Specialist Sexual Health Service

Mpox update

In spring 2023 new cases of mpox (previously known as monkeypox) were reported across London. The NHS website has further information about mpox symptoms.

If you are concerned you may have symptoms of mpox, do not walk in to the clinic.  Please phone and ask to speak to senior clinician for advice.

What we do

Our Specialist Sexual Health Service provides appointment clinics for clients with complex needs. Normally, these appointments are made following a referral by a GP or one of our doctors.

We see clients through a number of clinics, including:

• Rainbow Clinic, an evening clinic for men who have sex with men. This offers HIV testing, hepatitis vaccinations, full sexual health check-ups and counselling. You do not require a referral to attend. Please contact the Caldecot Centre to make an appointment.
• Specialist clinics for complex, recurrent or persistent genital problems, such as genital dermatoses, prostatitis, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, post-exposure prophylaxis, syphilis.
• Specialist and complex contraceptive problems, including contraception for women with medical conditions such as liver and renal disease, cardiac problems, blood disorders and HIV; difficult IUD/IUS insertions and removals and deep implant removals; ultrasound scans for missing IUD/IUS threads; bleeding problems or pelvic pain related to contraception; contraception for woman who have learning difficulties, language problems, psychiatric disorders or are drug users; counselling for sterilisation.
• Psychosexual service for women and men which provides physical and psychological help for sexual and relationship problems, such as lack of libido, vaginismus, erectile difficulties and premature ejaculation.

Preparing for your appointment

• If you are attending to have an IUD (other than for the purpose of emergency contraception), IUS (Mirena) or Implanon fitted, you must not have risked pregnancy in your current menstrual cycle; that is, you should not have had sexual intercourse since your last normal period or you should have correctly and consistently used a reliable method of contraception. Please note that the withdrawal method and diaphragms/caps are not considered highly reliable methods of contraception.
• An emergency IUD can be fitted up to five days after unprotected sex. It can be fitted at any time in the menstrual cycle provided this is the only unprotected sex that has occurred since your last period. If you have had unprotected sex more than once since your last period then an emergency IUD can be fitted up to five days after the earliest time you could have released an egg (ovulated).
• If you are attending to have an IUD or IUS (coil) removed and not planning a pregnancy it is important that you use condoms or do not have sex for 7 days before the appointment.
• If you are going to have a procedure done during your appointment and you have small children accompanying you, please bring someone along who can look after them.

To find out more about contraception and sexually transmitted infections, visit the NHS website website.

Location

Ground floor, Caldecot Centre, 15-22 Caldecot Road, London, SE5 9RS

Contact Details

• Main Reception: +44 (0)20 3299 5000