Sexually Transmitted Infections

SHiP offer a comprehensive sexual health service that is free, confidential and non-judgmental. Our staff are highly trained and motivated to provide you with an excellent service, working to national guidelines for sexual health. We are actively involved in various local and national research projects.

We hold clinics at our Hub within Derriford Hospital as well as at the Cumberland Centre and in Kingsbridge.

We provide

·    Testing and treatment for all STIs

·    HIV testing and ongoing care for people living with HIV

·    Advice on relationships, safer sex and STIs

·    Free condoms

·    Emergency and ongoing contraception

·    Non-invasive testing (NiT) clinics for those without symptoms

·    Genital examination and testing with in-house microscopy for those with symptoms

·    Screening and vaccination for hepatitis B in those at risk of contracting the infection through sex

·    Screening for hepatitis C

·    Specialist clinics

o    Genital dermatology with facilities for biopsy

·     Management of recurrent genital conditions

o     herpes

o     thrush

o     warts

o     bacterial vaginosis

·     Advice on pregnancy and abortion

·         STI testing and support for victims of sexual assault (link to SARC - the Sexual assault referral centre)

        We are unable to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, smear testing, HPV testing or HPV vaccination at this clinic

Young People

We offer a sexual health service especially for young people, under 25. This includes under 16s too. It is FREE. It is confidential, which means that your visit is private and we will not tell your parents, teachers, friends or GP about it without your permission. Our doctors and nurses will not judge you. We are all very qualified and here to help you. You don't have to be having sex to come and see us. You might just want tips on staying healthy, avoiding STIs or advice about relationships. We can help with that too.

Services for young people at Derriford Hospital

·     Free condoms

·     C-card scheme - we can give you a card that allows you to get free condoms at a number of sites across Plymouth

·     Emergency Contraception (the morning after pill)

·     Testing and treatment for all STIs

·     Ongoing care for people living with HIV

·     Advice on relationships

·     Advice on safer sex

·     Advice on pregnancy and abortion

Other Services

If you are under 25 years you can order a Chlamydia test online: freetest.me
Or access services at the Zone: The Zone

This is our service for Gay or Bisexual men and Transwomen or genderqueer.  It is named after Professor Martin Fisher who was raised in the South West
and dedicated his career to promoting good sexual health, HIV prevention and treating those affected with HIV. 

SHiP offers:

·     Full STI screening

·     Advice on safe/safer sex, HIV prevention and the prevention of other STI’s including Hep C and syphilis

·     Condoms

·     Rapid and home HIV testing

·     Post exposure prophylaxis for HIV, also available in the Plymouth Emergency department out of our opening hours

·     Hepatitis B screening and vaccination

·     Up to date information on HPV vaccination

·     PreP (HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)
We can provide advice on PrEP - Where to buy it, how to take it, what monitoring you should have whilst taking PrEP.
We can also provide appropriate monitoring and testing for those using PreP. For more information see www.getprep.uk or www.iwantprepnow.co.uk

·     Anonymous or supported partner notification

·     Psychology services and close links with drug and alcohol services

·     Referral to The Laurels gender identity service, Exeter

For more information and support see our links page for links to local and national groups

This is the SHiP Community education service

If you are a healthcare professional needing advice about a patient please call 01752 431125 during our opening hours.

If it is out of opening hours and you need advice which can’t wait until we open about managing a HIV positive patient please call Plymouth Hospital switchboard on 08451558155

We can offer advice about managing sexual health problems, partner notification, termination of pregnancy, HIV testing, HIV treatment drug interactions, sexual dysfunction, contraception and family planning.

Contraception

We can offer the following confidential and free Contraception services
to everyone attending our clinic.

·    Advice to help you to choose the best contraception for you.

·     Emergency contraception. If you have had unprotected sex or a split condom
we can provide one of three types of emergency contraception:

o   Levonelle®: A tablet containing progesterone which you can take up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

o   ellaOne®:  A tablet containing ulipristal acetate which can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex.

o    IUD/ 'Coil':  The most effective emergency method. A small copper and plastic T-shaped device is passed through the cervix and into the uterus. We can advise if this method is suitable for you and insert it for you. It can be kept in for up to 10 years as contraception.

·     Contraception.

Other contraceptive methods including the Implant and the intrauterine system (IUS/ Mirena@) may be accessed at the Cumberland centre / your GP/ The Zone (under 25s). We do not provide repeat prescriptions or repeat injections, these are accessed from your GP.

·     Free Condoms

o   C-card scheme   

·         Pregnancy

o   Testing and advice

o   Referral to the pregnancy advisory service located within our clinic

Further Contraception advice is available at:

Pregnancy Advisory Centre (PAC)

If you have had a positive pregnancy test you may be experiencing mixed emotions.

What are your options and who can you talk to?

PAC offers you support, help and advice, we are here to openly discuss your options and arrange an abortion if you feel that this is the best decision for you.

You can make your own appointment; you do not need to see your GP if you would rather not.

To make an appointment telephone 01752 431129. If the phone is not answered leave your phone number and a receptionist will get back to you.

What to expect

We will need a few routine details from you, including the first day of your last period and we ask you to do a pregnancy test to make sure that you are pregnant. If you have any serious medical conditions please tell the receptionist as you may need a longer appointment.

Your appointment with PAC will last for 2-3 hours and we ask that, if possible, you do not bring children or babies with you as this can be very upsetting for some of our clients.

During your appointment you will see:

-a trained counsellor to help you with your emotions if needed

-an experienced contraception nurse to help you decide on the best contraception for you if you decide to have an abortion.

-an experienced female doctor who will take swabs to check you for infection and perform a scan to see how many weeks pregnant you are (you will not see the scan unless you request to do so). The doctor will also make sure that you are legally able to have an abortion. .

You will have a blood test which can include a test for sexually transmitted infections.

What are your options?

If you feel that you would like to have an abortion there are 2 options depending on how many weeks pregnant you are:

 If you are less than 8 weeks and 6 days pregnant you can either have a light general anaesthetic and a simple surgical procedure or you can have the medical method which involves taking a tablet, usually in the clinic the same day and then coming in to the Gynaecology ward to have some tablets put into the vagina 2 days later to cause bleeding and cramping to enable the pregnancy to pass out via the vagina. You may have to stay in hospital for up to 24 hours after this.

-If you are between 9 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days you will have to have the surgical procedure

-If you are between 14 weeks and 23 weeks and 6 days we will refer you to another centre 

We appreciate that the decision to have an abortion is not easy and so you are encouraged to take time to consider this and we are happy to give you the time you need to come to your decision and you can of course change your mind at any time being mindful that abortions can only legally be performed up to 23 weeks and 6 days.

If you decide to continue with the pregnancy or feel that you would like to consider adoption we will advise you what to do next.

If you decide to have an abortion the time afterwards can be difficult and upsetting; our counsellor is able to see you afterwards to help you through this.

The team at PAC care passionately about providing the best care for you; we are not here to judge but will try to support you in a caring and safe manner at this difficult time.

The Plymouth HIV service is part of the Peninsula HIV Network, the Southern Hub of the South West HIV network.  Other centres within this network include Truro, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstable.

To contact the Plymouth service telephone 01752431124

To contact the other services of the network see the links page.

SHiP provides the following HIV services:

HIV Prevention: HIV testing, information of HIV prevention and safe/safer sex, condoms, STI screening, Post Exposure Prophylaxis and up-to-date information on access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, partner notification supported or anonymous.

Care for those diagnosed HIV positive including antiretroviral treatment.  We work to National standards and guidelines.

Inpatient and outpatient care for those with HIV.

Care of HIV positive pregnant women, specialist contraception advice and advice on starting a family.

Specialist clinics for those with HIV and other infections such as hepatitis.

Specialist psychology services within the department to help those newly diagnosed, those adjusting to living with HIV or for those with alcohol dependency or other mental health difficulties.

Specialist HIV pharmacy service to support patients and other healthcare professionals.

An innovative electronic Patient Held record allowing patients to be at the centre of their care, giving patients access to their blood results, secure electronic contact with the clinic, care plans to facilitate self- management where desired.

Participation in national research projects, giving patients the opportunity to participate where appropriate.

Same or next day access for those concerned about a risk of acquiring HIV or a HIV related condition.

Close working relationships with community support services such as the Eddystone Trust and Harbour Drug and Alcohol Services.

Sexual Health and Relationship Enhancement Services 

Many people experience problems in their sex lives that are not related to infection but are due to medical or physical issues and we have professionals on hand to help with these.

o   Vaginismus

o   Sexual problems relating to genital skin conditions

o   Painful sex

o   Erectile dysfunction

Sometimes relationship difficulties can arise when you have questions or uncertainties about your sexuality or sexual orientation.  You can make an appointment to discuss these issues with our health advisers.

We also have a clinical psychologist who offers treatment for

o   post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, distressing memories, relationship issues or other problems, if caused by events which are sexual in nature. We also provide a psychological service to people living with HIV.

o   The psychologist specializes in eye movement desensitization therapy (download EMDR leaflet).

o   The criteria for an appointment with the psychologist is that the problem must be about sexual health in some way. If you are not sure if your problem fits the criteria, you can book an appointment to find out.

o   General Practitioners and outside agencies can refer patients who meet these criteria to the GUM department psychologist. The psychologist can often see patients at short notice, but does not offer an emergency service.

o   A history of sexual abuse which is impacting on sexual function and/or sexual relationships

We have links with psychosexual services at Plymouth Options and can refer for problems including

o   Erectile Difficulties

o   Orgasmic difficulties

o   Sexual Arousal Disorder

o   Lack of Sexual Desire

o   Premature Ejaculation

o   Sexual Aversion/Phobia

o   Retarded Ejaculation

o   Lack of Sexual Enjoyment

o   Inability to allow penetrative sex

o   Concerns or difficulties regarding problems of sexual behaviours/practices