under 18 you can call the sexwise helpline to talk in confidence about sex and sexual health matters. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
There are many different forms of contraception - making the right choice can be complicated. You will need to think about how reliable the method is, how easy it is to use, how it will affect your body and if it will protect you from sexually transmitted infections as well. Most forms of contraception need to be prescribed, and are usually free.
For advice about contraception and a prescription, if you need it, go to the Family Planning Clinic at Monkgate or Acomb Health Centre or your GP. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
The Young People's Sexual Health Outreach Team at Monkgate Health Centre can offer information and advice, and you can talk in confidence about anything to do with sexual health. Contact the team at Monkgate Health Centre for an appointment.
Condoms don't need a prescription, and you can pick them up for free from many of the places mentioned in this section. Castlegate and the health drop-ins at York College and Askham Bryan College all run C-card schemes, as well as drop-ins at some sixth forms. Once you have registered with a worker you'll be given a credit-card sized 'C-card'. You'll then be able to get free condoms regularly and without fuss.
Castlegate also offer pregnancy testing and chlamydia screening.
York College and Askham Bryan College students can go to the health drop-in at their college for free and confidential sexual health advice and services. There are also health drop-ins at some sixth forms.
For Contact Details see our A-Z.
You are still entitled to a confidential consultation with a doctor. You can also get 'treatment' in confidence (e.g. a prescription for contraception, or condoms) if they are satisfied that you understand the information given, your choices and the possible consequences. They are legally obliged to encourage you to discuss the issue with your parents, but they cannot inform them without your consent, even if they refuse to treat you without your parent's permission. Call the sexwise helpline to talk to a worker in confidence. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
If you need contraception in an emergency - either because you
have had unprotected sex or because something went wrong (e.g. you were using a condom which split) - contact your
doctor or
Family Planning Clinic at Acomb or Monkgate for an urgent appointment, as soon as possible, or go to one of the drop-in sessions.
For Contact Details (inc opening times) see our A-Z. There are two options:
• Emergency Hormone Contraception - EHC - (the 'morning after' pill) which you need to take within 72 hours of
unprotected sex, (but as soon as possible) or
• Intra Uterine Device (a 'coil') can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex. It is fitted inside the womb and removed afterwards, or left in as a long term method of contraception.
You can also go to York NHS Walk-in Centre for the 'morning after' pill (EHC). You can also buy it over the counter at pharmacies (chemists), though they may ask for proof of age if they think you are under 16. It is, however, expensive (currently approx £25). If you are 18 or younger, many pharmacies will give you the 'morning after' pill (EHC) for free.
It is also available to York College and Askham Bryan College students at their college's health drop-in, as well as from drop-ins at some sixth forms.
For Contact Details see our A-Z.
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You can get a free test 'while you wait' at Castlegate, the Family Planning Clinic at Monkgate or Acomb or from the health drop-ins at York College, Askham Bryan College or some sixth forms. You can also get one from your GP (results may take a few days). For Contact Details see our A-Z.
You can also buy a home pregnancy testing kit at most chemists.
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT
It can be very difficult to decide what to do if you are unexpectedly pregnant. To talk to someone who can give you information and help you think things through without making your mind up for you, contact the Young People's Sexual Health Outreach Team at Monkgate Health Centre, or Castlegate.
If you decide to have a termination (abortion)
If you decide to have a termination, you need to be referred to the Hospital by a doctor at a
Family Planning Clinic at Acomb Health Centre or Monkgate or by your
GP as soon as possible. For
Contact Details see our A-Z.
You need to talk to someone as soon as possible, as termination is more straightforward if you are less than 12 weeks pregnant. Later terminations are safe but a different method is used. It may take a little longer to arrange at an NHS hospital, but they are free.
Don't try and get rid of it yourself - this is very dangerous.
If the doctor agrees that you have good reason for wanting a termination, they will refer you to a hospital. If the doctor is not sympathetic to your need for a termination they have a duty to refer you to another doctor. If you have problems getting a termination in York, call BPAS. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
Confidentiality - you can ask for a termination even if you are under 16 and it can in some cases be done without your parents' knowledge - see here for more information about confidential treatment. If you are 16 or over you do not need a parent's consent. They will not be told unless you wish them to be.
For information about pregnancy and termination or if you would like to arrange a termination through a private clinic call the BPAS helpline or look at bpas.org For Contact Details see our A-Z.
If you decide to continue with the pregnancy...
then there are a lots of things you need to start sorting out! You will find more information about pregnancy, health, birth, bringing up a child etc. in the
'Being a Parent' section.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS - STI's
STI's are very common - you can become infected however few or many sexual partners you have. Most STI's (except HIV) are easily treated. If you notice any unusual discharge, sores or itching in your genital area, or a burning sensation when you pee, you may have an infection that needs treating. Often, there are no symptoms, so if your partner has an infection, don't wait for symptoms - get yourself checked out too.
Have a look at brook.org.uk or condomessentialwear.co.uk for information on most STI's and how to recognise them.
If you think you have an STI, go to the GUM Clinic ('Genito Urinary Medicine') at Monkgate Health Centre. You can also go to your doctor or Family Planning Clinic for some treatments. Information and leaflets are available from Castlegate, GP surgeries etc. For Contact Details see our A-Z.
Chlamydia
Currently 1 in 10 young people in the York area are infected with chlamydia. It is very easy to treat, but can make you infertile if ignored for too long. Testing for it is simple (you just need to give a urine sample and your phone number to receive your results!)
Yorscreen offers free testing and treatment at Monkgate Health Centre to under 25's, or you can ring and ask for a postal kit to be sent to you. You can leave a sample for testing, or take away a testing kit to send off yourself from
Castlegate, Family Planning Clinics, some GP's, as well as the
York College and Askham Bryan College health drop-ins and York NHS Walk in
Centre.
For Contact Details see our A-Z.
You can also request a postal testing kit, by texting TEST to 80010 followed by your name, age, address and postcode.
HIV and AIDS
The HIV virus is passed from person to person in bodily fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal fluids. The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to make sure you use a condom, and find out about other forms of safer sex. If you inject, never share needles. Compass One and some chemists offer a needle exchange.
If you think you've been exposed to HIV there is a new drug treatment called PEP that may protect you if started within 72 hours (the earlier the better). Look on mesmac.co.uk for advice about accessing it (you'll need to argue for it), or go to A+E asap.
If you are worried that you may have HIV, you can get a confidential HIV test at the GUM clinic at Monkgate. You don't need to give your name, and no one else will be told about it. (If you go to your GP, it will be put on your records which may affect things you wish to do later e.g. taking out a mortgage - even if the test is negative).
You can also get more information about HIV and HIV testing from the Young People's Sexual Health Outreach Team or Acomb Health Centre. For more information, or support in living with HIV or AIDS, contact:
North Yorkshire AIDS Action - a service to support those with HIV and Aids and their carers. They also offer a drop-in for collecting leaflets, the gay press, free condoms etc. You can also make an appointment to see a worker.
Compass One - (see here for more information about Compass) - They offer a needle exchange and confidential pre- and post-HIV test counselling for drug users as well as ongoing support.
MESMAC - sexual health information, free condoms, support and counselling for men who have sex with other men.
For Contact Details see our A-Z.
If you think that sexual health, contraception and pregnancy are only for women to worry about - think again! For example, men are just as much at risk of sexually transmitted infections as women, and the symptoms can be just as severe. If you are going to have sex, the only way to keep yourself - and others - safe is to carry condoms, and use them.
All young people - men and women - are welcome at all sexual health services.
Pregnancy - an issue for men too!
Some myths dispelled:
• a woman can get pregnant the first time she has sex
• your partner can get pregnant even if you pull out before you come!
An unwanted or unexpected pregnancy is one of the most life altering experiences a person can go through. Whilst it is ultimately the woman's decision as to whether she goes ahead with a pregnancy or decides to have a termination, it can have far reaching consequences for you too. Termination can be extremely traumatic for both. If your partner decides to go ahead with the pregnancy then having a child is a major undertaking. If you don't stay together you will still by law have financial responsibility for the child - even if you have no contact with them.
Which ever way you look at it, unless you're both sure that being parents is what you want, the best option is to make sure your partner doesn't get pregnant in the first place - and this is just as much your responsibility as hers.