Sexual & Reproductive Health

Bolton Foundation Trust Sexual Health Service offers confidential support for a wide range of sexual and reproductive health needs. They provide STI testing and treatment, free contraception (including emergency contraception), vaccinations for eligible groups, HIV care, and specialist advice.

The clinic is located on the ground floor of Bolton One.

Book an appointment

Manage your sexual health with ease: book appointments, find advice and access information through SHINE online.

Or 

By phone – Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm
Call 01204 390771 to book appointments for:

  • STI screening or treatment
  • Contraception services
Services they offer
Sexual health & STI services
  • Advice on sexual health and safer sex
  • Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and HPV vaccinations for men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • Partner notification support
  • PEP (post‑exposure prophylaxis) for preventing HIV after exposure
  • PrEP for preventing HIV before exposure
  • Support for sexual problems such as pain during sex, sexual dysfunction or genital skin conditions (GP referral required)
  • Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (including chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhoea and HIV)
Postal STI Screening
  • If you have a Bolton postcode, you can order a free postal screening kit. Kits are sent in discreet packaging with full instructions.
  • Your results will be sent by text message, so please ensure we have your correct phone number. If treatment is needed, they will arrange this at the Bolton SHINE clinic.
  • They do not provide written results, but they can be shared with your GP with your consent.

Order a postal kit

Contraception

They offer a full range of free and confidential contraceptive options, including:

  • Pregnancy testing and advice
  • Condoms
  • Emergency Contraception
  • Combined pill
  • Progestogen only pill
  • Contraceptive injection
  • Diaphragms/caps
  • IUD ( copper coil)
  • IUS (hormonal coil)
  • Contraceptive implant

For more information on contraceptive options, visit Brook – Contraception Guide.

HIV Services

The dedicated team of HIV doctors and specialist nurses provides outpatient care and psychological support for people living with HIV in Bolton, Salford and Wigan.

If you are newly diagnosed or wish to transfer your care to one of their clinics, you can contact them on:

In an emergency
Emergency contraception

If you've had unprotected sex or your contraception has failed, they offer emergency contraception (pills or copper IUD).

The copper IUD is the most effective method and can be fitted up to:

  • 5 days after unprotected sex, or
  • 5 days after ovulation

Call them as soon as possible: 01204 390771
If they are closed, emergency contraception is also available from your GP or local pharmacies.

Exposure to HIV

PEP must be started within 72 hours but works best when started immediately. It may be needed after:

  • Unprotected sex with someone from a higher-risk group
  • Sharing injecting equipment
  • Sexual assault

Healthcare workers should contact their Occupational Health department.

If you think you need PEP, call 01204 390771immediately.

Sexual Assault

You can report rape or sexual assault at any time.

St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (24/7): 0161 276 6515

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

For non‑emergencies, call 111 for police contact details.

Understanding STIs

They provide free and confidential STI testing and treatment, including HIV.

Testing timelines:

  • Chlamydia and gonorrhoea: detectable from 2 weeks after risk
  • HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B: detectable from 12 weeks after risk
  • Hepatitis C: detectable from 6 months

If you test positive, they will support you in contacting partners who may need testing.

For further information on sexual health in Greater Manchester please visit The PaSH Partnership,, which includes information in other languages.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of a missed period.

Common early signs include nausea, tiredness, breast tenderness, frequent urination and unusual tastes/ smells.

If you are pregnant, you have three options:

  1. Continue the pregnancy – contact your GP for antenatal care
  2. Continue the pregnancy and pursue adoption
  3. Have an abortion (termination)

You can discuss options with your GP or self‑refer to:

Support Services

Useful support organisations include:

Page last reviewed: 28 May 2026
Page created: 27 May 2026