Sexual health is an important and wide ranging area of public health.
Poor sexual and reproductive health results in significant costs for health services and local authority budgets.
Key messages
Prevention messages should be promoted to all sexually active men and women, highlighting that individuals can significantly reduce their risk of catching or passing on HIV or an STI or risking an unplanned pregnancy by:
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Always using a condom correctly and consistently when having sex with casual or new partners, until all partners have had a sexual health screen.
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Reducing their number of sexual partners and avoiding overlapping sexual relationships.
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Establishing a regular, reliable method of contraception prior to engaging in relationships.
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Getting screened for sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) annually and on change of sexual partner.
Sexual health services
Specialist sexual health services
For sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment and contraception.
Sexual Health Hertfordshire provides sexual health and contraceptive services across the county and includes outreach provision that is delivered in 'non-health' settings. This allows more people to get access to STI tests (including HIV), treatment and contraception.
Free home testing kits for Sexually Transmitted Infections (Syphilis, HIV, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea) are available to Hertfordshire residents aged 16 years and above and have no symptoms.
HIV prevention and support
This includes all HIV testing programmes in sexual health and the testing programmes in non-health settings and online.
HIV testing and support can be accessed through Sexual Health Hertfordshire and free from the national HIV Home Sampling Service.
Sexual health services
This includes young people services, outreach, and services in youth settings, universities and pharmacies.
Over 80 GP practices across Hertfordshire provide long acting reversible contraception (coils and implants), chlamydia screening and treatment.
Free Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea testing kits (dual test) are available for people 15 years of age and above, and free emergency hormonal contraception (known as the 'morning after pill') is also available for people under 25 years from over 70 community pharmacies.
To find local services, use our interactive map.
Services for Young People is a one-stop-shop providing guidance and emotional support to young people around sexual health and healthy relationships, plus access to free condoms, chlamydia testing and pregnancy tests.
Training
Brook, the national young people's sexual health and wellbeing charity provides free online 'e' training resources for professionals. They cover a wide range of topics including contraception, relationships and consent.
Schools and other educational settings can access local information and resources from the Hertfordshire Grid for Learning.
Opening in a new windowChoice Support – provides a selection of webinars on relationships, sexuality and sexual health for those working with individuals with Learning Disability. There is also information for parents and carers on talking about sex and relationships with their child.
To find out more about contraception training resources for health care professionals, see below.
Contraception training resources (PDF 116KB)