Sexual health and relationships

Local sexual health and relationship support services

Sexual health services 

Axess Sexual Health is the free NHS sexual health and contraception service for Cheshire East. It provides confidential information, advice, testing, treatment and support to help people make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

Services are available from clinics across Cheshire East, with online, postal and community-based support also available.

You can contact Axess Sexual Health on 0300 323 1300 or visit the Axess website to book an appointment and find your nearest service.

Where services are available

Axess sexual health services are available from locations across Cheshire East, including:

• New Alderley House, Macclesfield
• Eagle Bridge Health and Wellbeing Centre, Crewe
• Readsmoor Medical Centre, Congleton
• The Dome, Crewe.

For clinic opening times, appointments, online services and the latest information, visit the Axess Cheshire East website.

Some services are also available online, by post and through community outreach.

What the service offers

Axess provides a range of sexual and reproductive health services, including:

• contraception and family planning advice
• emergency contraception
• STI testing and treatment
• HIV testing, prevention and support
• PrEP and PEP services
• pregnancy testing and advice
• cervical screening
• free condoms and lubricant
• psychosexual and specialist sexual health support
• online sexual health information and postal/self-testing services. 

Support for young people

Axess provides confidential and non-judgemental sexual health support for young people.

Axess 4U is the dedicated sexual health service for young people aged 19 and under, and young people do not need an appointment to attend Axess 4U.

Support includes advice about:

• relationships, sex and sexual health
• contraception and emergency contraception
• pregnancy testing and support
• STI  testing and treatment
• condoms
• consent, healthy relationships and sexual wellbeing.

Emergency contraception

If you are in need of emergency contraception, this can be obtained via your GP, some local pharmacies, and your nearest axess clinic.

You can find a list of services and pharmacies  in your area which offer emergency contraception. Please ring the pharmacy you have chosen to attend before you turn up to make sure a member of staff is available who can prescribe emergency contraception and to check it is available for free. 

Free condoms by post

Cheshire East residents aged 16 and over can order free condoms by post  from Axess. Condoms are the only contraceptive method that protect against both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. 

Period dignity

Free period products are available in Family Hubs across Cheshire East.

You can also find a list of other places offering free period products on the Period dignity Cheshire by Her-Place.

Training for professionals

Axess works with health, education, social care and community organisations across Cheshire East to support sexual health and wellbeing.

Support for professionals includes:

• sexual health training and awareness sessions
• advice and guidance on sexual health pathways
• referral routes into specialist services
• support with Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
• partnership working with health, education and community organisations
• support with sexual health promotion and outreach.

The Axess Sexual Health Education Team also provides free training for professionals to build knowledge, skills and confidence in discussing sexual health.

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