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 lasting effects on how you view your body, your boundaries, and your relationships. There’s no “right” timeline or one-size-fits-all way to reconnect with your sexual […]
Can You Catch an STI From a Towel, Toilet Seat or Hot Tub?
Myth-busting everyday STI worries – what’s real vs what’s rubbish. We’ve all heard the stories: “You can catch something from a toilet seat!” or “Be careful using hotel towels!” But when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Let’s clear things up once and for all. The Toilet […]
Community Sexual Health Ambassador – Black History Month October 2025
The Essex Sexual Health Service’s Education and Outreach Team is building connections with diverse communities by bringing essential resources directly to them. As part of this effort, free condom boxes have been placed in barbershops and salons throughout Essex, ensuring the Black community has easy access to sexual health supplies. Read more about the initiative […]
Can contraception affect my mental health?
Contraception is designed to give you freedom and control over your sexual health, but it’s natural to wonder how it might affect your mood or mental wellbeing. The truth is, hormonal contraception can affect mental health for some people, but not everyone will experience changes. At Essex Sexual Health Service, we want to give you […]
Essex Sexual Health Service marks World Contraception Day by Highlighting LARC Options
In support of World Contraception Day, Friday 26 September 2025, Essex Sexual Health Service is encouraging residents to explore Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) methods as reliable, low-maintenance options for preventing unplanned pregnancies. Delivered by Provide Community and commissioned by Essex County Council, Essex Sexual Health Service offers a range of free and confidential LARC services, […]
Essex Sexual Health Service Supports Young People and Families for Sexual Health Week 2025
Essex Sexual Health Service, delivered by Provide Community and commissioned by Essex County Council, is marking Sexual Health Week 2025 (Monday 15 to Sunday21 September), with a focus on digital wellbeing, consent, and supporting young people in an increasingly online world. This year’s national theme, “Chronically Online”, explores how the internet, and digital culture, has […]
Welcome to our first Essex Sexual Health Newsletter!
We are excited to bring you quarterly updates, packed with free resources, training opportunities, the latest research and guidance and key dates for your diary. A quick overview of what you can find in this newsletter edition: • Free relationships and sex education (RSE) resources and videos including easy read resources • Information about the […]
Essex Sexual Health Service – Sexual Health Week 2025
Going Chronically Online (September 15–21) This year’s Sexual Health Week theme is “Chronically Online” a powerful invitation to reflect on how our digital lives shape the way we think about sex, relationships, and wellbeing. From dating apps to social media and AI, our online interactions are changing everything – from how we meet people to […]
Provide Community launches free period product scheme across seven sexual health clinics in Essex and Suffolk
Provide Community, an employee-owned community interest company, is proud to announce the launch of a new scheme providing free period products across seven of its sexual health service clinic locations. This initiative is part of Provide Community’s ongoing commitment to creating social value, tackling period poverty, and supporting the wellbeing of patients, visitors, and colleagues. […]
Is It Normal To Feel Weird After Starting Contraception?
Short answer? Yes, it totally can be. Starting a new form of contraception is a bit like giving your body a new set of instructions – and sometimes, it takes a little while to get the message. Whether you’ve just started the pill, had an implant fitted, or you’re trying out the patch or injection, […]