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Sexual Health and Relationship Sex Education

Relationships, sex and sexual health are all big parts of student life.

At Bristol SU we want to highlight the incredible work happening around the university and in the city of Bristol, ensuring you know where to go for support, should you need to.

Explore this page and find out where you can go for free STI testing, protection and pregnancy tests. Also on this page is information on chem sex, body image, consent and information on the Gender Expression Fund. 

 

Free STI Testing

Bristol SU has partnered with Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) to bring STI testing to campus, free of charge for all our students.

Hosted throughout the academic year in the SU Loft, THT provides chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests – there are no needles involved, just a simple swab-based test.

Not only can you get a free STI test, but you can also access C-cards and chat with our SU wellbeing staff and THT volunteers about any sexual health and relationship queries you may have. You can also find out where to access a full STI screening within the local Bristol community.

Free STI tests are also available at the university student health service.

Find our next STI pop-up 🧪🗓️

In UK Universities we are seeing alarming rates of STIs among 15–24-year-olds, an age group that represents a large portion of our students.

The top 3 most common STIs affecting students are chlamydia, herpes, and gonorrhoea.

According to Brook, 1/4 of 2,000 young people surveyed "didn’t feel it was important to get an STI test before having unprotected sex."

Get access to a free postal test here from Unity

Free Contraception and Pregnancy Tests

Bristol SU has a partnership with Bristol City Council, which means we are now able to provide free condoms and lube to our students!

Available from our Welcome desk on the 5th floor of Senate House, we have a range of condoms (including XL and non-latex) available.

Using condoms every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex is the best way to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infection.

Wondering what contraception method is right for you? Take a look at Brook’s Contraception Guide.

Pregnancy tests are also available from the welcome desk as part of our provision of sexual health resources; just help yourself from our Community Cabinet located on the 5th floor of Senate House.

Did you know that students can now sign up for the C-Card Scheme?

The C-Card Scheme was set up by Bristol City Council and means you can access free condoms from vendors across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

"You can get them from places like pharmacies and doctors' surgeries. Wherever it is available, you’ll see the poster or window sticker."

Please note: To be eligible for the C-card scheme, you must be aged between 13-24.

Find out more

We strongly recommend that all students complete the consent matters training course, which covers important topics including consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention.

Chem Sex

Chem-sex means using drugs as part of your sex life and is more common within the LGBTQIA+ community. If you want to know more about ‘chem-sex’ and how to keep yourself and your partners safe, make an appointment with The Drop.

Body Image

Body image is how we see, think, and feel about our own body.

Lots of students get worried about how they look or what other people think. If you're finding it tough to feel good about your body, Young Minds has some advice that can help you.

If your body image is negatively affecting your mental health and your ability to study is impacted, it may be worth making a referral to the University of Bristol Wellbeing Services. It is more common than you think to struggle with body issues - please reach out for support. 

Eating Disorders and Body Image

Eating disorders are a common symptom of body dysmorphia and/or are used as a coping mechanism to deal with life’s stresses. The most common ones include:

If you or someone you may know is struggling with an eating disorder, there is lots of help available to you. With the right treatment, a full recovery is possible!

Common symptoms can be found here. 

Gender Expression Fund

Thanks to the work of our 2024 officer team, a gender expression fund is now available for gender-diverse students. The fund provides up to £100 for gender-affirming products and/or necessary travel.

Over 50 students have already benefited from the hardship fund. If you have any questions, please contact: su-ela@bristol.ac.uk.

You can also check out Student Minds X Gendered Intelligence's resources on Life As Trans+ Student, here.