Sexual health
This section provides information and advice on sexual health issues and signposts you to other relevant organisations and services.
Contraception
Unplanned pregnancies, at any time in our lives, can be a major setback. Make sure you know about the different methods of birth control that are available to you. These include:
- Continuous Abstinence
- Outercourse
- The Shot
- The Pill
- The implant
- Intrauterine Device (IUD)
- Intrauterine system (IUS) - Mirena
- The Patch
- The Ring
- The Condom
- Prescription Barrier Method
- Female Condom or Spermicide
Emergency contraception
This is designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Taken within 120 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce the risk of pregnancy. However, it works best if taken within 72 hours. Side-effects may include nausea, vomiting and cramps.
Emergency IUD insertion within five days of unprotected sex can also prevent pregnancy.
You should consult your GP, walk in centre or your local family planning centre to find out which method is right for you. Some pharmacies will also provide free emergency hormonal contraception. In Knowsley, these are:
Huyton
Boots, 47/49 Derby Road, Huyton L36 9UQ.
Houghton and Lappin, 5 Tarbock Road, Huyton L36 5XN.
O’Briens Chemist, 34 Hillside Road, Huyton L36 8BJ.
Prescot
RW Barton, 67 Eccleston Street, Prescot L34 5QH.
Boots, 42 Eccleston Street, Prescot L34 5QJ.
Superdrug, 36 Derby Road, Huyton L36 9UJ.
Kirkby
O’Briens Chemist, 2-3 Morrfileds Centre, Kirkby L33 1DF.
O’Briens Chemist, 11 Richard Hesketh Drive, Kirkby L32 0TU.
Roughwood Chemist, 81 Kennelwood Avenue, Kirkby L33 6UE.
Roughwood Chemist, 5 Old Rough Lane, Kirkby L33 6XE.
Tony’s Pharmacy, 13 Market Square, Kirkby L32 8RG.
Halewood and Whiston
Alliance Chemist (Janet Price), The Health Centre, Old Colliery Road, Whiston L35 3SX.
Alliance Chemist, 133 Leathers Lane, Halewood L26 0TS.
HA Chemist, Hollies Road, Halewood Village L26 0TH.
Knowsley Village
Sugar Lane Pharmacy, 68a-70a Sugar Lane, Knowsley Village L34 0ER.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs)
STIs can be caught by having sexual contact with someone who is infected. This can be vaginal, oral or anal sex.
Some STIs (such as Herpes and HPV) can be caught by touching the infected areas of someone's body and then touching your own private parts.
You can only catch an STI by having sexual contact with someone else who already has an STI, but many people do not have symptoms so you can’t be sure if you have contracted an infection unless you get tested.
How can I protect myself?
Using condoms during vaginal, oral and anal sex will help to protect you and reduce your risk of infection.
Different STIs include:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- syphilis
- hepatitis A
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
- genital herpes
- genital warts
- non-specific urethritis
You can find out more about STIs, symptoms and available treatments from the Knowsley Teen Sexual Health website (THINK) or the R U Thinking teen sexual health website and the Avert website.
Advice and support
Your local THINK clinic will give you confidential advice and support on sex, relationships, contraception and STI’s. To find your nearest clinic visit the THINK website or call the free 24 hour advice line on 0800 138 6559.