Sexual health
What are sexual health services?
Sexual health is about being able to have enjoyable and safe sexual experiences.
The Council is responsible for supporting all residents to understand about their sexual health, prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI), and decide when they want to become pregnant.
We commission sexual health services from Locala Sexual Health. Locala works with partners like MESMAC and SH24 to offer services including:
- access to contraception
- advice about pregnancy
- testing for STIs and HIV
- treatment of STIs and notification of partners
- Prophylaxis pre- and post-exposure to HIV (PrEP/PEP)
- outreach support to individuals with more chance of having poor sexual health outcomes
- online services including STI testing, emergency contraception
Some sexual health services like treatment for HIV and screening for cervical cancer are provided by the NHS.
Sex education is schools is provided by Step 2.
How can I access sexual health services?
All sexual health services commissioned by the Council and provided by Locala and partners are free of charge. Most services are accessible without the need for a referral.
Locala services are available from the main clinic in Howard House (Bradford City Centre) and from pop up clinics. See the Locala website for updated information on all services including pop up clinics - locala.org.uk/services/sexual-health/bradford
Appointments
If you want to book an appointment you should call first; you will be directed to a phone or face to face consultation according to risk and needs.
- 030 3330 9500 - Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 4.30pm excluding bank holidays (phone lines are closed between 12 noon and 1pm every day).
- For Sexual Health outreach prevention team please contact 030 3330 9497 (24-hour voicemail service)
Services for young people
An online chat with Locala professionals is available during service hours.
You can text a Sexual Health Nurse on 07312 263 032 to get confidential and non-judgemental advice and support for a range of sexual health issues.
Queue & wait clinics for under 18 years run every Wednesday 3.30pm to 6.30pm at Howard House, 2nd floor, 6 Bank Street, Bradford, BD1 1EE
Check the Locala under 18s web page for more information.
MESMAC also offers LGBT+ youth groups that can connect you to people who might be going through similar experiences and facilitate offer support services. Check the MESMAC LGBT+ Youth web page for more information.
Online services
SH:24 is the main sexual health online service in Bradford. You can order test kits and emergency pills free of charge using the SH:24 website. You can also collect kits and pills from Howard House (Locala clinic).
- STI test kits and treatment for genital warts or herpes for Bradford residents aged 16 and over
- Emergency hormonal contraception for those aged 16 to 25 years.
If you have painful symptoms or are aged under 16 years, you will not be able to use online services. In this case you will need to call Locala.
Locala also offer contraception phone appointments - book online using this booking form.
GP services
Most GPs offer appointments to discuss and prescribe contraception. Some GPs may be able to prescribe contraceptive pills and emergency contraception over the phone. GPs may also offer long-acting, reversible contraception methods like implants and devices that are inserted into your womb. Please check with your local doctor’s surgery.
Pharmacies
You can buy condoms, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, treatment for chlamydia and progestogen-only contraception pills without a prescription from most community pharmacies.
Some pharmacies provide condoms and lube kits for free to those under 19 years. Condoms are effective to protect against STIs. They can also help to prevent pregnancy, although they are less effective for this purpose than other methods.
Some pharmacies also provide emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) free of charge for those under 25 years. Emergency hormonal contraception is a pill which can avoid pregnancy if taken in the first 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex. It is more effective the sooner you take it.
Pharmacies providing free EHC for under 19 years:
- Bradford: Boots The Broadway, BD1 1US; City Road Pharmacy, BD8 8JT; Kirkgate Pharmacy, BD1 1TQ
- Wyke: Currie's Chemists, BD12 9JB
- Bingley: Boots Main Street, BD16 1AJ
- Keighley: Boots Queensway, BD21 3PY
- Ilkley: Cohen's Chemist, LS29 7JN
- Shipley: Lloyds Pharmacy Bingley Road, BD18 4RS; Westcliffe Pharmacy, BD18 3EE
- Queensbury: Rowlands Pharmacy, BD13 2PA
Support with pregnancy
You can buy a pregnancy test from a pharmacy or supermarket. If you think you might be pregnant and would like advice, please ring Locala or make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible (030 3330 9500). We can support you to make decisions and help with referrals to antenatal care or termination of pregnancy clinics.
Support to vulnerable groups
Yorkshire Mesmac offers a range of services to people at high risk of STIs or unwanted pregnancy, including people living with HIV, young LGBTQ+ people, and people from African communities in Bradford. Services include:
- Rapid testing for HIV and syphilis
- Free condoms and lube kits
- Social and support groups
- One to one advice
Visit the Mesmac website for more information and access to services.
Safeguarding
If you or someone that you know is at risk of any type of abuse, including sexual abuse, or has been forced to do something that they did not want to do, please contact one of the numbers below.
- Children and young people - talk to us about a child
- Women and girls - Call 01274 308 270 or text 07435 752 975
- Men - Call the Men’s Advice Line- 0808 801 0327
- For a full list of useful contacts, access our organisations that can help webpage.
If you, or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999.
Where can I find out more?
You can find more information about sexual and reproductive health on the following websites:
- Locala
- Mesmac
- Sexual Health Tests | Treatment | Contraception | SH:24
- Bradford and Airedale Sexual Health (BASH)