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Services for Young People
Confidential information and advice on sexual health
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Where you can register or collect free condoms, including using our new Click and Collect
Find the nearest to meTrans and non Binary
Trans man
Within this section we look at how anyone who was labelled female when they were born, but who identifies as male, trans male, trans masculine or non-binary can look after and or improve their sexual health.
Trans men can have partners of every gender and a variety of body types. Your sexual preferences may include being a receptive and/or penetrative partner in anal, oral or vaginal/frontal sex. Whether you have had lower surgery or not, the basic information about safer sex for trans men is the same, use a condom (external or internal condom) along with water-based lube.
If you've recently had lower surgery and have unhealed skin, this could make it easier for you to acquire or pass on HIV, as bleeding can provide a route into or out of your body.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as genital warts and herpes are passed on through close skin contact, so a condom won’t necessarily protect you against these infections. It's easier to acquire or pass on HIV if you have another STI.
Safer sex
Whether a penis has always been there, is surgically-constructed or bought in a shop, the safest option is to always use a condom. Condoms come in different sizes, shapes and materials (including latex-allergy free). Always change condoms between partners
We advice you have a sexual health screen at least once every year. Increase this to every six months or more if you've been at risk of contracting an STI or HIV.
Trans woman
Within this section we look at how anyone who was labelled male when they were born, but who identifies as female some or all of the time, or non-binary can improve their sexual health.
Trans women can have partners of every gender and a variety of body types. Your sexual preferences may include being a receptive and/or penetrative partner in anal, oral or vaginal sex.
Safer sex
Whether you have had lower surgery or not, the best way to protect yourself and your partner against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV is to use a condom (internal or external) for vaginal or anal sex and use a water-based lube with your condom.
Condoms both internal and external are free at our Swish clinics. Not all trans women can use internal (sometimes called 'female' condoms or Femidoms) – it will depend upon the depth of your vagina. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as genital warts and herpes are passed on through close skin contact, so a condom won’t necessarily protect you against these infections. It's easier to acquire or pass on HIV if you have another STI.
We advise you have a sexual health screen at least once every year. Increase this to every six months or more if you've been at risk of contracting an STI or HIV.
Free Safe Sex Packs
To obtain free condoms click here
Online testing
At SWISH we advise those identifying as trans and non binary who are sexual active to have a routine sexual health check-up at least once a year. SWISH offer Online STI testing. If you are trans or non binarty and do not have any symptoms and would like to access online testing, please read the information below.
STIs will take time to show on a test, so please consider the information below before taking a test. If a test is done too early, it will not be accurate. It is better to wait to take the test if you don’t have symptoms.
- It can take two weeks after sex, for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea to show up on a test
- An HIV test is highly accurate 4 weeks after sex and 100% accurate 8 weeks after sex
- Syphilis can take up to at least 12 weeks to show infection after sex
Click here to complete the triage page to determine your eligibility and order a test.
Click here to see how you take your blood sample.
We also work with The Eddystone Trust to offer sexual health outreach services for trans and non-binary people, and they will be able to provide information and advice about sexual health and safer sex including:
- Help completing your online test (if needed)
- Vaccinations
- PrEP information and support
- HIV fast testing
