Services for young people in Brighton & Hove
Our Sexual Health & Contraception Service (SHAC) offers a range of contraception and sexual health services for young people.
Our services are free and confidential, even if you are under 16. This means that we won’t tell anyone that you have visited our service unless you or someone else is at risk of harm. If you are worried about confidentiality then you can contact us and ask someone to explain the policy to you.
When you attend clinic, you’ll be seen individually.
Please remember to wear a face mask when attending any of our clinics. Please do NOT attend our clinics if you or someone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19 / is awaiting a COVID-19 test result.
Services for under 25s
C-Card Free Condoms
Under 25s can get free condoms and lube through the C-Card scheme, which is now app-based and even easier to use.
Free Emergency Contraception for under 25s
Emergency Contraception for under 25s is free from certain pharmacies in Brighton and Hove. You can find your nearest pharmacy using our interactive map.
SHAC Clinics
Access free and confidential STI testing at one of our SHAC clinics. We also run a Young Person’s SHAC Clinic for under 25s.
GP sexual health clinics
These free and confidential clinics offer pregnancy testing, advice and referrals, contraception, emergency contraception, free condoms, and Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea screening. You do not need to be a registered patient at the practice in order to access these services. Please ring first to book an appointment.
YPC Drop-in
The YPC drop-in is a free and confidential clinic offering chlamydia and gonorrhoea screening, contraception, pregnancy testing, condoms and advice.
Young Person's SHAC Clinic
If you’re under 25 years old you can access any of our SHAC clinics, as well as the Young Person’s Clinic at SHAC Central.
How to book an appointment
You can attend our walk-in clinic on Wednesday afternoon (1.30pm to 6pm) at SHAC Central or call us on 01273 523 388 for an appointment at SHAC East. For an appointment at SHAC West (Tues or Thurs 3pm to 5pm) text 07770813972 and a member of staff will reply as soon as possible.
COVID-19 restrictions mean we are not able to offer a walk-in and wait service. We will offer a limited number of on-the-day appointments. This means we will try and make sure you are seen the same day however there may be occasions, especially later in the working day, where this is not possible. If your clinical need is urgent or you are under 20, we aim to prioritise your care. On the day appointments are offered on a first come, first served basis. You may be given a time slot and asked to return to the clinic at that time. We are closed between 1pm and 2pm.
Phone line opening times:
| Monday |
9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Tuesday |
9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Wednesday |
12.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Thursday |
9.15am to 4.30pm |
| Friday |
9.15am to 4.30pm |
Sexual health facts
Rates of STIs are high in young people.
You can access testing even if you have no symptoms – many people who have an STI have no symptoms.
If you have symptoms of an STI (like pain when you pee or unusual discharge), or you’ve had sexual contact with someone who has an STI, you should call a SHAC clinic to make an appointment.
STIs can be easily treated with medication, but the sooner the infection is treated, the better.
If you’re female, or you have a womb and ovaries, then regular testing for Chlamydia can prevent long term complications such as infertility.
Females, and people with a womb and ovaries, should test for Chlamydia every year or after any new sexual partners, whichever is more frequent.
Sexual wellbeing
Sex should be enjoyable, comfortable and safe for everyone involved.
Your guide to happy, healthy sex, from masturbation to orgasms, and information about how to get help when things go wrong can be found here.
