Care Leavers - Sexual Health and Relationships
Having sex and relationships are a normal part of getting older. Having a sexual relationship should be healthy and fun. There is no right time to begin - some people are ready before others. Sex is best as part of a loving relationship.
Only have sex if it is the right time for you.
Don't forget:
- You have the right to be treated with respect as a person, regardless of your gender, sexuality, race, age, or mental or physical ability
- No one should ever be persuaded or forced to have sex or any sort of physical contact if they don't want to.
- Your body is your own. It is OK to say no when someone suggests you have sex.
Contraception
There are lots of types of contraception available but condoms and femidoms (female condoms) are the only methods of contraception which can protect you against unwanted pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
An advisor at a Just 4 YoU clinic, the Contraception and Sexual Health Service or your GP can provide advice and practical help with contraception, including free condoms.
What if I need emergency contraception?
If you have had sex without using contraception, or if you think it may not have worked, Emergency contraception can usually prevent pregnancy if you take it within 72 hours.
You can get free emergency contraception from any Just 4 YoU clinic, the Contraception and Sexual Health Service, your GP, another GP, a Brook advisory clinic, at the Accident and Emergency Department at Solihull Hospital. Many chemists also issue free emergency contraception - look for this logo and ask to speak to the pharmacist.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
STIs can be passed on through having unprotected sex - having sex without using any contraception. There are many different STIs such as HIV, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital warts, thrush and chlamydia.
Most of these can be easily treated if detected early but if not, they can have a serious effect on your health. That is why it's important if you think you have an STI to get it checked out and treated. You can get tested and treated for STIs at any Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic.
HIV and AIDS
H - Human: Only humans can get it
I - Immuno-Deficiency: It makes the immune system weak
V - Virus
HIV is a virus you get through contact with the blood, semen or vaginal fluids of someone who already has the virus through:
- unprotected sexual intercourse
- sharing needles
A mother can also pass the virus on to her baby during pregnancy or breast feeding. You can have the virus and stay healthy for years. However, HIV can develop into AIDS.
A - Acquired - you cannot catch it, you have to contract it
I - Immune - it affects the immune system
D - Deficiency - and makes it weak, or deficient
S - Syndrome - a collection of diseases that are present when the immune system is weak
Many people with HIV live longer, healthier lives these days as there are treatments available. But there is no cure. If you think you have put yourself at risk, you can get a HIV test from any GUM clinic.
Where can I get help?
You can get free and confidential help and support from any of the services listed here:
Just for YoU
Just 4 YoU is a free and confidential sexual health service just for anyone aged 20 or under.
There are four clinics run each week and they provide:
- Free condoms
- Free Emergency contraception
- Pregnancy testing
- Information on general health
- Chlamydia testing
- Help and someone to talk to
You don't need an appointment and can visit any time the clinic is open. You can come on your own, with friends, partner or parents.
The clinics are open at:
Grove Road clinic, Solihull , Mondays 4-6pm, Saturdays 11am-1pm
Kingshurst clinic, Kingshurst , Wednesdays 4-6pm
Craig Croft clinic, Chelmsley Wood , Thursdays 4-6pm
The Contraception and Sexual Health Service
The Contraception and Sexual Health Service is a free and confidential service in Solihull open to anyone under 25. You need to phone in advance for an appointment on 0121 705 8737.
They provide:
- Help and advice on sexual health
- Free condoms
- Free Emergency contraception
- Pregnancy testing and counselling
The service is open at:
Grove Road clinic, Solihull , Mondays 9.30-11.30am, Wednesdays 6.30-8.30pm, Thursdays 9.30-11.30am
Hurst Lane clinic, Castle Bromwich , Mondays 4-6pm
Kingshurst clinic, Marston Drive, Kingshurst, Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am
Craig Croft clinic, Chelmsley Wood, Tuesdays 6.30-8.30pm, Wednesdays 6.30-8.30pm
Genito-urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics
The GUM clinic is a free and confidential service open to everyone. You need to phone in advance for an appointment. Ask to speak to a Health Adviser.
They provide:
- Information and advice
- Testing and treatment of STIs
- Testing and counselling for HIV
- Free condoms
You can go along to any GUM clinic anywhere in the country.
The closest GUM clinics are at:
Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham , 0121 424 2000
Whittal Street Clinic, Birmingham, 0121 237 5700
Coventry and Warwick Hospital, Coventry, 024 7684 4164
Other services
These other services can also provide information and advice:
Family Planning Clinic
Telephone: 0845 300 80 90
7am-10pm Monday to Friday
8am-6pm Weekends
http://www.likeitis.org/
SexWise
Telephone: 0800 28 29 30, freephone
7am-12midnight every day
http://www.ruthinking.co.uk/
National Sexual Health Information helpline
Telephone: 0800 567 123, freephone
24 hours
Brook Helpline
Telephone: 0800 0185 023, freephone 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
http://www.brook.org.uk/
Terrence Higgins Trust Midlands
Telephone: 0121 694 6440
9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday
http://www.tht.org.uk/
Lesbian and Gay Switchboard West Midlands
Telephone: 0121 622 6589
7pm-10pm every day
Brook Advisory Centre
59 - 65 John Bright StreetBirmingham
B1 1BL
For information and opening hours contact
Tel. 0121 643 5341
You can be referred to a GUM clinic via your GP, Just for YoU or another sexual health clinic
Local GUM clinics are:
Hawthorne House
Heartlands Hospital
Tel. 0121 424 2000
Birmingham General Hospital
Whittall Street
Tel. 0121 237 5702
Coventry and Warwick Hospital
Tel. 024 76 224 055
You can be referred to a GUM clinic via your GP, Just for YoU or another sexual health clinic.
Other useful agencies
National AIDS helpline
Tel. 0800 567 123 (24 hour, free)
Terrence Higgins Trust - Midlands
10 Manor Road
Coventry
CV1 2LH
Telephone: 024 76 299 292 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm)
Based in Coventry but also funded to work in Solihull
Also at:
The Custard Factory
Gibb Street
Birmingham
B9 4AA
Telephone: 0121 694 6440
Email: info@thtmidlands.org.uk
AB Plus
Telephone: 0121 233 3373
Health Promotion Services
Telephone: 0121 711 7171 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm)