#alternate alternate Skip to content ____________________ Search * Home * Our Services + Overview + How can I access Unity Sexual Health services? + Clinics and Opening Times + Find A Service + Abortion Advice – What should I do if I want an abortion? + Accessing advice + Chemsex – What do I need to know? + Chlamydia Screening Programme + Confidentiality + Consent and Sex + Domestic violence and abuse – advice + Drugs and Alcohol – What do I need to know? + Feedback, Surveys & Research – We want your views + Frequently Asked Questions + Gender – What do I need to know? + HIV Services and support + Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning Plus – What is available? + PEPSE or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV – What do I need to know? + Psychosexual help + PrEP – Treatment to protect you from HIV – What do I need to know? + Professionals – Information & Advice + Results – How do I get my results? + Services not provided + Sexuality – What do I need to know? + Specialist clinics + These websites are worth a look + Unity Sexual Health – Who are we & what do we do * STIs & HIV + Overview + Clinics and Opening Times + Symptoms of STI’s & information on testing + Results – How do I get my results? + STIs and HIV – What tests are done? + Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – What are they? + STI – Am I at risk? Risk checker + Contact of STI – I have had sex with someone who has an infection + Condoms + Safer Sex – What does this mean? + HIV – Risk, Tests & Treatments + HIV – Am I at risk of getting HIV? HIV Risk Checker + PEPSE or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV + PrEP – Treatment to protect you from HIV + PrEP Impact trial + Vaccinations – What is available and who gets them? + Chemsex – What do I need to know? + Pornography – advice + Rapid Results Service at Unity Central + Sexuality – What do I need to know? * Contraception + Overview + Contraception Advice + Emergency contraception + Run out of pills or missed pills? + Problems with your contraception? + Condoms + Implant + Implant – removal + Injection + IUD (Coil without hormones) + IUCD – Intrauterine Contraceptive Device – Removal + IUS (Coil with hormones) + Contraceptive pills + Patch + Ring * Pregnancy + Overview + Where can I get a pregnancy test? + Could I be pregnant? + I might be pregnant – what should I do? + Abortion advice * Sexual Abuse + Overview + Concerned about sexual assault? + Sexual Exploitation + Consent and Sex + What is FGM? + Domestic violence and abuse * Contact us + How can I access Unity Sexual Health services? + Accessing advice + Confidentiality + Services not provided + Frequently Asked Questions + Patient support, concerns and complaints + Signposting and Resources for Patients + Professionals – Information & Advice + Partnership working * Search Hide your tracks Get me out of here Unity Sexual Health menu Unity Sexual Health * Home * Our Services * STIs & HIV * Contraception * Pregnancy * Sexual Abuse * Contact us * Search * Overview * How can I access Unity Sexual Health services? * Clinics and Opening Times * Find A Service * Abortion Advice – What should I do if I want an abortion? * Accessing advice * Chemsex – What do I need to know? * Chlamydia Screening Programme * Confidentiality * Consent and Sex * Domestic violence and abuse – advice * Drugs and Alcohol – What do I need to know? * Feedback, Surveys & Research – We want your views * Frequently Asked Questions * Gender – What do I need to know? * HIV Services and support * Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning Plus – What is available? * PEPSE or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV – What do I need to know? * Psychosexual help * PrEP – Treatment to protect you from HIV – What do I need to know? * Professionals – Information & Advice * Results – How do I get my results? * Services not provided * Sexuality – What do I need to know? * Specialist clinics * These websites are worth a look * Unity Sexual Health – Who are we & what do we do Locate a service Find your local Pharmacy or Clinic and book a confidential appointment. ____________________ Find Services __________________________________________________________________ * Overview * Clinics and Opening Times * Symptoms of STI's & information on testing * Results – How do I get my results? * STIs and HIV – What tests are done? * Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – What are they? * STI – Am I at risk? Risk checker * Contact of STI – I have had sex with someone who has an infection * Condoms * Safer Sex – What does this mean? * HIV - Risk, Tests & Treatments * HIV – Am I at risk of getting HIV? HIV Risk Checker * PEPSE or post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV * PrEP – Treatment to protect you from HIV * PrEP Impact trial * Vaccinations – What is available and who gets them? * Chemsex – What do I need to know? * Pornography – advice * Rapid Results Service at Unity Central * Sexuality – What do I need to know? STI Symptoms Learn about common and possible STD symptoms and how serious they might beread more... __________________________________________________________________ Order a testing kit Worried about STIs or other sexual health problems? You can request a confidential free home testing kit. Order a kit * Overview * Contraception Advice * Emergency contraception * Run out of pills or missed pills? * Problems with your contraception? * Condoms * Implant * Implant – removal * Injection * IUD (Coil without hormones) * IUCD – Intrauterine Contraceptive Device – Removal * IUS (Coil with hormones) * Contraceptive pills * Patch * Ring Contraception Advice Information on different types of contraception Read more __________________________________________________________________ Emergency Contraception For preventing pregnancy when there has been unprotected sex Find out more * Overview * Where can I get a pregnancy test? * Could I be pregnant? * I might be pregnant – what should I do? * Abortion advice Locate a service Find your local Pharmacy or Clinic and book and appointment. ____________________ Find Services * Overview * Concerned about sexual assault? * Sexual Exploitation * Consent and Sex * What is FGM? * Domestic violence and abuse * How can I access Unity Sexual Health services? * Accessing advice * Confidentiality * Services not provided * Frequently Asked Questions * Patient support, concerns and complaints * Signposting and Resources for Patients * Professionals – Information & Advice * Partnership working Call us To access service information or check if appointments available, please call us on 0117 342 6900 ____________________ Search Sexuality – What do I need to know? * Home * Our Services * Sexuality – What do I need to know? Sexual orientation and labels Different words are used to describe sexual preferences (also known as ‘sexual orientation’), and you may have heard people described as straight, gay or bi. Some people like using these labels because it can be a way of connecting with other people who feel like them, but some people do not like to define themselves in this way. You may not know which of these you are, or may not feel that you fit neatly under one label. How you describe your sexuality is up to you and you don’t need to decide what your preferences are straight away, or ever. An important thing to remember is that sexuality can change and that you do not have to decide who you are going to be attracted to and stick to it. Sexuality is not fixed and who you are attracted to can change over time, or even week to week! In fact, who you find yourself attracted to is not really something you can choose or control, which is part of the reason that sex and relationships can be so confusing. More information about Sexuality and Gender Sexuality and Gender - Information for familes Same-sex attraction It is not at all unusual to feel attracted to someone of the same sex and many people experience crushes or very close friendships with someone of the same sex as they are growing up. For lots of people this does mean that they are a gay man or a lesbian, and they go on to have relationships with people of the same sex. For others, their feelings may change and they will find that they are more attracted to the opposite sex, or even both sexes. As some LGBT people unfortunately can still experience discrimination around their sexuality, this can make it hard for people to explore their sexuality. There is support to help if you’re thinking about coming out or if you have a family member or friend who has recently come out. For more information on LGBT Services Thinking about coming out Sexuality and Gender - Information for familes Discrimination While attitudes towards different sexualities have improved within society (with same-sex marriage recently being legalised), unfortunately many LGBT people may still experience homophobia or discrimination in different areas of their life. Under the Equality Act 2010, sexuality is a ‘protected characteristic’. This means that LGBT people are protected in law from harassment, victimisation or discrimination in the workplace, in education or when using services. If you are being bullied because of your sexuality or gender identity it is really important that you speak to someone about this. If it is happening at school, tell a trusted teacher or staff member as they will be able to support you and hopefully stop the bullying. You can also get help from the charity EACH or LGBT Switchboard , who both have free helplines. If it is happening at work you are protected by The Equality Act 2010. There are a number of sources of support including colleagues, managers and your Human Resources department. If you raise a grievance, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has a Code of Practice which your employer should follow. ACAS can also provide support to you via their helpline and website. Hate crimes: If a person is verbally or physically attacked because they are (or their attacker thinks they are) LGBT, this is classed as a hate crime. You have the right to go to the police and report what has happened. Your local police force should have a team which have been trained to deal with hate crimes. They can give you advice and investigate what has been happening. Avon & Somerset Police - LGBT Liaison Team ACAS help ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures Unity – sexual health services for all sexualities At Unity sexual health services, you can expect friendly, non-judgemental support for people of all sexualities. It’s important to us that you feel able to talk to us about your sexuality, and any concerns you may have, so we can make sure you get the sexual health services and support which is right for you. Locate a confidential service Find your local Pharmacy or Clinic and book a confidential appointment. ____________________ Find Services __________________________________________________________________ Order a testing kit Worried about STIs or other sexual health problems? You can request a confidential free home testing kit. Find out More Please provide feedback on our website Name ________________________________________ E-Mail Address ________________________________________ Message ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Send © 2017 Unity Sexual Health NHS