Sexual health

Contraception

Contraception is available for free from your college doctor or GP (General Practitioner), nurse, Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service and the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). There are many different methods of contraception available, and your college doctor, nurse, or Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service can provide more information and advice.

Emergency contraception is also available via your college doctor or GP, Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service, and Accident and Emergency (A&E) if after hours. Emergency contraception can also be purchased at a pharmacy. If you have any concerns, please contact a health professional for confidential advice.

Pregnancy

Home pregnancy tests can be bought at any pharmacy shop. Your college GP and college nurse can also administer a pregnancy test. If you wish to talk to someone external to the collegiate University, Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service can also administer a pregnancy test and offer counselling regarding your options.

If your pregnancy was unplanned you can contact your GP or college nurse who will offer non-judgmental advice about the choices you have if you are pregnant. Alternatively, you can contact the GUM Clinic at the Churchill Hospital for external advice and support. 

Sexually Transmitted Infections

If you are concerned that you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), or have recently had unprotected sex, your college GP or nurse, or Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service can screen for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. It is important to note that chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK. It affects around 1 in 14 under 25s and many of those who have chlamydia have no symptoms. There has also been a cluster of gonorrhoea infections amongst students in Oxford in the last year. Note, only Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service can provide a full screening, including HIV tests.

Oxfordshire Sexual Health Services and OUSU run STI testing sessions within colleges. For more information, contact your common room officers.

You can find more information about sexual health and common types of  STI on the NHS web pages.