Women's Health

Please click here to visit the NHS Dorset Women’s Health Website, this site has early help and self-help advice for women and girls so they can make informed choices about their wellbeing. You can also find the services that are available in Dorset. 

Contraception Services

There are many different contraceptive methods available, and it is free. Contraception needs to be used until the menopause. That is, until a woman has not had a period or any bleeding for two years if aged under 50, and for one year if over 50.

We provide a range of contraceptive services delivered by our experienced Nursing and GP staff. 

You can also access these services through Sexual Health Dorset: Contact Your Local Sexual Health Service.

The Progesterone only pill is also available over the counter at your local pharmacy

Please be aware that weight loss injections Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and Semaglutide (Ozempic) can impact oral contraception. This may mean that your contraception pills do not work effectively. If you are using the contraceptive pill, please use condoms for four weeks after each dose change, to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Alternatively, we would suggest switching to a non-oral method of contraception. Please book an appointment if you want to discuss your contraception.

 

Choosing The Right Contraception

No user failure

These do not depend on you remembering to take or remembering to use contraception.

  • Contraceptive Injection
  • Implant
  • Intrauterine system (IUS)
  • Intrauterine device (IUD)
  • Female and Male sterilisation

Read more about contraceptive implants and (coils)

User failure

These are methods you have to use and think about regularly or each time you have sex. For these methods to be effective you must use them according to the instructions.

  • Contraceptive Patch
  • Combined Pill
  • Progesterone Only Pill
  • Male Condom
  • Female Condom
  • Diaphragm/cap with spermicide
  • Natural Family Planning

Emergency Contraception

If you have had sex without using contraception or you think your method might have failed, there are two methods you can use.

  • The emergency hormonal pill – must be taken up to three days (72 hours) after sex. It is more effective the earlier it is taken after sex.
  • An IUD – must be fitted up to five days after sex, or up to five days after the earliest time you could have released an egg (ovulation) 

Contraception and Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can be up to 98 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy when the following conditions apply:

  • you are fully breastfeeding – this means you are not giving your baby any other liquid or solid food

or

  • you are nearly fully breastfeeding – this means mainly breastfeeding your baby and infrequently giving your baby other liquids
    • and your baby is less than six months old
    • and you have no periods.

Where Can I Get Contraception?

You can obtain free contraception, including emergency contraception, from:

Your GP Practice.

Local contraception clinics

Park Centre for Sexual Health
Weymouth Community Hospital
Melcombe Avenue
Dorchester Road
Weymouth
Dorset
DT3 6SA

Clinic - Surgery Hours Only: 01305 762 718
Information: 01305 267 141

Family Planning Clinic
55 High West Street
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1UT

Clinic - Surgery Hours Only: 01305 269 894
Information: 01305 267 141

 

You can also get free emergency contraception from most NHS Walk-In Centres (England only), Minor Injuries Inits & some hospital Accident and Emergency departments (phone first to check).

Some pharmacies (there may be an age limit). If you are 16 or over you can buy the emergency pill from most pharmacies. They also sell condoms, diaphragms, caps and spermicide.

Menopause

Menopause occurs when the female body makes fewer reproductive hormones and ultimately leads to periods stopping, although changes can occur in the years prior to this. This typically occurs between the age of 45 and 55. For more information on Menopause, please click the link below or make an appointment with your GP.

Read More About Menopause.

Cervical Screening

Cervical screening is a vital service to check the health of your cervix and is a test to help prevent cancer. 

All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 to 64 should attend regular cervical screening.

You will be invited for cervical screening every 5 years to check the health of your cervix. Cervical screening used to be called a smear test. It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.

You'll be sent an invitation and receive your test results through the NHS App, by text or by letter.  You can book an appointment as soon as you get an invitation.  

Read More About NHS Cervical Screening.

Some Facts About Avoiding Pregnancy

A woman can still get pregnant:

  • If it is the first time she has sex.
  • If she does not have an orgasm.
  • If a man pulls out of her vagina before he comes.
  • If she has sex when she has a period.
  • if she douches (squirts fluid into the vagina). This can be harmful to women.
  • Whatever position the couple has sex in.

What If I Become Pregnant?

No method of contraception is perfect. If you think you could be pregnant, do a pregnancy test as soon as possible.

You can do a test from the first day of a missed period – before this time the level of pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), may be too low to show up on a test and you may get a negative result even though you are pregnant. If you don’t know when your next period is due, the earliest time to do a test is 21 days after unprotected sex.

If you are pregnant you need to think about what you want to do. You can choose to:

  • continue with the pregnancy and keep the baby
  • end the pregnancy by having an abortion
  • continue with the pregnancy and have the baby adopted.

You can also get help and information from the Family Planning Association (FPA). 

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Most methods of contraception do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Male and female condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can help protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Diaphragms and caps may also offer some protection.

If you can, avoid using condoms containing Nonoxinol 9 (spermicidally lubricated) as this does not protect against HIV and may even increase the risk of infection.

If you think you have a sexually transmitted infection please make an appointment with a GP or you can make an appointment at a sexual health clinic.

Park Centre for Sexual Health
Weymouth Community Hospital
3 Melcombe Avenue
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 7TB

Clinic: 01305 762 682
Clinic - Appointments: 01305 762 682
Telephone Advice Line: 01305 762 710

Department of Genitourinary Medicine (part of Park Centre for Sexual Health) 
55 High West Street
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY

Clinic: 01305 255 511
Clinic - Appointments: 01305 762 682
Information: 01305 762 682
Telephone Advice Line: 01305 762 710