Sexual health information for adults
Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination and violence.
For information about our specialist sexual health service provider's opening times or clinic locations visit the Unity Sexual Health website.
Page contents:
- Free and confidential specialist sexual health services
- Pregnancy concerns and options
- Emergency contraception
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Free condoms
- Consent
- Sexual violence and domestic abuse
- Getting help if you have experienced sexual violence
Free and confidential specialist sexual health services
Unity Sexual Health
Unity Sexual Health is the specialist sexual health service covering all areas of South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset. They provide free and confidential sexual health services for all ages and sexualities. To make an appointment with Unity Sexual Health or to speak to someone for advice, you can contact them via:
- Telephone: 0117 342 6900
- Website: www.unitysexualhealth.co.uk for information on sexual health services
Brook as part of the Unity Sexual Health Service, focus on providing free and confidential sexual health treatment, information and advice for young people aged 19 and under and have a clinic in Bristol. You can contact them via:
- Telephone: 0117 929 0090 for all Brook services and appointments
- Website: https://www.brook.org.uk/ for help and advice on a range of topics
Doctors and nurses at your local GP practice can also give you confidential information about sexual health, pregnancy and abortion. They can also provide contraception and/or testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Pregnancy concerns and options
If you think you may be pregnant, you will need to do a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
You can get a free pregnancy test kit from:
- Some Unity Sexual Health clinics (For details check the clinics page).
- Some GP surgeries can offer confidential free pregnancy testing – check with your GP surgery.
- Test kits can also be purchased at supermarkets and pharmacies.
If you have had a positive pregnancy test, information is available about your pregnancy options and support available on the Unity Sexual Health website. You may also want to talk to your family or friends for support.
If you would like advice about pregnancy options, you can talk to someone confidentially at the Pregnancy Advisory clinic on 0345 872 5435 (7am-8pm daily). You can also complete an online booking form available from the Unity Sexual Health pregnancy options webpage to arrange to talk to someone.
Emergency contraception
If you have had unprotected sex (no contraception used) or a contraceptive failure (burst condom, missed pills etc) and want to reduce the risk of becoming pregnant you will need to use emergency contraception.
Emergency hormonal contraception should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex to reduce the risk of becoming pregnant and can be taken up to 5 days (120 hrs) after. You may be offered a copper intrauterine device (IUD, also known as a copper coil) or an emergency hormonal contraception pill, depending on your situation and your preferences.
Even if the unprotected sex was more than 5 days (120hrs) ago and you want to try and reduce your risk of becoming pregnant you should call Unity Sexual Health on 0117 342 6900 straight away.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
STIs can be passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral and anal sex. You are most at risk if you have had sex without a condom, but it is still possible to get an infection when a condom has been used. It is a good idea to get tested following sex with any new partner(s). Many STIs have no symptoms.
- If you have had unprotected sex (sex without a condom), or sex with a new partner, and have concerns about possible STI symptoms, visit the Unity Sexual Health website or call them on 0117 342 6900 to discuss your situation and arrange to be tested.
- If you have no symptoms, and are aged 16 or over, you can order a free test kit online which is provided confidentially by Unity Sexual Health and you can also get STI test kits from the Unity Sexual Health vending machines in 4 locations across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Free condoms
You can pop into any of the Unity sexual health clinics and ask for condoms.
- Click on Locate A Service to find your nearest Sexual health clinic.
Unity Sexual Health supply free condoms by post to certain groups of people aged 18 or over who live in South Gloucestershire.
Consent
Sex should be enjoyable and must always be agreed to by everyone involved. Giving consent means saying ‘yes’ and with the freedom and capacity to make that choice, without being forced and without being concerned or worried about what will happen if you say ‘No’.
To find out more about consenting to sex, visit:
Sexual violence and domestic abuse
Sexual violence is a term that is used to describe any sexual activity that happened without consent. Hurting someone, using threatening or manipulative behaviour, controlling someone, or forcing someone to do something they have not agreed to is not legal or acceptable, whether in a relationship or not. If you or someone you know has experienced this type of abuse or violence please report it and get help.
Call 999 if a crime is happening now or you or someone is in immediate danger.
Getting help if you have experienced sexual violence
If you have experienced any sexual violence such as sexual assault or rape, there are people who can provide support and advice. Please remember that whatever your circumstances, what has happened was not your fault and help is available.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
- Survivor Pathway is an online resource for anyone wanting to know more about specialist sexual violence support services in the South West.
- You can also find an extensive list of places to go to for help on our Domestic Abuse webpage.
These free and confidential local services listed below can help and support you. You don’t need to have reported the incident to the Police to use these services.
Safelink
Safelink provide independent support for anyone (women, men, and children) who has been the victim of rape and sexual abuse across the whole of Avon and Somerset area including South Gloucestershire. You do NOT have to report to the police to access this service.
- Phone: 0333 323 1543
- Website: Safe Link – transforming victims' lives
- Online chat service: the website gives details of when Live chat is available.
- Email: Safe.Link@safelinksupport.co.uk
Sarsas
SARSAS provides confidential support to people of all genders age 13+ in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & NE Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset, who have experienced rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives. To find out more about this service:
- Phone: 0808 801 0456 or 0808 801 0464 these helplines are usually open Mondays & Fridays 11am – 2pm and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 6pm – 8pm.
- Website: https://www.sarsas.org.uk
- Online chat: a chat box will appear on the website during online chat opening times.
- Email: support@sarsas.org.uk
- SARSAS self-help guides for victims-survivors and friends and families. Available in different languages and easy read formats.
Kinergy counselling service
Kinergy is a registered charity offering specialist trauma informed counselling, group therapy and a support group to people of all genders age 18+, who have experienced any form of sexual abuse or sexual violence during their life. Services are offered to anyone who lives in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BANES and North Somerset.
To find out more about these services you can contact Kinergy:
- Phone 0117 908 7712
- Email: contact@kinergy.org.uk
- Web: www.kinergy.org.uk