What can your family planning clinic do for you?

Family planning clinics offer free, confidential advice and information on the best contraception to use, how to go about getting it, as well as advice on sexual health and pregnancy. You can also have STI checks.

Anyone can use a family planning clinic, even under 16s, and you can either just turn up for an appointment or get referred there by your doctor. Some clinics offer 'open surgeries' where you can turn up, take a number and wait in line. For more specific information, or for fitting implants and coils, you might need to make an appointment to see a doctor.

The first time you go, you will have to give some contact details and the details of your doctor. They will normally take your blood pressure, weigh you, measure your height and ask you some questions about your health.

Although clinics do differ, the majority provide the following services:

- advice about contraception, including vasectomy and hysterectomy
- the combined pill
- the mini-pill
- contraceptive injections
- free condoms
- free emergency contraception
- advice about sexually transmitted infections
- smear tests/cervical screening,
- free pregnancy tests,
- fertility advice
- fitting and checking of implants and coils (intrauterine devices or IUDs). Some clinics can remove them as well.

Some of them may also offer advice about rape and sexual abuse, abortion and the menopause and can refer you for counselling if necessary.

You can get details of your nearest family planning clinic from your phone book, doctor, hospital or from the Family Planning Association (FPA).

Where next?
- More about sexually-transmitted infections
- Find out about post-birth contraception
- Tips for dealing with your doctor
- If you don't want to see the doctor, find out what the nurse can do
- Talking to your teen about sex and relationships
- Share your experiences of using different types of contraception with other goodtoknow users

Sources and other help:
BBC Health
NHS Direct
Netdoctor.co.uk