Sexual Health

Safe sex is about making sure you and your boyfriend or girlfriend do not get a sexual transmitted disease. Safe sex is also about making sure that you do not get pregnant.

Using a condom when you are having sex is very important. Using a condom will mean you are having safe sex.

Condoms are a type of contraceptive. Contraceptives are something you use or take to stop you getting pregnant. Find out more about different kinds of contraceptives. You can get free condoms and other contraceptives from young people's clinics and from Connexions centres. Staff at the young people's clinics will also be able to answer any questions you have about sex, contraception, pregnancy and sexual diseases.

It is best to go to a young persons clinic before you start having sex so you are prepared if you decide to start having sex.

What is emegency contraception?
It's a kind of contraception you use if you had unprotected sex and you do not want to get pregnant. Unprotected sex means having sex without using contraception. You can also use it if you think your condom or other kind of contraception might not have worked.

What types of emergency contraceptions are there?
There are 2 types of emergency contraception:

• Emergency pill. The pills can be taken up to three days after having sex. But they are more likely to work if they are taken sooner.
• Emergency IUD. This is a plastic and copper device that is put in the womb. You can have an IUD fitted up to 5 days after having sex.

You should try and get emergency contraception as soon as possible after having sex.

Where can I get emergency contraception?
You can get emergency contraception pills free from young people's clinics, GUM clinics, contraceptive clinics, doctors, or some chemists. There is a list of chemists where you can get free emergency contraception pills in the Read me guide and the Blast directory. You need to be aged under 25 years old to get free emergency contraception pills from the chemist.

Blast directory
This booklet is for young people aged 14 and older living in Leicestershire. It gives you information and advice on relationships, safe sex, contraception and pregnancy. It also tells you about where you can get help with things like contraception, pregnancy and relationships. Click here to look at the Blast directory

Read me guide
This guide to sexual health, contraception and relationships has been made by young people.It gives you information on where you can get: free condoms, chlamydia tests, pregnancy tests, and advice on contraception and pregnancy. Click here to look at the Read me guide.

Telephone helplines
If you want to talk to someone in private about sex, sexual transmitted diseases, contraception, or pregnancy you can call the helplines listed on our sexual health pages.

Sexual health centres
You can go to a sexual health centre for advice on contraception, pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex and relationships. You can also get a free condoms and contraceptives. If you think you might be pregnant you can a get a free pregnancy test. You can find a list of sexual health centres on our sexual health pages.

CKUK
Learn about sexual health with easy words and pictures.