Emergency and Urgent Care - What to do after unprotected sex - a health guide

This leaflet is to help you if you have attended the Emergency Department after having unprotected sex. This means having sex without using condoms. You can be at risk of getting infections from different modes of sex (anal, vaginal, oral) without using condoms.

In the Emergency Department you will have been assessed of the risk of getting certain infections – in particular HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

We do not test for all sexually transmitted infections. It is important that you make an appointment with the sexual health clinic to be tested for other infections.

If you do not get tested or treated for other infections, you can become very sick; you may have difficulty having children in the future and you can pass on infections to your partner.

What will happen in the Emergency Department?

• Your blood will be taken to test for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis
• If you have been referred to the Sexual Health Clinic, you will get the results of your test at the next follow-up appointment. Otherwise, please contact your GP for your results

I am concerned about HIV, what will happen next?

• You will be seen by a clinician who will assess your risk of exposure to HIV using national guidance
• If your risk has been assessed as high for HIV, you will be started on medicines known as post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PEP)
• This is to reduce the risk of getting the virus. You will be given a separate information leaflet and it is important that you follow the instructions carefully
• You will need to finish the course of medicines over 28 days
• You will only be given the full 28 day course of medication from the emergency department. It is essential that you attend the sexual health clinic to obtain the results of your initial blood tests and to have a full sexual health screen
• If you do not finish the course or if you miss any tablets, the medicines may not work

Will I need any other treatment?

• You may be started on a vaccination course for Hepatitis B. You will need 3 vaccination shots altogether
• You will be given the first vaccine in the Emergency Department
• You will need a repeat vaccine in 1 week and another in 2 weeks time and a booster at 12 months
• It is important to finish the course or the vaccination will not work
• The Sexual Health Clinic will test you for other infections and offer treatment if you need it
• You will be offered emergency contraception if you need it

What should I do now?

Please follow the advice below until you have been formally cleared.

• Make an appointment with the Sexual Health Clinic (numbers at end of leaflet) as soon as possible
• Practice safe sex – we recommend you or your partner use a condom to stop the risk of spread of any infection to your partner. This includes all types of sex you may have (anal, oral, vaginal). Anal sex carries the highest risk of transmission of HIV. If barrier contraception is not an option (e.g. due to religious practice), we recommend you avoid any sexual contact until you have been formally cleared
• If you are planning to become pregnant; we recommend that you wait until you have been formally cleared from all infections
• You should NOT donate blood
• If you are breastfeeding, we recommend you stop whilst you wait to be cleared from these infections, as they can spread through breastmilk. Contact your health visitor who will advise what to do to maintain your milk supply until you have been cleared

I do not want to become pregnant, what should I do now?

There are a few options for emergency contraception and these will be discussed with you.

Emergency contraceptive pills can be given out from Emergency Departments, GP, pharmacists and sexual health clinics. They can be effective if taken within 5 days of having unprotected sex, depending on the pill that is available. Please ask the clinician for advice.

Another option is the copper intrauterine device (IUD). This device can work if placed within 5 days of unprotected sex. It is placed through the vagina and into the womb. This is not available at Emergency Departments. It can be done by Sexual Health and Reproductive clinics or your GP.

What is CHEM SEX?

Chem sex involves the use of recreational drugs to reduce inhibition and have sex with multiple partners.

Sharing of needles and having unprotected sex with multiple people increases the risk of infections including HIV, Hepatitis B and C. There is also a high risk of becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol.

If you use recreational drugs while taking medicines for HIV, you can become very sick and need to be admitted into hospital.
Therefore, we advise that you avoid doing this while you are taking your medicines for HIV.

There is a CHEM Sex clinic in Manchester. This service can help you with drug addiction, mental health and advise about safe sex practice. This is a self-referral service and the contact details are at the end of this leaflet.

Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking

In the Emergency Department, your welfare is important and we will explore the possibility of sexual assault and domestic violence with you. You can self-refer to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre. At the end of this leaflet are the numbers for St Marys and also a number if you want to speak to someone about domestic violence. If you identify yourself as someone being made to have sex and/or work against your will, you can get help. You can always speak to us in the Emergency Department in confidence and we can help you. If you are in danger you can call 999 for the police or you can call 101. There is also a 24 hour helpline if you do not feel you can contact the police, see below for details.

Contact details

Sexual Health Clinic contact details
Shine at Salford Goodman Centre, Lance Burn Health Centre, Churchill Way, Salford M6 5QX

To make a clinic appointment, call reception on 0161 206 1099 or 0161 206 1094 (please make the appointment with a clinic doctor if you have been started on medicines to prevent HIV).

To speak to one of the clinic Health Advisors (Mondays/ Thursdays) - 0161 206 1317

You can write the date and time of any appointments here:

Date:
Time:

Appointments for Hepatitis B vaccination (please book this with your GP or organise it with the sexual health clinic)
1.
2.
3.

Appointments for repeat blood tests (please book this with your GP or organise it through the sexual heaelth clinic)

3 months repeat blood test:
6 months repeat blood test:
 

For futher Information:

Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre
York Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL
www.stmaryscentre.org 
0161 276 6515 (24 - hour helpline)

Domestic Violence
Salford City Council has a user-friendly web page with clear contact details:
www.salford.gov.uk/crime-reduction-and-emergencies/ domestic-violence/useful-contacts/

CHEM SEX CLINIC
Hathersage Centre, Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 0FH Telephone: 0161 276 5204
Email: reach@cmft.nhs.uk
Walk in or make an appointment - Open every Wednesday 3.30 – 6pm
www.thenorthernsexualhealth. co.uk/Chemsex-Support

Salford Independent Domestic Abuse Support Services (SIDASS) 0161 793 3232

Men’s advice line - 0808 801 0327

Domestic Violence Helpline - 24- hour helpline- 01925 220 541

National Domestic Violence Helpline - Free 24- hour helpline - 0808 200 0247

Modern Day Slavery Foundation - Helpline: 0800 0121 700
www.modernslaveryhelpline.org