Sexual Health Week 15 - 21 September

Providing first class sexual and reproductive health care for young people in Leeds

Contraception and Sexual Health (CASH) of Leeds Community Healthcare flag ship young people under 25 clinics based in city centre, looking after the sexual and reproductive Health of Young people in Leeds. We are in the city centre and operate a drop in service and everyone who walks in is seen.

We have been working since 2006 to build awareness of sexual Health and reproductive issues facing young people of Leeds including reducing the stigma behind emergency contraception. We actively promote and campaign for safe sexual practices and prevention of unintended, unplanned pregnancies.

We feel that more and more people understand emergency contraception and where to get it from. At Citywise (our under 25s clinic) and CASH, we are the largest provider of emergency contraception in Leeds. Anyone can come in and request emergency contraception and we provide it free of charge. In a typical Emergency contraception consultation, we will discuss confidentiality, safe sex practices, counselling and testing for common sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia and gonorrhoea. We also teach how to put on condoms, discuss future contraception and can carry out pregnancy tests. We work to educate young people and actively champion safe sex and condom use, providing demonstrations to new young people attending our clinic for first time. By presenting all options to young people, they can make informed decisions about the contraception methods best for them.

 

We are also the largest providers of both types of emergency contraceptive pills in Leeds and this is something we feel very proud of. As well as this, our doctors have inserted the highest number of emergency coils in Leeds last year. Our feedback from young people who have coils inserted as emergency contraception usually comment that that the doctors make a frightening experience "reassuring and pleasant." This is something we are always striving to achieve and I believe we are a dynamic and vibrant place that welcomes young people and provides a friendly service. We will always endeavour to not only give them excellent medical care but build awareness to enable them to be young responsible mature young men and women.

Staff at Citywise and CASH clinics has worked incredibly hard and effectively to dispel myths and taboos regarding sexual health and practices, especially around emergency contraception and sexual transmitted infections including HIV. We treat young people attending our service like we all want to be treated with respect, tolerance, compassion and empathy.

 Citywise and CASH is proud to celebrate Sexual Health week 2014.

 

 Blog by Dr Farah Haider MBBS, MFSRH