Sexual and Reproductive Health (Family Planning)

Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics are a free and confidential service offering a range of contraceptive methods and advice about family planning and sexual health. This page contains information on the services we provide.

If you need specific information about our sexual health clinics, which provide testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), please go to our Sexual Health/GUM webpage.

Contact us:

• Call the central phone line on (028) 9041 3796. Our phone lines are open every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00-12:30
• Self-referral is available below

Please note we no longer offer a walk-in service. Telephone appointments will be capped depending on staffing levels and when lists are full you may be asked to call back the next working day. The email address is not monitored outside of Monday-Friday clinic hours or on bank holidays. A member of the Sexual and Reproductive Health team will respond to your email, though this may be the next working day.

If you need access to emergency contraception or contraceptive advice outside of our working hours, please contact your GP in the first instance or seek emergency contraception as soon as possible from a pharmacy.

This is a Trust-wide service and we offer appointments in different Trust locations; you may have to wait longer for an appointment in your preferred location.

The South Eastern Trust Sexual and Reproductive Health services (Family Planning) include:

• Contraception – thorough consultation, assessment and provision of a range of methods
• Emergency contraception (morning after pill/copper IUD)
• Specialist services such as coil and implant insertions are available at certain locations
• Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea testing
• Advice and onward referral to GP/Sexual Health service (GUM) and secondary care as appropriate.

Emergency Contraception

Local pharmacies in NI have signed up to a free oral emergency contraception policy. To find your nearest local pharmacy offering this service, click here.

NB Oral emergency contraception is more effective the sooner you take it after unprotected sex.

A copper IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception. Emergency coils are available Monday – Friday at various locations throughout Trust through Sexual and Reproductive Health via (028) 9041 3796. Please email the team if you cannot get through on the phone line or if the phone lines are closed.

Please do not attend these clinics as a walk-in; all consultations will be carried out by telephone. If you are required to come to clinic the staff will give you a date and time. Please only come in at your allocated time, and where possible, attend your appointment alone. We may not be able to see you if you arrive more than 10 minutes late for your appointment.

SH:24 are award winning experts in sexual and reproductive health and work in partnership with the NHS to provide free contraception and STI testing.

To access free oral contraceptive pills, including the progestogen only pill (also known as “the mini pill”) or the combined pill, click here.

If you want to compare different methods of contraception please click here Compare Contraception | Reproductive Health Advice | SH:24 (sh24.org.uk)

Important information about the coil procedure

• If you are not on contraception or your contraception has expired, please do not have any vaginal sex without a condom for 3 weeks prior to your appointment
• If you are attending for a coil replacement, please do not have any vaginal sex without a condom for 7 days prior to your appointment
• A pregnancy test with be performed when you are at the clinic. When arriving please check in before going to the toilet so we can give you a sample container
• We would recommend that you eat breakfast and/or lunch on the day of your procedure as the occasional person may feel faint.
• Please click here for a video on the coil procedure
• More information on intrauterine device (IUD)
• More information on intrauterine system (IUS)

Important information about the implant procedure

• Click here to watch a short video about the implant
• The insertion process is not expected to be painful. We administer an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the skin.
• After the insertion you will have some bruising and swelling around the area, which may be tender. Please use paracetamol if needed.
• The implant takes 7 days to be effective as contraception. You will need to use additional contraception for one week if you plan on having sex.

Unplanned Pregnancy

If you have an unplanned pregnancy and are seeking advice contact Informing Choices NI. They are a Sexual and Reproductive Health Charity who can offer guidance and support.

Abortions are available in all NI Healthcare Trusts. To access an abortion, please complete an online self-referral form via BPAS, here.