Family Planning

Contraception

Contraception aims to prevent pregnancy and contraceptive and contraception are free for most people in the UK.  This includes services for people aged under 16 provided they are mature enough to understand the information and the decisions involved.  There are strict guidelines though for professionals who work with people under 16.

There are currently 15 different contraception methods to choose from so you can choose which one will suit you best.

These include:

There are also two permanent options involving female and male sterilisation.

You can get contraception for free from:

  • most GP surgeries (talk to your GP or practice nurse)
  • community contraception clinics
  • sexual health clinics (these offer contraceptive and STI testing services)
  • some young people’s services

You can read a helpful contraception guide here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/?tabname=getting-started

You can also find local sexual health services, including contraception clinics here https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Sexual-health-information-and-support/LocationSearch/734  or call the national sexual health line on 0300 123 7123.

Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if the contraception you have used has failed – for example, a condom has split or you have missed a pill.

There are 2 types of emergency contraception:

  • the emergency contraceptive pill – Levonelle or ellaOne (the “morning after” pill)
  • the intrauterine device (IUD or coil)

You need to take the emergency contraceptive pill within 3 days (Levonelle) or 5 days (ellaOne) of unprotected sex for it to be effective – the sooner you take it, the more effective it’ll be.

The IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, or up to 5 days after the earliest time you could have ovulated, for it to be effective.

You can find out more about emergency contraception, possible side effects and where to get it here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/emergency-contraception/

Pregnancy

You can find out all you need to know about trying for a baby, pregnancy, labour and birth, including a due date calculator and various elements of support on this handy NHS guide here https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/

We offer a weekly “Drop-In” Family Planning Clinic at Brookside, on Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm, with one of our Advanced Nurse Practitioner’s