Sexual health is about well-being in relation to sex and sexuality. It’s also about being comfortable with your sexuality and the decisions you make about sex so that sexual experiences and relationships are positive, safe and respectful.
Evolve can provide:
- Sexually Transmissible Infection (STI) checks and treatment
- Contraceptive advice and prescriptions
- Free condoms
- Emergency contraceptive pills
- Pregnancy tests and follow-up care or referral
- Cervical screening
- Information to help you make positive decisions
Make an appointment with a nurse if you would like to know more.
Sexually Transmissible Infections
Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are infections you can get if you have unprotected sex or, in some cases, skin on skin contact with someone who is infected. Condoms offer the best protection against STIs.
The most common STIs in New Zealand are:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhoea
- Genital warts
- Crabs
- Genital herpes
Some STIs have symptoms but with others there may be no obvious signs. Many people will be infected with an STI without knowing it. You can’t tell if someone has an STI by looking at them. If you are sexually active, it’s a good idea to have a regular sexual health check. Most STIs are easily cured just with creams or tablets. Some STIs remain in a person’s system for a long time or forever, and their symptoms are managed e.g. Herpes.
Source: Family Planning New Zealand
Contraception
Contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy. Different methods work in different ways but contraception generally prevents sperm from reaching and fertilising an egg which is how a pregnancy starts.
Find out more
Some of the different methods of contraception are:
- Contraceptive pills or “the pill”
- Barriers, such as condoms and diaphragms
- Depo Provera injection
- Long acting reversible contraception, such as implants or intra uterine devices
- Emergency contraception
