Contraception and Sexual Health

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

Contraception Choices

Gloucester Road Medical Centre provides a wide range of contraceptive choices including pills, injections, implants and coils (both with or without hormones).

Please make an appointment to discuss your options, which may be with either a GP or nurse.  Please discuss this with reception and they will be able to book you in with the right clinician. 

NHS CONTRACEPTION GUIDE

Condoms

Coils

If you think a coil might be a good option for you please ask reception for an appointment with one of our clinicians to discuss this.

A number of our female GPs are qualified to fit and check both copper coils (IUD) and Mirena coils (IUS):

• Dr Hiles
• Dr Jones
• Dr Gillam

Booking an appointment:

• After agreeing with your GP to proceed to a coil fitting you will be added to a short waiting list (which can be up to 3 months).  You will be contacted via text to make an appointment for the fitting when you near the top of the list. Please advise the reception team if you wish a particular GP to undertake your coil fit.　
• Please ensure we have your current contact details.　
• Please ensure you continue effective contraception, or abstain from sexual intercourse, until the day of your coil fit.　
• If you are having your existing coil re-fitted, please ensure you abstain from sexual intercourse for 7 days prior to your appointment.　
• If you have been asked to provide a chlamydia swab, please make sure you have done this in advance.　

On the day of your coil fit:

• If you have had any episodes of unprotected sexual intercourse, or missed pills, while you have been waiting for your coil fit, please advise the doctor of this on your arrival.　
• You will have a 30 mintue appointment with both a doctor and a nurse, to go through last minute checks and fit the coil.  PLEASE DO TRY NOT TO CANCEL LAST MINUTE AS IT IS HARD TO FILL THE APPT.  We can do your coil still if you are bleeding, unless its extremely heavy.
• Please advise the doctor of the date of your last normal menstrual period, and of any unscheduled bleeding.　
• Please also report any unusual vaginal discharge or discomfort.　
• If you have been called for a routine cervical smear this can be done at the same time as your coil fit, please advise the doctor or nurse if this is the case. 　
• Please avoid bringing small children to your coil fitting appointment.　
• Coil fitting can result in some pelvic discomfort or light headedness. Please allow plenty of time for your appointment and ensure you have had a light breakfast on the day. The procedure is generally well tolerated by patients but you might like to use paracetamol or ibuprofen before your appointment. Ensure you have the opportunity to rest subsequently if needed. 　
• You may have some light bleeding and period-type discomfort for a few days after your fitting. Any more severe pain, or fever, or heavy vaginal discharge would be unusual and we would urge you to report this if that is the case.　
• You will need to continue to use effective alternative contraception until 4 weeks after your coil fit, when your coil strings should be checked.　
• If you are unable to feel your coil strings, please make an appointment for a coil check with a GP.

Aftercare:

• the doctor will talk to you about how to check that your coil is in place following the procedure.
• If it is a difficult fitting, or you are unable to feel the coil threads yourself, then we will book you in for a clinician to do a coil check.
• You will be advised on the day how long you will need to use additional contraception for, as this depends on when in your cycle the coil is fitted and what contraception you are currently using.

Contraceptive Pill

All of our GPs and some practice nurses are able to advise you as to which contraceptive pill (combined pill or 'mini' pill) would best suit your needs. The practice nurses are then able to carry out your annual review. 

Implants

Dr Kirsten Smith, Dr Michelle Jones, Dr Rhian Hiles and Sister Alison Wilkinson can all fit and remove contraceptive implants.  If you are considering this option, please make an appointment with one of them to discuss it.

Contraceptive Injections

Gloucester Road Medical Centre offers contraceptive injections.

There are currently 2 available injections, one that is given by nurses or one that can be self administered- sayanna press after initial training, for more info please click here. The nurses are happy to discuss these options with you at an appointment Once you've seen a GP/ nurse to confirm this option is appropriate for  you, please make an apointment with a practice nurse. 

Information on other methods of contraception

• Male and Female sterilisation
• Natural family planning

These require detailed discussion and advice. Please see a GP if you would like further information. 

Contraceptive choices after a baby

• Please click here for more information

Emergency Contraception

If you are concerned that you may need emergency contraception you should speak to a health care professional as soon as possible.

Gloucester Road Medical Centre operates a same-day telephone triage system for GPs and nurses.  Patients requesting emergency contraception can be counselled and treated appropriately. 

• More information about emergency contraception can be found

Alternatively, you can speak to your local pharmacist for advice or you can contact the Sexual Health Clinic (Unity) on 0117 342 6900.

Out of Hours

Patients may obtain advice by telephoning NHS 111 or by attending one of the NHS walk-in centres.

Emergency oral contraception is available to purchase over the counter from all pharmacies. Some pharmacists are able to dispense this free to patients under the age of 20.

A comprehensive list of these chemists is available from NHS 111, but our two local chemists, Soods (next door) and Ashgrove on Ashley Down Road are both able to offer this.

Chlamydia Screening

Packs are available at reception for both male and female chlamydia screening for anyone under 25. The results of these tests are sent to you confidentially, NOT to the practice. This is part of the national screening programme for all under 25 year olds.

For more information about chlamydia and the national screening programme please click here.

However we encourage all patients regardless of age to consider chlamydia and other STI testing.  This can easily be arranged by speaking to one of our practice nurses.

Unity Sexual Health

Unity Sexual Health is a free and confidential service for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. 

Appointments can be booked over the phone, and their website provides lots of helpful information about Contraception, STIs and Pregnancy.

Here is some helpful information Unity have put together about vaginal discharge:

What is normal vaginal discharge? | Unity Sexual Health