Sexual health

We work with a range of partners in County Durham to:

• reduce the stigma and prejudice that is often associated with sexual health
• to help reduce the rate of STIs - some STIs can cause infertility and others can be passed to the baby in the womb or at birth
• reduce unwanted pregnancies
• support women to make informed decisions

Our main sexual health services are through County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and are free to all ages, including young people under 16 years. You can access support through 

• NHS online
• community pharmacists and GPs
• schools, colleges and universities
• youth services

If you would like to find out more about sexual health services in County Durham you can visit County Durham and Darlington Sexual Health Service. 

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing 

Sexually transmitted infections are passed from one person to another through sex or genital contact. Regular testing is essential to maintain good sexual health. It's important to test regularly as many people found to have STI have no symptoms. If untreated, STIs can cause long-term health conditions, such as infertility. Effective HIV treatment can reduce the virus to undetectable levels, which means HIV cannot be passed on through sex. 

If you do not want to receive a test kit at home, you can collect a chlamydia and gonorrhoea test from most pharmacies. 

Free condoms

Using condoms is an effective way to reduce STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

Services available

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (Sexual Health Services) provide our sexual health services across County Durham, and they will be happy to help you with any questions or issues you have. The NHS: sexual health website also provides advice and information. 

County Durham Sexual Health Strategy 

The sexual health strategy sets out what sexual health is important and outlines County Durham's vision and priority areas over the next five years. It has been developed by the council in partnership with commissioned services, the NHS, and community and voluntary sector organisations and County Durham people. 

The strategy will be used by Public Health teams and commissioners of sexual health services to support the five year action plan.

The strategy focuses on five priority areas: 

1. Supporting all children and young people in County Durham to access high quality Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) by working with education settings, such as schools and alternative education providers. 
2. Providing pregnancy support for young parents. 
3. Raising awareness of the different methods of contraception and improving access to contraception. 
4. Reducing the stigma of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, focusing on prevention and early intervention. 
5. Raising awareness of reproductive health. 

View the  County Durham Sexual Health Strategy 2023 to 2028 (PDF, 1.1mb) .