General information

Sexual Health

Contraception

There are sexual health and contraception drop-in clinics across the city. Find them at www.739sense.co.uk. You can get advice on contraception and free condoms at any clinic. The contraception and sexual health service (C&SH) is based at St Mary’s Hospital in the Ella Gordon Unit and you can contact them confidentially on 023 9286 6301.

You can get emergency contraception (known as the morning after pill) from many pharmacies, your GP, the contraception and sexual health service (C&SH) at the Ella Gordon Unit, the walk in centres, or, if no other service is available, via the emergency department at Queen Alexandra Hospital. The sooner you take it the better it works. It is available up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. If it’s been longer than 72 hours then you will need to speak to your GP or C&SH clinic about a coil.

Sexually transmitted infections 

It’s recommended that you have a Chlamydia test with every new sexual partner, or at least every year if you are sexually active and under 25. Tests are available in some pharmacies, C&SH clinics and at GU medicine on St Mary’s Hospital site and at your local GP surgery.

A full range of checks for sexually transmitted infections is available at GU medicine clinics. There is a walk-in clinic every weekday.

Sexual Assault

Portsmouth has an NHS run sexual assault referrals centre (SARC), The Treetops Centre, which takes self-referrals. They can give you confidential medical treatment in a supportive environment. www.treetopscentre.co.uk