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It is important to look after your sexual health whatever your age. Safer sex means protecting yourself and your partners from catching STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

If you are sexually active, you may be at risk of catching an STI (also known as a STD). Practising safer sex and always using a condom reduces  the risk of infection and  pregnancy. 

If you think you may have an STI we would advise you to get tested. 

Where to get a test

Visit Sexual Health South West London for a full list of clinics across Wandsworth, Richmond and Merton. 

There are six clinics across the three boroughs, offering contraception and sexual health testing, treatment and advice and are opened for six days a week including Saturdays. The services provided in these clinics are free and confidential. You can book an appointment yourself or attend in an emergency. You do not need your GP to refer you for care, nor do you need to live locally.

Please call the booking and advice line on 0333 300 2100 to check which clinic you should use. Lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. A recorded message gives useful information outside of these hours.

You can also find other clinics and services near you on the NHS Choices website

Free condoms for under 25s

Young people under the age of 25 can get free condoms from the Come Correct scheme available across a number of boroughs in London, and those aged between 16 and 24 can get a free chlamydia test. 

Contraception 

Your GP surgery provides you with free contraceptives (it’s a free prescription), and some surgeries offer long acting reversible contraception (LARC) such as Coil (IUD/IUS), injection and implant . They can also remove and / or replace these if you wish to change your type of contraception. 

All of these types of contraception including IUD/S are available to you  regardless of your age or if you have been pregnant before. The Sexual Health South West London website can help you decide on which is best for you. It provides information on the different types and methods of contraception.

All GPs can screen you for chlamydia and gonorrhoea if you are sexually active AND under 25 year old. GPs can test you for HIV whatever your age.

Your local pharmacy 

Pharmacies in the borough provide emergency contraception (EHC or morning after pill) which prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. These pills are effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. 

Young peoples services in Pharmacies provide free condoms and chlamydia testing for under 25s.