Don't gamble on your sexual health, women advised

Monday 3 March 2014


Contraceptive campaign

Local women are being urged to take their sexual health seriously by choosing one of 15 contraceptive methods available to them free on the NHS.

On International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March, 9am to 4pm) at East Street Market, Guy’s and St Thomas’ sexual health team will be giving local women advice on how to avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Deirdre Love, a health promotion specialist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “It’s easy to think that there are only two methods of contraception, the pill or condoms, because that’s what most people hear about. But women do have other choices. There are lots of contraception methods available.

“Some women also worry that taking contraceptives will lead to weight gain or may affect their fertility.

“Others tell us that they can’t take contraception for religious reasons or will buy into myths like breastfeeding women can’t get pregnant, which isn’t true.

“Women shouldn’t feel that contraception is a game of ‘Russian Roulette’ or gamble on their sexual health.

“We want women to start being more proactive about their sexual health, find out the facts about contraception and make decisions that are best for them.”

Guy’s and St Thomas’ provides a range of sexual health services across Lambeth and Southwark.

Find your nearest sexual health clinic and opening times at Sexual health clinics or www.sxt.org.uk.

Quick facts

  • in the UK, one in three women will have an abortion by the age of 45. (Source: British Pregnancy Advisory Service)
  • locally, abortion rates are highest amongst women aged 19-24. Terminations are also significantly high in women over 30 (TOPS Commissioning Report 2013)
  • in 2013 there were 1,250 new gonorrhoea cases in Lambeth and 850 in Southwark (the highest increase in London)
  • Lambeth also had the largest number of new cases of chlamydia in London (5,001), and Southwark had the second largest number (2,584).

Last updated: October 2023

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