Yes. Anyone can access our free and confidential service.
Our staff (nurses, doctors and pharmacists) work under very specific guidance to ensure that you are mature enough to understand any advice you are given and any decisions that you make about contraception.
No. We provide a confidential service to all our patients, including under 16s. Our staff have to keep anything you tell them private although they may encourage you to talk to your parents or carers.
If we think there is a risk to your health, safety or welfare, we might need to share your information with someone else, however we would usually discuss this with you first.
Yes. All our services are free. This includes testing and treatment and all forms of contraception.
Don't be put off if the current method of contraception you are using isn't quite right – you can try another.
Find out more about the different methods of contraception or call 01902 444444 to book a consultation.
We provide a confidential service to all our patients, including under 16s.
All information, including test results, remain confidential within the clinic and information is not passed on to anyone else. This includes your GP and any past or present sexual partners.
However, if your GP has referred you to Embrace with a referral letter, we will write back to your GP to let them know the outcome of your attendance. We may also ask your permission to tell your GP about any contraception medication or procedures, or if you have a diagnosis which may require more long-term medication. But it’s your choice if you wish for this information to be passed on.
The only time we may need to discuss your attendance with other care providers outside of the clinic is if we believe that you may be at risk of harm to yourself or to others. In such circumstances we would always do our very best to talk to you first about why we feel that this is necessary.
Simply phone 01902 444444 to book an appointment
The age of consent in England and Wales is 16. The law is there to protect children and young people. It is not used to prosecute under 16s who take part in consensual sexual activity with each other. For example, if two young people aged 15 had consensual sex then they would not be prosecuted.
But, if an adult aged 18 or over has sex with someone aged 15 or under, it’s a crime.
Young people have the right to access confidential sexual health and contraception advice, including condoms and pregnancy, even if they are under 16.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed on through unprotected sex with someone who has HIV.
Anyone can get HIV, regardless of your gender or sexual orientation.
The best way to protect yourself against HIV is to always use a condom during sex.
You can also get the virus if you come into contact with infected blood, such as through sharing needles or injecting drugs or steroids.
At Embrace we provide testing, treatment and support for people who are diagnosed with HIV. Find out more about our HIV services
PrEP is an anti-HIV drug (tablet) that can stop you getting HIV during sex without a condom. This can be taken daily or just before or after you have sex.
When taken properly, PrEP is highly effective but does not prevent pregnancy or getting STIs. It’s therefore still important that you still get regularly tested for STIs.
PrEP is available for free from Embrace but requires a health check-up first to make sure that it’s right for you.
It can be recommended for people who have a greater risk of HIV, for example:
- You’re a man who has sex with men
- You’re a trans man or woman
- Your partner is from a part of the world where the rate of HIV is much higher
- You have an HIV positive partner who does not have an undetectable viral load
- You don’t always use condoms for sex
PrEP may be particularly advisable if:
- You’re a man who has sex with men and has recently had an STI (particularly in the rectum/anus)
- You have used PEPSE
- You use chem sex drugs
Call us on 01902 444444 to discuss your options.
PEPSE stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. It’s a course of drugs that can stop the HIV virus taking hold. It must be taken as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours (3 days) after sex.
Call us on 01902 444444 and we will arrange an emergency appointment with one of our doctors. This will involve a HIV test plus blood tests to check your liver and kidney function and make sure that PEPSE is right for you. You would then be closely monitored during treatment.
PrEP is available for free from Embrace but requires a health check-up first to make sure that it’s right for you.
It can be recommended for people who have a greater risk of HIV, for example:
- You’re a man who has sex with men
- You’re a trans man or woman
- Your partner is from a part of the world where the rate of HIV is much higher
- You have an HIV positive partner who does not have an undetectable viral load
- You don’t always use condoms for sex
PrEP may be particularly advisable if:
- You’re a man who has sex with men and has recently had an STI (particularly in the rectum/anus)
- You have used PEPSE
- You use chem sex drugs
Call us on 01902 444444 to discuss your options.
Anyone with a cervix between ages 25 and 64 is eligible for cervical screening, which includes many trans men and/or non-binary people. Some trans men and/or non-binary people may have had gender confirmation surgery that involves removing the cervix, so will no longer be eligible. Trans women do not need cervical screening.