How FPA can help you

sexual health direct is the helpline run by FPA. It provides:

• confidential information and advice and a wide range of booklets on individual methods of contraception, common sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy
• details of contraception, sexual health and genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
  and sexual assault referral centres.

FPA helplines

England

helpline 0845 122 8690
9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Northern Ireland

helpline 0845 122 8687
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

We can talk to you in your own language. Just call 0845 122 8690 and tell us the language you speak and your telephone number. An interpreter will call you back.

Find a clinic

Search our online Find a clinic service to find your nearest clinic.

Unplanned pregnancy in Northern Ireland

If you are faced with an unplanned pregnancy and you live in Northern Ireland, FPA in Northern Ireland can offer:

• non-judgmental and non-directive counselling
• information on all your options to help you decide what to do

FPA in Northern Ireland also offers a counselling service for women who have had an abortion.

Find out more or for an appointment, call FPA in Northern Ireland on 0845 122 8687. The service is confidential.

Ask WES Web Enquiry Service

Ask WES, the FPA Web Enquiry Service can answer enquiries about contraception, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy. It is anonymous and confidential. Find out more about Ask WES.

Other sources of advice and information

There are lots of other organisations that can give you advice and information about sexual health.

• General practices.
• Contraception (family planning) clinics.
• Genitourinary (GUM) clinics. Sexual health clinics. These offer contraception and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
• Pharmacists. Some pharmacists are able to provide a range of sexual health services, including emergency contraception. If you are 16 or over you can buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies for around £26. If they do not supply emergency contraception they should be able to tell you which pharmacy can help you.
• NHS walk-in centres. Some areas of England have walk-in centres. Most of these can supply emergency contraception for free. They have long opening hours and are open at the weekends and bank holidays.
• www.brook.org.uk (for young people under 25).

Finding a service

• You can find out about all sexual health services from sexual health direct, the helpline run by FPA, on 0845 122 8690 or search our Find a clinic.
• You can find details of general practices and pharmacies in England at www.nhs.uk and in Wales at www.wales.nhs.uk. In Scotland you can find details of general practices at www.show.scot.nhs.uk. In England and Wales you can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and in Scotland NHS 24 on 0845 4 24 24 24. In Northern Ireland call the FPA helpline on 0845 122 8687 or for details of general practices see www.n-i.nhs.uk.

Confidentiality

All services are confidential. This means that your personal information, any information about your visit and the tests and treatments that you’ve had will not be shared with anyone without your permission.

Health professionals may need to involve other services if they believe you, or another person, to be at significant risk of harm (such as physical or sexual abuse). They will discuss this with you.

Private services

If you are able to pay for services and would like to go privately you can contact:

Dr Thom: Online sexual health services and treatment on a walk-in basis in London, Mon-Thurs 8am–7pm, Fri 8am–5pm, with same day doctor's appointments at the City and Islington clinic. Call 020 7490 8988 for more information.

Better2Know private HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing clinics: Sexually transmitted infection testing at general practice clinics across the UK, including HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle and other locations. Call 0870 783 8378.

Abortion, pregnancy testing and contraceptive services for a fee

Organisations offering abortion, pregnancy testing and contraceptive services for a fee, include:

• bpas. Tel: 0845 730 40 30. www.bpas.org.
• Marie Stopes. Tel: 0845 300 8090. www.mariestopes.org.uk.
• Calthorpe Clinic. Tel: 0121 455 7585. www.calthorpe-clinic.co.uk.
• South Manchester Private Clinic. Tel: 0161 487 2660. www.smpclinic.co.uk.