Latest News and Blogs

Get up to date with what’s new from Essex Sexual Health Service, our partners and anything affecting sexual health in our county.

 

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Can You Still Get STIs If You’re in a Same-Gender Relationship?

There’s a common myth that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) only affect people in heterosexual relationships, but that’s simply not true. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, can get an STI

Can Contraception Help With Things Other Than Pregnancy?

When most people think about contraception, preventing pregnancy is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But did you know that many types of contraception can also help with

What’s the Difference Between HIV and AIDS – And Why Does Language Matter?

You’ve probably heard the terms HIV and AIDS used together, sometimes even as if they mean the same thing. But they don’t. Understanding the difference is important, not just for

At Essex Sexual Health Service, we provide a variety of different free condoms such as; Flavoured condoms (chocolate, mint, strawberry) Textured condoms (ribbed and dotted) Heat reactive condoms (ones that

Essex Sexual Health Service Health Promotion Specialist receives 2025 Lawrence Walker Award

African Families in the UK (AFiUK’s) has announced that Hannah Gizatullin, Health Promotion Specialist from the Essex Sexual Health Service Education and Outreach Team, has been named one of the

Sex After Trauma: How to Reclaim Intimacy on Your Terms

Experiencing trauma can affect many parts of life, including how we feel about sex and intimacy. Whether your trauma is connected to a sexual experience or not, it can leave

Did you know that the emergency contraception pill (effective for up to 5 days as emergency contraception) is now available for FREE at most pharmacies across England from October 2025?

Please click here to find your nearest pharmacy.

It is advised that you call the pharmacy ahead of attending to check that there is a prescribing pharmacist on site that day.

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