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Sexual health and contraception

You do not need to be registered with our practice for contraceptive services including coil fits whether for contraception or HRT. 

As part of our enhanced contraceptive service, you can register with us specifically for this care, and with your consent we can inform your usual GP practice. 

Contraceptive choices

Choosing the right contraception is a personal decision, and several options are available to suit different needs and lifestyles. Your GP or practice nurse can help you decide which method is best for you.

Choosing the Right Method

When deciding on contraception, consider:

* Your health and medical history
* How effective the method is
* Convenience and lifestyle
* Side effects
*Protection against STIs

Your GP or practice nurse can provide confidential advice and discuss which method suits you best. 

There is more information here: www.contraceptionchoices.org

Barrier Methods
  • Condoms (male and female)
    • Used with spermicide to prevent pregnancy.
    • Fitted by a healthcare professional
C-Card scheme

There is an NHS scheme, called C-Card, across East and West Sussex where people aged under 25 get free condoms and lubricant from many different pick-up points.

Find out about the C-Card scheme from: www.brightonsexualhealth.com/advice/c-card-condoms

When you visit a provider, you’ll be given six condoms and a lubricant for free – no questions asked.

You can collect a condom pack every seven days, but you can ask for more if you need them.

All C-Card sites also offer free home chlamydia and gonorrhoea test kits and most C-Card pharmacies also provide free emergency contraception (sometimes called ‘morning after pill’) to under 25s. 

Hormonal Methods

Please see below the main contraception methods patients use and useful website to help you:

For more information on contraception choices, please view the below website:

Website: www.contraceptionchoices.org/FRSH_CC/Contraception

Injectable contraception

The contraceptive implant is a small, flexible plastic rod that is placed just under the skin of your upper arm. It is about the size of a matchstick and is not usually visible, but you may beable to feel it.

We use Nexplanon, which is the most commonly used implant in the UK.
You do not need to be registered with our practice to have an implant fitted.

As part of our enhanced contraceptive service, you can register with us specifically for this care, and with your consent we can inform your usual GP practice.

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

Intrauterine contraception (the “coil”) is a highly effective, long-acting method of contraception. It involves placing a small device inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Some types can also help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and may be used as part of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

Fertility awareness

Fertility awareness

Website: www.contraceptionchoices.org/FRSH_CC/Contraception-Methods/Fertility-Awareness.aspx

  • Brighton Sexual Health

    Brighton and Hove sexual health and contraception service (SHAC) is a free and confidential specialist service open to everyone regardless of age and sexuality.

    They offer a mix of appointments and a ‘walk-in and wait’ service at 3 sites across the city.

    Phone
    01273 523388

    Website
    Brighton Sexual Health

  • Practice Plus

    Brighton Station Sexual Health Clinic offer a discreet and confidential sexual health clinic every day between the hours of 8am and 7pm, with bookable and walk-in appointments. Walk-in appointments are available between 9am to 11:40am and again from 2:30pm to 6:30pm.

    Phone
    0333 3210946

    Website
    Practice Plus

  • Family Planning Association

    A sexual health charity, the Family Planning Association gives straightforward information and support on sexual health, sex and relationships to everyone in the UK.

    Phone
    020 7608 5240

    Website
    Family Planning Association

  • Terence Higgins Trust

    Terence Higgins Trust offer HIV and sexual health services in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex.

    Phone
    01273 764200

    Website
    www.tht.org.uk

    Email
    info.brighton@tht.org.uk

  • Sexual Health Helpline

    The National Sexual Health Helpline provided by Public Health England is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.

    Phone
    0300 123 7123

  • Brook

    Brook provides free and confidential sexual health and wellbeing services for nearly 250,000 young people UK-wide, each year.

    Website
    Brook

  • Women’s Health Sussex

    Women’s Health Sussex, your trusted resource for accessible, evidence-based health information, tailored to support women across all stages of life.

    Website
    Women’s Health Sussex

Cervical smears

Anyone aged 25 – 64 with a cervix is eligible for cervical screening (also known as a Pap smear, Pap test, Papanicolaou test, or HPV test).

All women aged between 25 and 64 are routinely invited for cervical screening:
Those aged 25 to 49 are invited every three years
Those aged 50 to 64 are invited every five years

Cervical screening helps prevent cancer by detecting high-risk HPV and early cell changes that could develop into cancer if left untreated.

The practice offers appointments for cervical screening tests. Please book an appointment with the practice nurse.

If you are transgender male or non-binary and still have a cervix, you should also attend for cervical screening, even if you do not receive an invitation letter.

NHS population screening: information for trans and non-binary people

For more information on cervical screening
Cervical smear test
What is Cervical screening (smear test)
Your guide to NHS cervical screening

Page published: 25 June 2025
Last updated: 20 April 2026