West Northamptonshire Sexual Health and HIV Services

If you are aged between 16-24 year old you can order a home testing kit:

Get a home testing kit

Watch the video to learn what to do with your postal kit

For individuals over 18 years old who want a sexual health check-up and have NO symptoms.

Routine tests will be offered, if appropriate, for:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis
• HIV.

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Chlamydia has a high positivity rate amongst under 25 year olds. You can get chlamydia through:

• unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
• sharing sex toys that are not washed or covered with a new condom each time they're used
• your genitals coming into contact with your partner's genitals this means you can get chlamydia from someone even if there's no penetration, orgasm or ejaculation
• infected semen or vaginal fluid getting into your eye

It can also be passed by a pregnant woman to her baby.

Therefore, Chlamydia is very easy to catch, but testing and treatment is easy.

Contraceptive pills do not prevent STIs.

Visit the NHS Chlamydia page for more information

The bacteria that causes gonorrhoea are mainly found in discharge from the penis and in vaginal fluid.

Gonorrhoea is easily passed between people through:

• unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex
• sharing vibrators or other sex toys that have not been washed or covered with a new condom each time they're used

The bacteria can infect the entrance to the womb (cervix), the tube that passes urine out of the body (urethra), the rectum and, less commonly, the throat or eyes.

The infection can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby. If you're pregnant and may have gonorrhoea, it's important to get tested and treated before your baby is born.

Testing and treatment is easy.

Visit the NHS Gonorrrhea page for more information

The symptoms of syphilis are often mild and hard to notice. They tend to change over time and may come and go.

Symptoms of syphilis include:

• small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) - these are usually painless and you may only have one of them
• sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom
• white or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus
• a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body - this is not usually itchy
• white patches in your mouth
• flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness
• swollen glands
• patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows

It can take 3 weeks or more for the symptoms of syphilis to appear after you're infected.

Sometimes the symptoms can improve or go away completely, but if you have not been treated the infection is still in your body.

This means you can still pass it on and you're at risk of getting serious problems later on.

Find out more on the NHS website

The most effective form of emergency contraception is to have an intrauterine device (IUD) or copper coil fitted. This can be fitted up to 5 days after you have had sex and is usually done in:

• family planning or contraception services
• sexual health services
• some GPs

You can get emergency hormonal contraception (tablets) free from GPs, some hospitals (Accident or Emergency Department), sexual health services and some pharmacies. The pharmacies in Northamptonshire that offer free emergency contraception are listed in the FREE Emergency Contraception boxes below.

You can also buy emergency contraception from some pharmacies if you are older than 25.

• When did you last have sex?
• Are you using any contraception (condoms or anything else)
• When was your last period? (it s helpful to have a think about this before you see the person helping you). If it is late, could you already be pregnant?
• Have you ever had emergency contraception before, and if so when?
• Do you or anyone in your immediate family have any health problems? Do you take any tablets or medicines?

They will also need to know your age and your name & postcode (this is not so that they can contact you but so they know where you've come from as this informs where funding is allocated to pay for your NHS care).

There are different types of contraception, some that you take every day (called short-acting) and others that are fitted and last for months or years. If you have any medical problems it is important to tell the person looking after you so they can help you make the safest and right choice for you.

You can get FREE Emergency Contraception from one of the following pharmacies around our county.

This is available for all age groups.

Condoms are types of barrier methods of contraception. Berrier methods of contraception stop sperm from fertilising an egg by creating a physical barrier. 

NHFT offer a free condom service for young adults between the ages of 16 and 24

Condoms are made of very thin rubber or polyurethane and come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, colours and flavours. To use a condom it is rolled down over the erect penis and stops sperm coming into contact with a partner s body.

Condoms and femidoms (female condoms) are the only methods of contraception that provide effective protection against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. You can buy them at any age (even under 16).

Double Dutch is when condoms are used with another form of contraception so that you are protected against pregnancy and infections. Many young people are now using this.

You should check the expiry date (the date it runs out) and for a CE/Kitemark (to check it is made to proper standards).

Oil-based products can make condoms more likely to break, e.g. Vaseline, baby oil and lipstick, but water-based lubricants such as KY Jelly and Senselle can be used.

If a condom breaks or you have unprotected sex, remember Emergency Contraception and a check-up for STIs.

Condoms are free from sexual health and family planning clinics and can be bought in most pharmacies, supermarkets and online BUT:

• they can slip or split during sex
• they can be expensive if you are buying them
• some people find they interrupt sex while you put it on.

Remember!

• Check expiry dates
• Check for damage to the packet?
• Put it on the wrong way? Don t flip it, use a new condom
• Grease breaks condoms
• Remove before loss of erection
• Please dispose responsibly!

The pill is a method of short-acting reversible contraception (SARC). As it is reversible you can change your mind about using the pill at any time. There are two types of contraceptive pills, the combined pill and the mini pill. Both types require you to take a pill every day and they do not protect you against STIs.

Please see your GP for these medications.

The implant, the coil (IUD) and IUS are all methods of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). They last for several years, however as they are reversible you can change your mind about using them at any time. These methods do not protect you from STIs.

Your GP may offer these methods. Northamptonshire Integrated Sexual Health and HIV (NISHH) also offers these methods to all women needing contraception.

This is when a woman works out when the most fertile time in her monthly cycle is, and then avoids sex without contraception during this time.

It does not mean withdrawal (removing the penis before the man ejaculates) and it needs to be taught by a specialist to work properly and the person needs to understand their personal cycle and the way their body works. Everyone will be different. 

Natural family planning will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so the best way to protect yourself from STIs is to use a condom every time you have sex.

When used correctly all the time, fertility awareness methods are between 91% and 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

If you do not follow the instructions exactly, it is only 76% effective, meaning 24 in 100 women will get pregnant when tracking their fertility for a year.

This is where the man or woman has surgery to prevent them from ever being able to have children again. It is not usually offered to younger people and you need to see your GP to discuss this. Northamptonshire Integrated Sexual Health and HIV service does not offer sterilisation or referral for sterilisation. Sterilisation does not protect you from STIs. 

Here are the facts: a woman can still get pregnant:

• if the man pulls out of her vagina before he comes
• if she has sex when she is on her period.
• if it is the first time she has had sex
• whatever position the couple are having sex in
• if she does not have an orgasm
• if she is breastfeeding
• if she douches (squirts water into the vagina). This can be harmful to women.

If you are pregnant and do not want to continue with the pregnancy, you can contact an abortion service directly:

BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service)   Abortion Clinic | BPAS Northampton | BPAS

NHS Find abortion services - NHS

We offer a HIV Emergency testing and medication service up to 72 hours after exposure. If you are worried after condom less sex with someone, that they may have HIV, or you have received a needlestick injury or been the victim of a needle assault, we can provide post exposure medication known as PEP (post exposure prophylaxis). Please contact the service.

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person. It can be passed on through/from:

• Blood
• Semen (& pre-ejaculate)
• Vaginal fluids
• Anal mucus
• Breast milk
• Mother to child (<1% with medical intervention)
• Sharing sex toys
• Sharing needles (UK Needle exchange, started 1985)
• Contaminated Blood Transfusions (Safe in UK since 1985)

HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat, urine or saliva or through any of the following methods:

• Touching / Hugging
• Shaking hands
• Kissing
• Spitting
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Sharing toilets
• Sharing household items, e.g. cups

Symptoms of HIV

Many people with HIV do not know they're infected. Commonly after acquiring the infection, an individual may have flu-like symptoms for 2-3 weeks, before feeling better. Over the longer term, the virus will replicate and kill immune cells leaving the body vulnerable to infection.

The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test. This involves testing a sample of your blood or saliva for signs of the infection. Modern HIV tests are very accurate. You can order a test online or visit one of our clinics.

For those most at risk of acquiring HIV, you are eligible to order a free online HIV test.

Find out more about our testing options here 

There is still no cure for HIV but there are very effective treatment options available for people The treatments allow most people with HIV to live a long life and prevent the onward spread of the virus.

Northampton: 03000 270110

Northampton General Hospital, Billing Road, Entrance R

Kettering: 03000 274100

Ashwood Centre, St. Mary's Hospital

The C-Card service offers free condoms, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea testing, as well as pregnancy tests, if you are under 25.

Many youth organisations, pharmacies and GP practices are part of the C-Card scheme. The C-Card can be used in person at any of these places, at an outreach team college drop-in event or with one of our provider sites such as the Lowdown.

Consent in relation to sex is when we agree to have sex with someone and we want to do this. 

This video explains it clearly.

There should be no confusion.

Our 'gut feelings' are often a good guide to if something 'feels right'. , If something doesn't feel right then it's more than likely that it isn't, if you don't feel safe in a situation then take yourself away from it as soon as possible.

Basic common-sense safety tips can help keep us safe. Things like not walking alone at night or letting people know what time your bus is due to arrive so they know what time to expect you.

There are lots of apps you can get on your phone that help you to keep safe, one such app is Hollie Guard. This is a personal safety app which allows you to tell people where you are and if you don't arrive at your destination when you thought you would. It also has a built-in safety alarm and deterrent alarm, find out more about the app. 

Keeping safe applies to watching out for your friends too. If you see something that looks unusual or not right e.g. if your friend starts to behave differently, tell someone (parent, teacher) about it.

All relationships will have their highs and lows but a good relationship will be based on respect for each other and open communication. This is the same whether it is a sexual relationship or with your friends and parents, a relationship should be a positive experience in general, for most of the time, (we all have good and bad days!). A healthy relationship is important for general health and wellbeing. You should enjoy spending time together but also allow each other freedom to see your friends without being made to feel guilty. It's nice to have common interests in a relationship but if you don't then your partner shouldn't stop you doing something you enjoy just because they don't.

Your partner should respect your privacy and this comes with the trust you build in your relationship.

Signs of an unhealthy relationship can be:

• Your partner insists on reading your text messages or looking at your social media
• Your partner stops you seeing your friends or makes you feel guilty if you don't spend time with them when they want you to.
• You feel pressure to have sex with a partner even when you do not want to but you don't feel like you can say no.
• A partner tells you what to wear.

Finding 'THE ONE' can be difficult and you may experience a number of relationships before you find someone you are truly compatible with. Some people are not looking for a relationship and want to concentrate on themselves (exams, friendships, work etc) this is 'OK'. Making yourself happy first will lead on to healthy relationships in the future if you want one.

Getting to know your own body is really important at any age.

Knowing what is normal for your body is good and will help you notice when something changes or isn't right for you.

Alcohol is a drug. Like other drugs, it can affect our normal thought processes and we may behave in ways which are not normal for us. We may forget what has happened and may regret what we have done. This can be scary and can mean we end up having sex when we don't want to.

Some tips for when you are drinking alcohol:

• Look out for your friends  and ask them to watch out for you
• Try and avoid too much alcohol e.g. do you need those shots? Try to avoid too much pre-loading
• Try and plan ahead, if you think you might be having sex that evening, take some condoms with you so you are prepared.

Some people develop problems with drinking alcohol.

Signs that you may have some problems with drinking:

• Has anyone ever raised a concern about the amount you drink e.g. a parent or friend?
• Have you or a friend ever had an injury when you were drunk that you cannot remember getting?
• Are you drinking alone?
• Drinking more than the nation recommended allowance per week on a regular basis - find about the recommended guidelines
• Do you need to drink to cope with certain situations

For more information visit:

Drink aware

Are you drinking too much? Find out here

Many young people are worried about telling their parents they are thinking about becoming sexually active or that they are in a relationship.

When you come to a sexual health clinic you are asked some questions to see if you understand the advice we are giving you. We also ask a few questions about your safety which we ask everyone who is under 18 years old.

If we are happy you understand what we are telling you and we have no concerns for your safety we would not tell anyone about your visit to us. This includes not telling parents/GP/School unless you want us to. We would, however, try and encourage you to have these discussions so that your parents or carers can support you to be able to get contraception or tests for sexually transmitted infections. Your parents will want the best for you and to keep you safe. If you are being sensible and trying to prevent unwanted pregnancy and infection most parents will be pleased you are trying to protect yourself.

Are you aged 13- 24 years? Did you know you can speak to a member of the Sexual Health team by text to receive free advice and support?

Using Chat Health, you can text the service on 07312 263114 for a confidential chat about your sexual health.

ChatHealth is a secure NHS text messaging service used by school nurses, health visitors, mental health teams, and sexual health services across the country in NHFT.

The team can help with free testing, advice and contraception, to help you practice safer sex to protect yourself and others.