Hormones 2016

Condoms
Risks
There are no serious risks associated with using female condoms (NHS,
2015c).
Where to get female condoms
Everyone can get condoms for free, even if they are under 16. They are
available from the following places in your local area -
• contraception (or family planning) clinics,
• sexual health or GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinics,
• some GP surgeries,
• Brook Advisory Centres (for under-25s only).
Some places might only offer male condoms - you can ask the staff whether
they provide free female condoms.
You can also buy male and female condoms from -
• pharmacies,
• supermarkets,
• websites,
• mail-order catalogues,
• vending machines in some public toilets,
• some petrol stations.
If you buy condoms online, make sure you buy them from a pharmacist or
other legitimate retailer. Always choose condoms that carry the European
CE mark or British BSI Kitemark as a sign of quality assurance.
Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under
the age of 16.
If you’re under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacists
won’t tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe you fully
understand the information you’re given, and your decisions.
Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with young
people under 16. They’ll encourage you to consider telling your parents,
but they won’t make you. The only time that a professional might want to
tell someone else is if they believe you’re at risk of harm, such as abuse. The
risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you
first (NHS, 2015c).
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Version 2016.3576– – Document LATEXed – 1st May 2016
[git] • Branch: 1.5 @ 26b5e6d • Release: 1.5 (2016-05-01)