Sexual Health - NENC

Find out about comdoms, how to use them and where to get them.

If you are aged between 13 and 24 years old you can register for a C-Card.

The C-Card scheme offers free:

• Support and advice about sexual health
• Condoms, femidoms, lube and dams
• Chlamydia screening
• Pregnancy testing (selected places)

When used correctly, condoms are the only type of protection that help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as pregnancy.

What happens when you register for a C-Card?

It's simple. A trained professional will check the following with you:

• Your age (you have to be 13 to 24 yrs old)
• You’re not in any danger
• You’re not putting someone else in danger
• What support you have from parents, carers and friends
• You understand all of the information given to you
• A condom demonstration
• The products available and how to use them

Once you’ve been through the registration process you are given a C-Card with your own individual ID number.

You can take this card to lots of places around West Yorkshire to get free condoms. Look out for the C-Card symbol in the window of some pharmacies, supermarkets, youth centres and health centres.

Every 6 to 12 months (depending on your age) you may be asked to have a quick 1 to 1 chat with a worker to check that you are safe and have everything you need.

Where to register for a C-Card

County Durham and Darlington - Free Condoms & C Card (cddft.nhs.uk)

Gateshead Sexual Health - Home Page - Sexual Health Gateshead

CCard Scheme: Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough

https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/services/sexual-health/c-card/      Email: mark.ellerby-hedley@nhs.net  

C-Card – Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust    Email: Northumberland – c-card@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

South Tyneside Sexual Health Service – Information and services from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Sexual Health Service      Telephone: 01914 028 168

C-Card :: Sexual Health :: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (sunderlandsexualhealth.nhs.uk)  Telephone: 07342 066 676 or 07342 066 768

Consent means freely and willingly agreeing to engage in any sexual activity. It is an ongoing process, meaning that just because someone has consented once does not mean they will again in the future.

Key Points About Consent:

• Consent must be given enthusiastically – If someone is hesitant, unsure, or silent, that is not consent.
• Consent can be withdrawn at any time – Even if sex has already started, anyone can change their mind and say no.
• Consent must be given without pressure or influence – If someone is pressured, threatened, or coerced, their consent is not valid.
• Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol can affect consent – If someone is too intoxicated to make a clear decision, they cannot legally consent.

The Law in the UK:

• The legal age of consent is 16 years old, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
• Under 13s cannot legally consent to any sexual activity under any circumstances.
• If someone is under 16 and their partner is over 18, it may be illegal and could be considered a crime.
• Sex without consent is legally classified as rape or sexual assault, regardless of gender.
• Sharing, receiving, or possessing sexual images or videos of someone under 18 is illegal, even if the images were self-taken (this includes sending nudes).

Age of consent

• The age of consent is 16 and having sex under this age is against the law.

What if you, or the person you want to sleep with, is under it?

The facts and law about under-age sex in the UK can be found on The Mix website.

The Mix takes on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts that people under 25 have in order to give them the best support through both digital and phone services.

How to Talk About Consent

Consent is a normal and necessary part of any sexual relationship. To ensure both partners feel safe and comfortable, try:

• Asking “Are you okay with this?” or “Do you want to keep going?”
• Respecting your partner’s response without trying to persuade them.
• Being aware of body language and non-verbal cues—silence is not consent.
• Reassuring your partner that they can say no at any time, and that it will be respected.

What to Do If Consent Is Violated

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, harassment, or any situation where consent was not given, support is available:

• Rape Crisis UK – Offers confidential support for survivors of sexual violence.
• Childline (0800 1111) – Provides free, confidential advice for young people.
• Victim Support (0808 168 9111) – Helps individuals affected by crime, including sexual offences.
• Police – If you are in immediate danger, dial 999.

Contraception helps prevent pregnancy and protects against STIs. There are various options, and choosing the right one depends on your lifestyle and health needs. It’s important to use contraception correctly to ensure effectiveness.

Types of Contraception:

There is a range of different contraceptives options currently available and the type that works best for you will depend on your health and circumstances.

Some types of contraception are for men, some are for women, although certain people may not cope well with different types of contraception, they are recommended to anyone who is sexually active and not seeking a pregnancy.

You can start by finding out about the methods of contraception you can choose from, including how they work, who can use them and possible side effects.

To find out about the different methods and which is the right one for you please visit the Sexwise page on contraception.

Where can I get free contraception?

Contraception is FREE on the NHS for all ages so you won’t have to pay anything. You can get it from a range of places and young people services including; GP surgeries, sexual health clinics or family planning services and GUM.

Here are direct links to sexual services websites across the region

• North Cumbria
• Northumberland
• North Tyneside
• Newcastle
• Gateshead
• South Tyneside
• Sunderland
• County Durham
• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Stockton
• Middlesbrough
• Redcar and Cleveland

For more infomation visit Contraception Choices

If you’ve had sex without contraception, or think your method might have failed, you can use emergency contraception. You can use emergency contraception up to 5 days after unprotected sex but try and get it as soon as possible.

Emergency contraception can be used after unprotected sex (especially not using a condom) and may be able to limit the effect of any STIs on long-term health and also reduce the chance of a pregnancy occurring following the encounter.

How does it work?

Types of emergency contraception

There are two types of emergency contraception:

• The emergency contraceptive pill (the morning after pill)
• The intrauterine device (IUD)

Where you can get emergency contraception

The IUD must be fitted by a specially trained doctor or nurse. You can get the IUD and the emergency contraceptive pill from a range of services, including sexual health clinics and your GP.

Here are links to sexual health services near you:

• North Cumbria
• Northumberland
• North Tyneside
• Newcastle
• Gateshead
• South Tyneside
• Sunderland
• County Durham
• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Stockton
• Middlesbrough
• Redcar and Cleveland

What is an STI?

A sexually transmitted infection (STI), is basically any kind of bacterial or viral infection that can be passed on through unprotected sexual contact. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve had sex or how many partners you’ve had; anyone can get an STI.

Protection from STIs

• Use male or female condoms every time you have vaginal or anal sex.
• If you have oral sex, cover the penis with a condom or the female genitals and male or female anus with a latex or polyurethane square.
• If you are not sure how to use condoms correctly see our information on external condoms and internal condoms.
• Avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.

Worried you might have an STI and want help/advice?

Below are some common STI symptoms:

• Unusual Discharge
• Stinging, tingling, burning or itching
• Painful swelling of penis, testicles or foreskin
• Soreness or swelling of the vagina
• Pain, burning or increase in your weeing
• Irregular bleeding
• Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
• Pain or bleeding during sex
• A strong, unpleasant smell from vagina after sex
• Blisters or sores
• Black powder in your underwear
• Brown eggs on pubic or other body hair
• Sky-blue spots or very tiny specks of blood on the skin

Finding help/advice

To find a sexual health clinic or other type of sexual service near you, please visit the NHS sexual health service

Quick links to your local areas service:

• North Cumbria
• Northumberland
• North Tyneside
• Newcastle
• Gateshead
• South Tyneside
• Sunderland
• County Durham
• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Stockton
• Middlesbrough
• Redcar and Cleveland

Free, confidential chlamydia test

You can get a free, confidential test for chlaydia from:

• a sexual health clinic - Find your local NHS sexual health clinic
• a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic
• your GP surgery
• most contraceptive clinics

You can go to whichever place is the most comfortable and convenient for you.

Where can I find more information?

Healthy lives for young people

Brook operates a number of sexual health and wellbeing services across the UK they are committed to supporting young people.

Find out more about STIs by clicking on the Brook icon

Let's talk about sex!

Sexwise is run by the national sexual health charity FPA and they can give you honest and informed advice about contraception, pregnancy, STIs, and pleasure.

Find out more about about about STIs symptoms, treatment and how to protect yourself, by clicking the Sexwise icon.

Are you pregnant?

Everyone has different reactions to finding out they’re pregnant. Some people will be delighted; others will feel shocked or worried.

Everybody will need time to think and gather some information and advice about what to do next.

Healthy lives for young people

Brook operates a number of sexual health and wellbeing services across the UK and they are committed to supporting young people.

How does pregnancy happen?

To become pregnant, an egg must be released from your ovaries and then fertilised by sperm. Every month you release an egg (sometimes two) around 14 days after the first day of your period, or 10-16 days before the start of your next period. The egg travels down the fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the womb. Once released, the egg lives for around 24 hours. This process is called ovulation.

Technically, a woman is more likely to become pregnant during ovulation, but it’s impossible to know exactly when you are ovulating because your menstrual cycle can vary each month.

Although this might make it sound like there is a small chance of getting pregnant, it is important to remember that sperm can live in your body for up to seven days.

Am I definitely pregnant?

You can buy a pregnancy test from a pharmacy, or you can ask for a test to be done at:

• your general practice
• a contraception clinic
• a young people’s service (there will be an upper age limit)
• a pharmacy (there may be a charge)
• most NHS walk-in centres (England only)
• a sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.

Who can I talk to?

You can speak to someone at a sexual health clinic, GP practice or another young people’s service. A counsellor can listen to how you’re feeling, answer any questions you might have and give you lots of information and support to help you make a decision that feels right for you.

Here are direct links to sexual services websites across the region

• North Cumbria
• Northumberland
• North Tyneside
• Newcastle
• Gateshead
• South Tyneside
• Sunderland
• County Durham
• Darlington
• Hartlepool
• Stockton
• Middlesbrough
• Redcar and Cleveland

When can you use emergency contraception?

If you’ve had sex without using contraception within the last five days, or you think your contraception may have failed for some reason don’t panic – you can usually prevent pregnancy by using emergency contraception if you act fast.

Please see the emergency contraception page for more information.

Teenage pregnancy support

Finding out you're pregnant when you're a teenager can be daunting, especially if the pregnancy was not planned. But help and support is available.

If you decide to continue with your pregnancy, there is a wide range of services to support you during pregnancy and after you have had your baby.

You can get support and advice from:

• Brook – visit your nearest Brook service for free confidential advice if you're under 25, or use the Ask Brook online service
• Family Lives – visit the website or call 0808 800 2222 for support for families, including young parents
• Tommy's – visit this website led by midwives for the latest information for parents-to-be
• Family Nurse Partnership – a family nurse may be able to visit your home, if you're young parents, to support you from early pregnancy until your child is 2
• Shelter – a national housing charity that can advise you about housing options and housing benefits for young parents; visit their website or call them on 0808 800 4444