Sexual health information and support
Explore sexual health advice, testing windows and free confidential NHS services. Find time-sensitive support and enquire about Willoway arrangements.
Sexual health questions can feel personal. This page offers general information and a starting point for considering what support may help. It is not a diagnosis or clinical assessment.
Sexual health support can include advice, appropriate testing and discussion of next steps. NHS sexual health services provide free, confidential support. You can find a local service through the NHS; ask Willoway separately about current availability and arrangements.
When to seek advice
Consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional if you have symptoms, a concern after sex, questions about contraception, or would like advice about testing. A clinician can discuss your concerns and the appropriate next steps. Symptoms and exposures do not establish a diagnosis on their own.
Testing and confidentiality
Which test may be suitable, and when to take it, depends on the type and timing of a possible exposure and individual circumstances. Testing windows vary, so an early negative result may not rule out an infection; follow advice from the testing service about whether or when to test again. NHS sexual health clinics offer free services and are confidential. Their staff explain any tests and the limits of confidentiality.
Getting time-sensitive help
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the past 72 hours, seek urgent advice now from an NHS sexual health service or an emergency department about whether PEP is appropriate. PEP needs to be started within 72 hours. If pregnancy is possible after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, seek emergency contraception promptly: options have different time limits, and sooner is generally better. NHS services, including sexual health clinics and many GP surgeries, can provide it.
A private enquiry
A general Willoway web enquiry is not clinical triage and is not monitored as an urgent care service. Please do not send sexual history, intimate images, test results or other sensitive health details through a general enquiry form. Use a suitable NHS service for private clinical advice and urgent concerns.
When to seek medical help
This information cannot diagnose an infection or determine that testing is unnecessary. Do not wait for a website reply if time may matter: possible HIV exposure within 72 hours needs urgent PEP advice, and emergency contraception is time-sensitive. Contact an NHS sexual health service, GP or pharmacy as appropriate; use an emergency department for urgent out-of-hours PEP assessment. Call 999 for an immediate emergency.
Your questions
Are NHS sexual health services free and confidential?
NHS sexual health clinics are free and confidential. Clinic staff explain what to expect and the limits of confidentiality. Use the NHS service finder to locate support.
When should I take a sexual health test?
It depends on the infection being considered, the type and timing of exposure, and the test used. Window periods vary; ask the testing service when to test and whether repeat testing is needed.
What should I do after a possible HIV exposure?
Seek urgent clinical advice now if the possible exposure was within the last 72 hours. PEP must be started within that period, and a clinician can assess whether it is appropriate. Contact an NHS sexual health service or emergency department.
Where can I get emergency contraception?
Contact an NHS sexual health clinic, GP surgery or pharmacy promptly to discuss available options. Time limits differ by method, and emergency contraception generally works better the sooner it is used.
Your next step
Ask about current availability, fees and the scope of any appointment. This page provides general information, not an individual assessment or confirmation of a particular treatment, test or specialist partnership.
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