What we do

Myths and misconceptions we hear about sex

“When I rang the FPA helpline they really listened to me, I felt as if I could ask anything.”

35,000 people contact our our helpline every year and ask our highly skilled and trained advisers all sorts of questions about contraception, common sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy

Calls are confidential and the UK helpline is a member of the Helplines Association. Call 0845 122 8690 9am to 3pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to midday Friday.

We also offer a confidential online enquiry service, Ask WES.

“The counsellor really helped me think through my options about my crisis pregnancy.”

In Northern Ireland, the vast majority of women who need an abortion have to travel to England and pay for a private abortion as they can’t get one on the NHS.

FPA is the only organisation in Northern Ireland providing an impartial counselling, information and support service around unplanned pregnancy.

The FPA helpline Northern Ireland is also available on 0845 122 8687 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

We offer information, resources and training for professionals

“The most useful health booklet I have come across in my work.”

You will have seen our booklets in your general practice – over 10 million are distributed every year. Our best selling booklets for young people answer their questions about puberty and growing up. We also produce training manuals, books and audio visual resources for health, education and social services professionals.

“Very interesting, thought provoking, I always enjoy FPA training courses.”

We have provided quality training for health professionals, youth workers, social care staff and teachers for over 30 years. Our wide remit includes sex and relationships education and work with young people and people with learning disabilities.

We run projects in the community

“Your project has made such a big impact in such a short time.”

We run community projects around sexual health with local groups. By getting involved at grassroots level, we really know what is going on. The partnerships we develop specifically meet the diverse needs of the community.

“Mum, where do babies come from?”

The award-winning FPA Speakeasy project helps hundreds of parents and carers each year to overcome their embarrassment and talk to their children about sex, relationships and growing up in an open and supportive way.

We campaign and lobby around sexual health

Our campaigns focus on cutting edge sexual health issues. We campaign to change people's perceptions and behaviour and improve sexual health services. We advocate and lobby around sexual health issues in the UK to bring about real change.

We work with the press

“When a story breaks, the first place I go to is FPA.”

Our press team make sure that journalists know the true facts and help counter the many myths in the media surrounding sex. We offer expert comment, articles and information on all aspects of contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, and sex and relationships education.

We don't run the clinics!

Many people believe that FPA continues to run family planning clinics. But in 1974 we handed over these clinics to the NHS. After initiating and running family planning services for over 40 years, we successfully lobbied for this service to be provided free by the NHS.

One of the challenges we face now is making sure that people using this service receive the choice and quality of contraceptive provision that they deserve.

Use our online map, iPhone app or text service to find your nearest contraception clinic or STI testing and treatment clinic.