Rochdale Young People's Sexual Health Service

Many people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) do not get symptoms, so it's worth getting tested even if you feel fine. If you think you have an STI, the earlier you're tested, the sooner treatment can be given if it's needed.

Having sex for the first time

If you have never had sex before, no one would expect you to know how to do it. Sex is about feeling comfortable around someone, trusting them and being able to communicate with them, rather than about having the perfect technique.

Remember, even if you do decide to have sex, it is completely OK to say no or stop at any point if you do not want to continue. Nobody has the right to make you do anything you are not happy to do, so only have sex if you are really happy to. That is true for the first time and every time you have sex.

The law

The age at which it is legal to have sex is called the age of consent. In the UK the age of consent is 16 years old for everyone, whether they want to have sex with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.

Any sort of sexual contact without consent is illegal, whatever the age of the person involved.

Saying no

Saying no is difficult in lots of situations in life, not just when sex is involved. It is normal to worry about upsetting someone or that we might be seen as difficult or boring if we say no. But sometimes in life it is important to say no. Your feelings will probably tell you whether you want to say yes or no to a request.

Things to sort out or think about first
  • Contraception
  • Know who the person is
  • Sort out past relationships
  • Make sure you both want to, not just one of you
  • Know where to get some advice
  • Think about where you’re going to do it, the location
  • Think about whether you’re ready
  • Do you trust each other?
  • Don’t drink
How do you get an STI?

An STI can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex.

STIs can pass between men and women, and from women to women and men to men.

Many STIs can be cured with antibiotics. Some, such as HIV, have no cure, but can be treated to prevent them getting worse.

You cannot tell by looking at someone (including yourself) whether they have an infection, so it's important to get a check up if you have had unprotected sex or think you might be at risk.

See sexual health for lesbian and bisexual women on the NHS website

See sexual health for gay and bisexual men on the NHS website

What are the symptoms?

Many people do not notice symptoms when they have an STI, including most women with chlamydia. See chlamydia on the NHS website.

Gonorrhoea can also affect fertility. Around 50% of women and 10% of men with gonorrhoea do not have symptoms. See gonorrhoea on the NHS website.

Left untreated, STIs can affect your health. If you have any of the symptoms listed below, get tested.

In women and men: 

  • Pain when you pass urine (pee) 
  • Itching, burning or tingling around the genitals 
  • Blisters, sores, spots or lumps around the genitals or anus
  • Black powder or tiny white dots in your underwear – this could be droppings or eggs from pubic lice.

In women: 

  • Yellow or green vaginal discharge
  • Discharge that smells
  • Bleeding between periods or after sex
  • Pain during sex
  • Lower abdominal pain

In men: 

  • Discharge from the penis
  • Irritation of the urethra (the tube urine comes out of)

These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have an STI, but it is worth seeing a doctor so you can find out what's causing the symptoms and get treatment.

For example, it is possible to get thrush without having sex, but it can cause STI-like symptoms, such as soreness, itching and discharge.

Can I get HIV without having sex?

The majority of HIV infection worldwide has been spread through sexual intercourse. The other main way is through needle sharing by drug users and, in the developing world, through childbirth or breastfeeding. There is a very small number of cases where HIV seems to have been transmitted by oral sex.

Day to day living or working with someone with HIV is not a risk to anyone else because the virus is hard to catch, except by intimate contact with bodily fluids.

How can I protect myself?

You can help protect yourself against HIV and other STIs by using a condom correctly every time you have sex.

The condom needs to be put on the penis (or inside the vagina, if it's a female condom) before there is any contact between the genitals.

Urgent help

If you have any of the following urgent symptoms, please contact us on 01706 202444

  • Severe stomach pains with heavy bleeding (women)
  • Severe pain in your testicles (men),
  • Very painful blisters,
  • Very painful ulcers and/or unusual discharge from your genitals.

Our services are open Monday – Friday between 9:00am-5:00pm.
If you need help outside of these hours, you can contact 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk.

For urgent help out of hours please see the information below:

  • If you live in Bury or Rochdale your nearest A&E is likely to be Fairfield General Hospital on Rochdale Old Road, BL9 7TD.
  • If you live in Oldham your nearest A+E is likely to be The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH.
Easy read leaflets
Our local health centre

Our local sexual health clinic:

Nye Bevan House, 3rd Floor Nye Bevan House Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN.

Tel: 0300 3038565

Related Videos

Rochdale Sexual Health Clinic Walkthrough (4 mins 18 secs)

Page last reviewed: 22/11/2023