What we offer in our clinics

NHS Lothian has sexual health clinics across Lothian which offer a range of services. To find the clinic nearest you go to How to Find Clinics.

Some are run by nurses, others have doctors as well. See below for details of what they offer.

These clinics offer advice and supply you with a wide range of contraception and offer tests for STIs and HIV. They can:

• fit and remove contraceptive implants
• fit and remove an IUD and do the check up after your IUD insertion
• do pregnancy tests and give you advice and support
• refer you for termination of pregnancy
• give advice and treatment for thrush and other common vaginal discharge*
• give advice and referral for gynaecological problems e.g abnormal bleeding
• do smear tests.

* if you require medical advice e.g for gyanecological problems or IUD fitting you will need an appointment with a doctor – the receptionist or nurse will make sure this is arranged for you.

If you have gynaecological problems the doctor can do an initial assessment and examination but may have to refer you to a more specialist clinic if further investigation and treatment are necessary.

To find the clinic nearest to you go to How to Find Clinics.

We offer a wide range of contraception, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We provide counselling and testing for HIV and care and treatment for people who are HIV positive. We also provide counselling advice and support for anyone concerned about STIs and sexual health or pregnancy. We give detailed advice on safer sex. We offer specific services for under 16s and if you have been sexually assaulted.

We also provide a range of specialist gynaecological services for women. Chalmers Sexual Health Centre is a major teaching centre for sexual health, providing education to medical students, nursing and medical professionals.

We offer all methods of emergency contraception at the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre. You can get pills and emergency IUD from us.  Phone us if you are not sure what to do 0131 356 1070

We fit and supply all methods of contraception, including the IUD and implants in almost all of our clinic locations. We give people advice about their choice of contraception and you can get your chosen method from us free of charge (usually on the same day). Your GP may want to refer you for specialist advice if you have health problems that affects your choice of contraception.

STI services at Chalmers Sexual Health Centre:

We are happy to see people who have symptoms or just want a check-up for sexually transmitted infections.  Please note that if you are worried about a particular sexual contact you must wait for at least 10 days after that contact before we can rule out bacterial infections such as gonorrhoea and Chlamydia.

If you have no symptoms and you just want a check up, No Talk Testing may be right for you. If you have had unprotected sex with a partner who has HIV (find out about PEP) or Hepatitis B, or if you have been sexually assaulted you should NOT wait 10 days before coming to see us. If in doubt use the situation sorter.

We offer testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) using a swab and/or urine for:

• Gonorrhoea
• Chlamydia
• Trichomonas

All of these infections are curable with antibiotics, available free from the clinic.

We offer blood testing for:

• HIV
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

We provide other services:

• Vaccinations for people who are at risk of hepatitis A or B through sex*.
• Care for people with HIV
• Treatment for genital warts
• Treatment for genital herpes
• Free condoms - the clinic is a c-card point. www.c-card.org.uk
• Post-exposure prophylaxis for exposure to HIV infection (PEP)

* We are not able to provide hepatitis vaccination for work or travel purposes.

Chalmers Sexual Health Centre offers No Talk Testing for people who want a no hassle way to get tested. You cannot make an appointment for this clinic. It takes only about 7 minutes to be tested, but remember – this clinic is popular and you will have to wait your turn to be seen. Please be prepared to wait. Read more to see if No Talk Testing is right for you:

If you only want testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and you are at low risk of HIV or syphilis, you may want No Talk Testing.  This clinic is not suitable for everyone – the questions below will help decide if you are suitable.

Please remember that if you are worried about one particular episode of sexual intercourse, you need to wait at least 10 days (window period) before having the tests.  The window periods for some of the tests can be even longer (up to 3 months), so please wait to speak to a doctor in the routine clinic if you have further questions about this.

At No Talk Testing you won’t see a doctor or nurse (so you can’t ask health questions), and you won’t be examined.  You can’t have anything else done (e.g. pregnancy test, get the contraceptive pill), except a routine STI screen.

A healthcare assistant will take some blood from your arm.  You will then take a vaginal swab (women) or urine sample (men) yourself – the healthcare assistant gives instructions.

Like in the routine clinic, you are tested for the infections Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV, and you must phone for results on an automated phone line in 3 weeks.

If you think you would like No Talk Testing, the risk assessment statements below will help you decide if this is an option for you.

You are only suitable for No Talk Testing if you can answer ‘NO’ to all the statements and ARE 18 YEARS OLD OR OVER.

• I have symptoms (e.g. unusual discharge or bleeding, pain passing urine, pain in the testicles, pain in the lower stomach, genital lumps or ulcers, etc).
• I have had sex with someone who has been diagnosed with an STI.
• I have had sex with someone who has HIV or hepatitis.
• I am a man who has had same-sex partners (i.e. I am gay /homosexual/ bisexual).
• I am a woman who has a male partner who had same sex partners.
• I have been sexually assaulted (raped).
• I have injected drugs myself or had sex with someone who injected drugs.
• I have had sex with someone from a country outside UK, Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
• I have at some time paid or received money for sex.

If you have answered NO to all of the above you can come to No Talk Testing. When you come to the Chalmers Centre follow the signs to the separate No Talk Testing reception.

If you would like to test yourself for chlamydia at home, we can supply a kit for you to use. You simply send in a sample of urine, we test it and give you the result. Click on the link to order the kit: www.healthyrespect.co.uk/STIs/Pages/HowDoIGetaChlamydiaPTK.aspx

Or, you can come and collect a kit from the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre or from Caledonia Youth.

For more information on chlamydia visit the Healthy Respect website at www.healthyrespect.co.uk//STIs/Pages/DifferentSTIsQuickGuide.aspx.

We offer advice, support and referral for women seeking termination of pregnancy or who are uncertain about what to do when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

We offer pregnancy testing and can give general advice to women who are planning a pregnancy . Care during pregnancy is arranged through your midwife and GP. Once you know you are pregnant the first thing you should do is call 0131 536 2009 to arrange an appointment with a midwife,

We also offer counselling for people after termination of pregnancy.

Help with non-sexually transmitted infections such as thrush and bacterial vaginosis.

Treatment for skin conditions affecting the genital area.

Sexual Health Services for young people in Lothian are free, friendly and confidential. Even if you are under 16, doctors and nurses have to keep anything you tell them private. They will not discuss information about you with anyone else, except in very exceptional circumstances like if your, or any other person's, safety is at risk, and whenever possible you will be kept fully informed.

If you are under 16 you can come to Chalmers Sexual health Centre anytime during opening hours and you will be seen that day without an appointment. All advice, treatment, and condoms, are free and confidential. You can come on your own, or with a partner, friend or parent. We do like to see you on your own just for a few minutes even if you have come with someone.

If you are under 25 there are lots of free, confidential young people friendly services available across Lothian. Full details can be found on the Healthy Respect website. Also take a look at our young people section for lots of links to other useful websites and phoneline numbers.

The team at the Chalmers Centre looks after about 550 people with HIV infection. HIV clinics are held on Monday and Thursday afternoons by appointment. Most patients are seen two weeks in advance of an appointment for routine blood tests. The results are then available when they see a doctor.

Our HIV team includes doctors, nurses, a dietician, specialist HIV pharmacists, psychologist and health advisers.

If you have moved, or are moving to Edinburgh and wish to transfer your HIV care:

Phone and book an appointment in the HIV clinic (0131 536 1070). Tell the receptionist that you need an appointment in the HIV clinic.

If you are already attending another clinic, ask your clinic doctor to write a transfer letter for you.

People with HIV who are unwell may be seen as an emergency during clinic opening hours. If you have a problem, speak to the clinic nurse who will arrange for you to be seen quickly if necessary. Occasionally we admit patients who are ill to hospital. Our inpatient beds are at the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit (RIDU), at the Western General Hospital.

For more information on all aspects of HIV see our HIV Information section.

If you come from outside the UK, the leaflet Sexual Health Services GUM Clinic explains what services are available.

Many people don't want anyone to know that they have been to our clinic, so the services we provide are confidential.

When you visit the clinic we will ask you to fill in a form with your name, date of birth and address. We give you a unique identification number - your clinic PIN. This number - not your name - is used on all samples that leave the clinic. You also use the PIN to get results, which keeps your information private.

Your personal details are recorded in our notes and on a computer system. Only our staff can access this information and it is not open to your GP practice, other hospitals in Edinburgh or anyone else.

Any tests or samples we take are identified by number and date of birth only. Nobody in the laboratories knows that the tests have been done on you. We always check with you how you would like us to contact you e.g. with results of tests, or for follow up after treatment.

We don't routinely write to your GP, but we will if:

• they referred you to us by letter
• we diagnose a medical problem that they should know about, such as one needing further treatment
• we diagnose an infection and you do not respond to phone calls and letters. We will inform your GP that you attended the clinic and require treatment for an infection, if after several attempts we can't get hold of you
• if we have supplied you with medication that the GP should know about, e.g a contraceptive implant
• if we think you are at serious risk of harm or at risk of harming someone else.

Should you have any other questions about confidentiality or contact with your GP, please ask the staff at our clinic

Find out more from our Confidentiality leaflet. The Confidentiallity leaflet is also available in Spanish: Confidencialidad.

Information on confidentiality for young people is available from Healthy Respect

We do not currently have specific clinics for women who have sex with women or transgender clients. All our services are inclusive and all LGBT people can book appointments in the general clinic. If you have specific concerns, or you wish to be seen by a doctor or nurse of a particular gender, please discuss this with one of our staff. We can usually make arrangements to make your visit as easy and pleasant as possible. Phone the main clinic number (0131 536 1070) and ask to speak to the nurse.

Men who have sex with men are welcome at all times to the general clinic

The Gay Man’s clinic at Chalmers is for all men who have sex with men. The Gay Man’s Clinic has appointments from 4.30pm to 7.00pm on Wednesdays, with a walk-in clinic from 5pm-6pm.

Appointments are available by phoning 0131 536 1070. If you have an urgent problem, you can attend the walk-in service between 5pm and 6 pm. If the clinic is busy you may have to wait until the end of the clinic before you are seen.

There are no other clinics running at the same time in that part of the building. The clinic offers a full range of tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. HIV counselling and testing is provided – the results are available in person on the next (i.e. Thursday) afternoon.

Other local services for Gay and bisexual men include

LGBT youth http://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/

Gay men’s health www.gmh.org.uk

ROAM Clinic www.roam-outreach.com

NHS Lothian Sexual Assault How We Can Help Leflet

We hold a specialist clinic for people who have been sexually assaulted.  This is usually staffed by an all-female multidisciplinary team of doctor, nurse and health adviser. 

Individuals are seen by appointment only, on a Wednesday afternoon between 2.00pm and 4.00 pm.  You can phone for an appointment (0131 536 2103) or you can be referred by another agency eg your GP or the police.

You can also be seen at any of our walk-in or routine appointment clinics.

After any sexual contact, we cannot test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea or trichomoniasis for at least 10 days.  We recommend waiting up to 12 weeks before HIV testing, and 6 months before testing for Hepatitis C.

The risk of Hepatitis B infection will be discussed with you.  If we recommend hepatitis B vaccination, this should be started within 3 weeks of the assault.

If you report an assault to the police, forensic samples (samples taken by a police doctor) can be taken as soon as possible for evidence, to be used in any prosecution.  The sooner forensic samples are taken the better, but sometimes forensic evidence can be found up to 7 days after the event. We DO NOT take forensic samples.

If you think you have had a ‘spiked’ drink or have been drugged, blood or urine specimens for drug testing must be taken within 12 hours by a police doctor.

Support can be obtained from:

Pathway
Supports young women who have been sexually abused
89-95 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH3 9PU
0131 622 7083

Rape Crisis Scotland
PO Box 120
Brunswick Road
Edinburgh
EH7 5WX
0131 556 9437
www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Survivors UK
Supports and provides resources for men who have experienced any form of sexual violence.
0845 122 1201
www.survivorsuk.org

Victim Support
0845 303 0900

Women’s Aid Helpline
0131 475 2399

ASSIST
Assistance Support and Self-help in Surviving Trauma
01788 560800

We offer a range of specialist clinics tailored to the needs of women of all ages.

You can find out how to find these and how to arrange appointment in how to find us. Our specialist clinics are in a separate part of the building from the sexual health clinics and have their own waiting room.

These clinics are for women who have problems with abnormal or heavy bleeding, problems with periods or symptoms of pain or vaginal discharge. You can be referred to this clinic either by your GP or by staff in any of our sexual health clinics.

Some women have tried all sorts of contraception and struggle to find one that suits them e.g. persistent bleeding problems. Some have been told they cannot have certain methods because of health problems. Sometimes women using long acting methods of contraception like the IUD or implant need specialist advice. Your GP or staff in any of our clinics can refer you to this clinic.

Your GP and staff in our sexual health clinics can give you most of the advice you need about the menopause. They can discuss symptoms, and give you advice about lifestyle and non HRT treatments that can help with symptoms of the menopause. They can discuss the general pros and cons of HRT with you and may prescribe this for you.

However sometimes women may need more specialist advice:

• Premature menopause (under 40 years)
• Early menopause (under 45 years)
• Complex problems
• Bleeding
• Problems with deciding whether to use HRT or problems with HRT.

Colposcopy is offered at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and at Chalmers Sexual Health Centre. If we have taken your smear and it shows abnormality we will arrange for you to be seen at our colposcopy clinic for examination and treatment. Your GP may send you to us for colposcopy rather than the hospital if you would prefer this. We understand how worrying an abnormal result can be and also appreciate how uncomfortable or embarrassing some women find it to have a smear test. We try very hard to make it as easy as possible for you and if you are very worried about something phone us on our helpline 0131 536 1070 and you can speak to an experienced nurse.

We see women who have PMS which is having a damaging effect on their health and relationships. About a third of women in the UK will suffer from PMS symptoms which have a negative impact on their work, relationships and self image. We offer information, advice and treatment. You can refer yourself or ask your GP to refer you. See how to find us for more information on how to get an appointment.

One of our Consultants has a special interest in Turner’s Syndrome and works closely with other specialists to ensure that the gyanecological and contraceptive needs of women with Turner’s syndrome are met. Your GP or hospital specialist can refer you to this clinic.

Teenagers can have problems with their periods – either because they have not started when you would expect them to, or because they are causing problems with pain, bleeding, mood or behaviour. Sometimes this can stop you going to school or taking part in sports or other activities. Sometimes it affects your relationships with parents, teachers and friends. We are happy to see you and try to sort out what is causing the problem and suggest ways of making it better.

It is not uncommon for women to suffer from persistent problems with itch or irritability, dryness or other discomfort and sometimes pain around the entrance to the vagina. Sometimes this gets worse as you get older.

Staff in our sexual health clinics or your GP might be able to help but if problems persist despite advice and standard treatment they can arrange for you to be seen by our specialist doctor.