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Welcome to the F-risky website - the first place to turn for information on all aspects of sexual health - or text us in confidence on 07770 266366 from 9am - 9pm |
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Provided
by the Bournemouth Sexual Health Awareness Group, part of the NHS Bournemouth
Teaching Primary Care Trust, the purpose of this site is simply to give
you access to the facts you need to enjoy
safer sex, and to tell you who to get in touch with if
you're worried, confused or simply need more information.
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So... what do you want to know about? Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Dorset Working Women's Project (DWWP) East Dorset Contraceptive Health Services Clinics
Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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Contraception
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First things first There are 14 methods
of contraception to choose from. Here you'll find information on each
of them, how they work, and their advantages and disadvantages. Contraception is
free on the NHS and advice will be confidential. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| Emergency Contraception |
First things first Emergency contraception can be used if a contraceptive method fails (for instance a condom splits or a pill is forgotten or taken late) or no contraception at all is used. There are two forms of emergency contraception - the emergency contraceptive pill and the emergency intrauterine device (IUD). Emergency contraceptive pills This form of emergency contraception consists of 2 pills containing a special dose of the hormone progestogen. Emergency contraceptive pills can be used up to 72 hours (three days) after sex. You will be given two pills which should be taken at the same time, as soon as possible after having unprotected sex, and no later than 72 hours after. Emergency contraceptive pills work in several ways. They may stop ovulation (release of an egg), they may stop an egg from being fertilised or they may stop a fertilised egg from implanting in the womb. Emergency contraceptive pills are more effective the sooner after sex they are taken. If the pills are begun within 24 hours after sex they will prevent 95 out of 100 pregnancies. If taken 72 hours after sex the pills will prevent 58 out of 100 pregnancies. Because emergency contraceptive pills are more effective the sooner after sex the first pill is taken, it is important that you seek emergency contraceptive advice as quickly as possible. Emergency contraceptive
pills are available free from: Women over 16 can also buy emergency contraceptive pills from most pharmacies. The cost is £24. Free emergency contraception for under-18s in Bournemouth In Bournemouth there is a free emergency contraception scheme for young women under 18 years of age, available at the 11 pharmacies listed below. Please ring the pharmacy to ensure a trained pharmacist, who can issue emergency contraception, is on duty -or text / phone the helpline number - 07770 266366 - and they will do this for you. Bournemouth pharmacies issuing emergency contraception: Boots Boots Boots Boots West Howe Pharmacy Fiveways Pharmacy Asda Pharmacy Lloyds Pharmacy Superdrug Superdrug Lloyds Pharmacy Emergency Intrauterine Device (IUD) An IUD can be fitted as an emergency contraceptive up to five days after sex. It has to be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse. The IUD works by either stopping an egg from being fertilised or by stopping it implanting in the womb. The emergency IUD is almost 100% effective at whatever stage it is fitted. Most family planning clinics will have at least one doctor who is able to fit IUDs. Some GPs will also have received training. It is a good idea to telephone the service before visiting to check when an appropriately trained doctor or nurse will be available. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health,
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| Pregnancy | ||
| Pregnancy |
First things first There is a risk of pregnancy if sperm comes into contact with the vagina in any way. This could be from sperm on fingers that touch the woman's genital area. It is important to remember that the penis leaks a few drops of semen (liquid containing sperm) as soon as it is hard, so there is a risk of pregnancy if the sperm enters the vagina, even if the man doesn't ejaculate. For this reason, the 'withdrawal method' is NOT a reliable form of contraception. For women who want to avoid pregnancy, it is never safe to have sexual contact without using a reliable method of contraception. Pregnancy tests If a woman thinks
she may be pregnant, for example because her period is late, she should
do a pregnancy test as soon as possible to find out for sure. Pregnancy
tests are available from: Alternatively, pregnancy testing kits can be bought from your chemists. Home pregnancy testing kits come with instructions. They work by detecting the presence of hormone levels in the woman's urine. When to get the test done Most pregnancy tests state that they work as soon as a period is late (i.e. one day). Most women do not continue to have normal periods when pregnant but some may experience lighter/shorter periods. And for women who do not have a regular cycle it can be difficult to know when a period is due. So it is best to take the test three weeks after having unprotected sex (as this is roughly how long it will take for the hormone levels to show up on the test). If a test is negative (i.e. the woman is not pregnant) but the woman's period still doesn't arrive a week later, another test should be taken. Periods can be late for other reasons including stress, change of diet, or other health conditions. Women should seek medical advice if they are concerned. It is important to find out as soon as possible. The earlier a woman finds out she is pregnant, the more options she has. If she decides to keep the baby, it is better to arrange ante-natal care with her doctor early on for the health of the baby and the woman (e.g. so that she can be given folic acid). If on the other hand, she decides to have an abortion, it is also important to act quickly. Facing an unplanned pregnancy It is common to feel shocked, scared, panicked, confused, embarrassed, isolated or lonely when facing an unplanned pregnancy. Professionals are there to provide information and support on the options available but only the woman herself can make the decision as to whether or not to continue with the pregnancy. It can be a difficult and complicated decision but help and advice are available. It's important to talk to someone as soon as possible. There is advice available from other young people's services or family planning clinics. Under 16s Facing an unplanned pregnancy is difficult at any age but can be even more distressing for a woman who is under 16 and doesn't know where to turn. Youth Advisory Clinics are used to seeing young people under 16 and can provide confidential help. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| Abortion |
First things first Abortion means ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a child. If a woman thinks she is pregnant but hasn't had a pregnancy test done, she needs to do so as soon as possible. What is a legal abortion? In
England, Wales and Scotland abortion is legal under 24 weeks of pregnancy
if two doctors agree that it is necessary for one of the following reasons: An
abortion is also legal at any time in pregnancy if two doctors agree that: Note that the stage of pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the woman's last period. Note also that different laws apply outside England, Wales and Scotland. How can a woman get an abortion? To get an abortion on the NHS, a woman needs to be referred by a doctor. This can be her own GP, a doctor at a local Family Planning Clinic, Youth Advisory Clinic, or through self-referral to BPAS (British Pregnancy Advisory Service). If a doctor has a moral objection to abortion, s/he does not have to be involved. However, s/he should explain this to their patient and make arrangements for her to see another doctor. It is important to act quickly. The earlier a woman decides to have an abortion, the easier it is to get a free abortion on the NHS. Although the normal legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks, it is usually easiest to get an abortion on the NHS if a woman is under 12 weeks pregnant. There is an average of 2-4 weeks waiting time on the NHS, so it is easier if a woman is under 8 weeks pregnant. Women can refer themselves for a private abortion. Early abortions start from around £350 and go up to £750 or above in the later stages. For more information on private abortions, visit our useful organisations section. Once referred for an NHS or private abortion, the woman will need to attend a consultation at the clinic. Her medical history will be taken and a nurse or doctor will discuss what will happen. Under 16s A young woman under 16 can have an abortion but special rules apply about consent. How are abortions carried out? There
are two main early abortion methods: · Medical abortion (known as 'the abortion pill') Medical abortion can be performed in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. It does not involve any surgery. The woman is given a pill (mifepristone) and 36 to 48 hours later, a tablet (prostaglandin) is placed in her vagina. These two drugs end most early pregnancies within the following four hours. It feels like having a heavy and rather painful period. There is now an East Dorset Early Medical Termination Service and referral for a termination is by your GP, a Contraceptive Health Service Doctor (formerly Family Planning) or a Youth Advisory Clinic with a doctor in attendance. The early medical termination service is run on Thursdays from Poole Community Health Clinic, Shaftesbury Road, Poole. There must be a referral from a doctor before attending the clinic; you will receive an appointment letter through the post. · Vacuum aspiration (known as 'the suction method') This method is available up to 13 weeks of pregnancy. For this procedure the woman has either a general or local anaesthetic. The abortion is carried out through the vagina and there is no wound or stitches. The cervix (the entrance to the womb at the top of the vagina) is gently stretched to allow a tube to pass through it into the womb. Once the tube is inserted, it only takes a minute to remove the pregnancy by suction. Healthy women take only an hour or so to recover and most go home the same day. Methods used for later abortions will depend on the stage of pregnancy. The exact procedure will be explained by a doctor or nurse before the abortion goes ahead. Having an abortion should not affect a woman's ability to have a child in the future. After an abortion The woman will experience some bleeding for a few days after the abortion and may have pain like "period pains". Advice will be given on how to reduce the risk of infection. If bleeding or pain is severe, or she has a raised temperature or unusual vaginal discharge, she should see a doctor as soon as possible as this could mean that she has an infection which needs treatment. The woman will need to see a doctor about one to six weeks after the abortion to make sure all is well. It is possible to become pregnant again as soon as 7 days after an abortion. So the woman needs to think about future contraception. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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STIs
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Sexually Transmitted Infections, or S.T.I.'s for short, are very infectious and very common. People don't usually pass them on deliberately - they pass them on through ignorance because they don't often realise they have an infection, in other words they may not have any signs or symptoms that there is something wrong, or, that they don't spot them. It is important to know what to look out for if you have put yourself at risk. To avoid catching an STI it is important to practice safer sex! The easiest way to do that is to make sure you use condoms properly every time you have sex. If you have put yourself at risk, even if you haven't got any symptoms to tell you that you have an STI it is important to get yourself checked out at a GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) Clinic. There medical staff will, in complete confidence, examine you, do several tests to check whether you have any STI's as well as give you advice on practicing safer sex. The main GUM Clinic in this area is at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on Castle Lane East, you do not need an appointment you can just turn up and wait your turn, however if you get there late you may not be seen. It is a very busy clinic. Bournemouth GUM Clinic is situated on the ground floor of the Hospital - just follow the signs. It is open on the following days and times: Mondays and Thursdays Tuesdays Wednesdays and Fridays Telephone number
is 01202 704644 during clinic times or click www.rbh.org.uk/depts/gum/index.shtml Walk
In Appointment If you do not attend within 10 minutes of your scheduled time it is likely that you will not be seen and will have to make another appointment. If you do not attend on more than 3 occasions the privilege of making appointments will be withdrawn and you will have to attend "Walk In" clinics. Appointments can only be made 48 hours ahead - this is to prevent a log jam of appointments. If you are unable to get an appointment you can attend a "Walk In" session. Poole HospitalA GUM Clinic is held at Poole Hospital, Longfleet Rd. every Monday, between 2 - 7pm, however it is by appointment only, to make an appointment ring 01202 704644. If you are diagnosed with an STI it is very important that you tell your sexual partner, however difficult or awkward that may be! The most common STIs - signs or symptoms to look out for Chlamydia Chlamydia is caused by bacteria and is passed on by having sex without a condom, as it is found in men's semen and in women's vaginal fluids. The reason it is so common is that most people who have it do not know, as they will probably not have any signs or symptoms. About half of men may get a white discharge from their penis or pain when they urinate or even a painful swelling in their testicles. Unfortunately only about 1 in 4 women with it will get any symptoms such as an unusual discharge, pain when urinating, bleeding between periods or after sex, pain when having sex or possibly some pain around the pelvic area. If left untreated
(easy to cure with antibiotics) it can lead to infertility in women and
sometimes in men too. TODAY 1 IN 8 SEXUALLY ACTIVE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 25 WILL HAVE CHLAMYDIA AND NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT! Genital warts Genital Warts are
the second most common STI, they are caused by the wart virus leaking
from the wart and infecting the partner, you don't even have to have full
sexual intercourse to get them, just close skin to skin contact will do.
Once you have the wart virus, warts will usually start to appear around
and on the genital area within a few months - sometimes the virus can
be passed on before you even notice you have them. If diagnosed, genital
warts are generally treated with either a special ointment at the clinic,
a liquid or cream to use at home or, in some cases, they may be frozen
off or laser treatment may be needed. Treatments should not be painful
but sometimes it may be uncomfortable. Gonorrhoea Another bacterial
infection similar to Chlamydia, and nearly as common, again passed on
through having sex without a condom. Easy to treat with antibiotics if
you know you have it, but a lot of people do not get any symptoms. Men
may get a white, yellow or green discharge from their penis, pain when
they urinate, or tender testicles. Women may get a change in their discharge,
possibly turned yellow or green, pain when urinating or possibly pain
in the pelvic area. Genital Herpes A virus that is passed on by just close sexual contact with a person who is having what is called an episode of herpes - the virus will leak from the outbreak which commonly looks like blisters or sores around the genital area, both inside and outside of the penis, vagina or rectum. Sometimes, though, the outbreak may go unnoticed by the sufferer. Unfortunately there is no cure for herpes although treatment can be given to a sufferer who has frequent attacks. Basically herpes comes and goes and will affect everybody in a different way, some people are lucky and may only get one outbreak of herpes. Other signs to look out for may be a tingling sensation in the area affected, pain urinating or even feeling generally unwell - a bit like an attack of the flu. Pubic Lice or "Crabs" Pubic lice are very small parasites that live in body hair. A very close relative of head lice, they can be caught in the same way by close hair-to-hair contact. Once they have got into your pubic hair they will start to lay their eggs or 'nits' and after a while you will probably get very itchy, maybe a rash will appear where you have scratched yourself so much. Sometimes people find out they have them when they notice a fine black dust or spots in their pants, that is the lice's droppings, pooh in other words. Sometimes they will get into other body hair, such as under the armpit or even in men's beards and moustaches. Treatment is simple,
special lotions or shampoos need to be applied and left on for the required
time, these can be got from the GUM clinic, G.P or a chemist who can advise
you of the best treatment. Clothing, bedding and towels will also need
to be washed, on a hot cycle, to avoid re-infection. Further information Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major cause of ill health. They can also cause ectopic pregnancy (where an egg is fertilised and becomes implanted in the fallopian tube), and may also lead to infertility in both men and women. Since 1995 there have been large increases in the number of people diagnosed with STIs, particularly women in their late teens and men in their early twenties. This may be because people are more aware of STIs and are visiting clinics to be tested. What are the symptoms? Symptoms vary between STIs and some have no symptoms at all. Where there are symptoms, these may include unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, heavy periods or bleeding between periods, pain or burning sensation when passing urine, rashes, itching or tingling around the genitals or anus. Tests and treatment Most STIs can be easily diagnosed and treated at Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics which are usually based in local hospitals. If you think you may have an STI, you can refer yourself to any GUM clinic for advice and treatment. The service is completely confidential and you don't have to go to your nearest clinic if you don't want to. The address and phone number for local GUM services are on the website or in the phone book under GUM or Sexual Health. Tests for STIs vary. Some involve taking swabs from the cervix or tip of the penis. Others involve taking a blood sample. Before being tested it is usual to see a health adviser who will discuss safer sex with you so that you can avoid infections in the future. Counselling is usually offered before testing for HIV so that you are prepared for the implications of the test result if it is positive. If you test positive for any STI, the clinic will encourage you to talk to your current partner and, where relevant, previous partners, so that they can also be tested. If you prefer, the clinic can do this for you without revealing your identity. Most STIs are treatable with antibiotics. Avoiding STIs STIs are usually passed on by sex with an infected person though some can be passed on in other ways as well. They can be caught during oral, vaginal or anal sex. Using a male or female condom every time you have sex will stop the transmission of most STIs. Condoms can be used in addition to another method of contraception, such as the pill, which does not protect against infections. This is often referred to as the 'double dutch' method. Dental dams (small squares of latex) can also be used as a barrier during sex involving contact between the mouth and the vagina, or the mouth and the anus. Condoms are easily available from Youth Advisory Centres (for under 21s) and family planning clinics, and from GUM clinics. Types of STI There
are 25 types of sexually transmitted infection. Some can be acquired without
sexual contact. The most common infections are: The
following are not necessarily transmitted through sexual contact: Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| HIV / AIDS |
Body
Positive Dorset Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| DWWP |
The DWWP is for all women who work, or have ever worked, in any area of the sex industry, and provides information, advice and support on all work-related issues. The DWWP does not strive to control, reduce or promote prostitution but works to models of health promotion and harm minimisation, offering a confidential and non-judgemental service. The Bournemouth Teaching Primary Care Trust funds the DWWP. What Do We Offer? Twice
weekly Street Outreach. Confidentiality Policy All
information will be shared within the DWWP team. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, How to contact DWWP? Contact : Pauline
Smyth |
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| Information for Men |
Many young boys and young men are too nervous or embarrassed to go to the Youth Advisory Centres or Contraceptive Health Services to ask for condoms. Many are put off by having to speak to a female nurse or doctor. However you needn't be -some advisory centres have male workers and drop-ins especially for younger men under 25. So if you want a friendly chat in confidence and get some useful advice about sexual health matters, relationships and a range of free condoms, drop by to see: Sussed
Youth Advisory Drop in Bruce
@ The Quay Advice Centre Townsend
Drop-in Richard
@ The Junction No awkward questioning or nasty tests and it's confidential, even if you are under 16. See you there. Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| East Dorset Contraceptive Health Services Clinics |
Contraceptive Clinics Doctor and nurse present at clinics below: Poole Community
Health Clinic Boscombe Community
Clinic Pelhams Clinic Canford Heath
Clinic Young Persons' Advisory Clinics The Junction Swanage Youth
Advisory Clinic Ladders Youth
Advisory Clinic Quay Advice Centre Sussed
Youth Advisory Clinic Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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| Other Useful Links |
Other useful webistes: www.ruthinking.co.uk Worried? We're here to help! For
information and advice on all aspects of sexual health, |
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