@YorSexualHealth

20th January 2025

Today is widely known as Blue Monday - it's January, it's cold, and it's still not payday! It's a good day to acknowledge our mental wellbeing and the impact things can have on it, including things relating to our sexual health. Did you know YSH offers a free sexual health counselling service? You'll be offered up to 6 hour long sessions with our highly experienced BACP registered counsellors. This can be done face to face or virtually - whichever suits you best. It's easy to access - simply self refer on our website. Our counsellors work through issues including feelings around an STI diagnosis, living with or affected by HIV, feelings around unplanned pregnancy, difficulties around sexuality, and barriers to positive sexual health e.g. self confidence and the impact of substances. For more information and to self refer, please visit our website www.yorsexualhealth.org.uk/our-services/counselling/

@YorSexualHealth

19th January 2025

Transgender men and non-binary people assigned female at birth, who have not had surgery to remove the cervix, are recommended to have cervical screening. You may not be automatically invited if your gender is male at your GP, or if you’ve opted out in the past, so could yours be due? Cervical screening is every 3 years from ages 25-49, and every 5 years from aged 50-64. Booking and attending your cervical screening as a trans man or non-binary individual might be challenging for you, and we're here to support you in any way possible. Here are some top tips: - If you are contacting your GP or sexual health clinic to book your appointment and you are registered as male, you may feel nervous about explaining the situation. Remember that whoever you are speaking to is there to help you, and will be glad that you contacted them. If you're particularly anxious, asking to speak to a member of the practice that you know and trust can help, or you could send your request through by email or online form if available. - Appointments always leave additional time for you to ask any questions you may have, but you can always ask for a longer appointment if you feel you might need some extra time. - You might feel more comfortable having your screening done by a particular member of staff, or by a male or female nurse. You can request this when booking. - You might find it helpful to talk through the procedure beforehand (you can book an appointment to do this) or ask the nurse to use non-gendered language e.g. when describing body parts. YSH provides a friendly and inclusive environment for all our service users, and we warmly welcome you to attend any of our walk in or bookable clinics. If you would like to discuss your screening beforehand, please contact our central bookings team on 01904 721111 who will be happy to arrange an appointment for you with one of our nurses.