Health and Wellbeing

Contraception

Announcement: COVID-19

Following the University’s decision to move to online teaching, we will not be running X-Card drop-ins for the rest of this term.

During this difficult time, if anyone requires condoms they can call the SHAC Clinic on 01273 523388 and some will be posted to them for free. Alternatively, they can be picked up from a C-Card pharmacy, with or without a C-Card if U25, for free. Find out more.

Any students with a Brighton postcode (BN1/BN2/BN3/BN41) can order a free home STI testing kit for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis & HIV. Find out more. 

Terrence Higgins Trust are offering a range of support and services for people living with HIV via their At Home service. THT Brighton are able to provide a range of support services over the phone. Find out more.


Contraception is the term given to the various methods and devices used to prevent pregnancy. You can find information about Emergency Contraception at the bottom of this page

Contraception

There are fifteen methods of contraception available in the UK and these are free to most people. They are listed below and on the NHS Live well website which gives details of each.

The methods of contraception

There are lots of methods to choose from, so don't be put off if the first thing you use isn't quite right for you; you can try another. You can read about each of the different methods of contraception by visiting these pages on the NHS website:

There are two permanent methods of contraception:


Where to get contraception in the local area

Brighton and Hove have excellent Sexual Health and Contraception (SHAC) services where you can speak to to trained professionals about what contraception might suit you best, and get prescriptions/fittings for contraception.

Visit the Brighton Sexual Health website for more information, and to find out about the various services offered by the different SHAC clinics.


Accessing contraception on campus

University of Sussex X-Card - You can get free condoms, Femidoms/vaginal condoms and lube on campus by signing up for an X-Card

The Health Centre - The Health Centre on campus (building 6 on the Campus Map) can provide contraception services if you are registered with them. Find out more here

 

Emergency Contraception

Emergency Contraception can be taken after unprotected sex (condom split, missed pill, didn't use any contraception) and can prevent pregnancy.

It is sometimes called the "morning after pill" but can be taken up to 72 hours (three days) or 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex, depending on the method used.

There are three different forms of emergency contraception:

  • Within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex you can use Levonelle (pill).
    Available from your GP, pharmacies (sometimes there is a charge), SHAC services and A&E
  • Within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex you can use ellaOne (pill) or an emergency IUD (coil).
    Available from SHAC services and A&E

The sooner emergency contraception is taken after unprotected sex, the more likely it is to be effective at preventing pregnancy, so you should access it as soon as possible.

Visit the SHAC Website to find out about the different SHAC services, where you can access emergency contraception (Levonelle, ellaOne and emergency IUD) and a list of places that offer free emergency contraception to under 25's

Find out more about emergency contraception by visiting the Family Planning Association website

 

SWISH App

Download the SWISH (So What Is Sexual Health) App. The app help you to easily find out everything you need to know about sexual health, from where to pick up free condoms and emergency contraception in Brighton to reminders of when to take your pill.