Sexual health is important for everyone, no matter what your age, gender, or sexual orientation.
New Croft Sexual Health Service is an inclusive provider that supports everybody, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
We offer a welcoming, understanding and confidential service with the aim of giving the best provision to all of our wide range of users.
We are very proud to have been placed 40th out of over 500 organisations and the 3rd best Health and Social Care setting in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index.
Inclusive and non-judgemental
All staff working at New Croft, from the receptionist team to the doctors and nurses are trained in equality and diversity and Trans awareness. We are expected – and are committed – to have a friendly, inclusive, and non-judgemental attitude.
It is likely that we will ask questions about who you have been having sex with, and how. This is to ensure that we provide you with the best service, tailored to your specific needs.
Find out more about some of the services we may be able to offer.
Managing your sexual health
STI screening
We offer testing for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis via home testing kits and booked appointments. If you have different sexual partners, we recommend having a sexual health screen once every three months. We suggest taking a sample from body sites involved in sex, including the throat, vagina, rectum and urine specimens from men and transwomen.
HPV Vaccination
HPV stands for the human papilloma virus. This virus can cause genital warts, but some strains can persist and cause pre-cancerous changes in the anal skin and in the head and neck. Some strains of the HPV virus cause similar changes on the cervix. We offer a preventative vaccine to men who have sex with men and transwomen aged less than 45 years old. This protects against the 4 most common strains of the virus, reducing the risk of cancer in future. We recommend 3 doses of the HPV vaccine to offer full protection.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a virus which infects the liver. The virus is shed in the stools of an infected person, and gets spread if the virus gets inside the mouth of an uninfected person. Hepatitis A can be spread through oral-anal contact such as rimming. Once infected, many people become jaundiced and feel unwell. However, some people have no symptoms at all. When recovered, the immune system makes protective antibodies which stops the virus infecting somebody a second time. We offer a blood test to check for immunity, and if you are susceptible to the infection, we will offer you vaccination. We recommend 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine to complete the course.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a blood borne virus which infects the liver. Although some people can clear the virus naturally, it can become a chronic infection in many adults which can cause serious liver disease. Hepatitis B can be spread through sex and blood exposure, including sharing of equipment used to inject drugs. We offer testing to check for current and previous hepatitis B infection, and we recommend a course of vaccination for those at risk. Most patients become immune after 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine but we recommend having an antibody test done 8-12 weeks after the 3rd dose to confirm.
We suggest vaccines are given according to the following schedule:
| Time | Vaccines |
| Month 0 | Hepatitis B Gardasil |
| Month 1 | Hepatitis A if not immune Hepatitis B Gardasil |
| Month 6 | Hepatitis B Gardasil |
| Month 8 | Check for hepatitis B immunity Hepatitis A |
If the schedule has been interrupted and you are late for a particular time point, we will advise you when to attend for the next dose.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is also a virus which infects the liver. This is most often spread by contact with infected blood, but it can be spread via sex in some circumstances. We recommend screening for hepatitis C at least once a year, but more often if you inject drugs. We will offer this test as part of a routine sexual health screen.
PEP
PEPSE
PEP stands for Post exposure Prophylaxis following Sexual Exposure. This is a 28 day course of medication which is taken to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV, after definite or probable exposure.
PrEP
PrEP stands for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis. This is a medicine taken by people who do not have HIV infection to reduce the chance of becoming infected with HIV through sex. “Pre-exposure” means taking the medicine in advance, and “prophylaxis” means to prevent infection.
STI and HIV Testing options
Where can I get a test?
What vaccinations are available and who needs them?
Contraception
There are many different forms of contraception to choose from depending upon what’s right for you. From condoms to pills to implants, find out more in our Contraception section.
MESMAC Newcastle
Newcastle only service funded and managed by Newcastle City Council ‘Adult Social Care and Integrated Services’.
Mesmac Newcastle supports gay/bi men to increase positive choices around safer sex, sexual health and mental health. It offers advice and information, general support and signposting to LGBTQI+ people.
HIV testing is available by appointment Monday – Friday
HIV testing & STI DIY kits (supplied by New Croft) also available by post.
Helpline Monday – Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm
Telephone: 0191 233 1333
MESMAC website MESMAC Facebook MESMAC Twitter MESMAC YouTube MESMAC InstagramEmail: all@mesmacnewcastle.com
SHINE
The service supports ALL women in the Newcastle. SHINE offers services for sexual health and health and wellbeing including FREE HIV testing and STI DIY kit (supplied by New Croft) by appointment and by post.
The SHINE website holds information previously located on the LesBiSexy website.
Telephone: 0191 2772050
SHINE website SHINE Facebook SHINE TwitterEmail: shine@newcastle.gov.uk
LGBTQ+ Newcastle
Group meet at the George Street Social, 5 till 7.30pm first Tuesday of the month for 15-21 year olds who identify as LGBTQ+. Also 11-25 year old support, offering, 1:1 support, family support and activities.
Telephone: 07590 230077
LGBTQ+ Newcastle FacebookRainbow Home
Rainbow Home is a charity providing support for LGBT asylum seekers and refugees in the North East of England. Working with people who have fled their countries because of persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The group meets 3rd Friday of the month.
Telephone: 07775861450
Rainbow Home Facebook Rainbow Home TwitterLGBT Carer Support Group
The LGBT Carer Support Group is held on the last Monday of the month between 6:00 and 8:00pm offering members a chance to receive carer support and take part in some fun and social activities.
A Support worker is part of the group activities and so is on hand to offer the group an opportunity to speak to him about benefit entitlement, carer rights, training needs or any other issues; this can be either in the group setting or 1-2-1 support.
Telephone: 0191 4900121 Paul or Glen
Website LGBT Carer Support GroupEmail: enquiries@gatesheadcarers.com
Parents Enquiry North East
Parents Enquiry North East offers advice and support for parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered sons and daughters.
Telephone: 0191 4552868
Facebook Parents Enquiry North EastEmail: joansmall@penejoan.plus.com
Trans services
Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service (NHS)
Works with people with gender identity issues whether its people with desire to gender transition or people with concerns about their own gender identity. One-to-one work, couple work and group support is available. A referral from a GP or local psychiatrist is required.
Opening Times: 9.00am to 5:00pm
Telephone: 0191 2876130 or 0191 2876131
Email: dawn.tiernan@ntw.nhs.uk or ady.davis@ntw.nhs.uk
BE
Trans Support & Development North is a community support, development and campaigning organisation operating across the North of England. Offering a confidential 1-2-1 bespoke holistic support, advice and advocacy services to all gender diverse individuals and their families, they facilitate a variety of peer groups and social events to promote Trans community cohesion.
BE provide Trans guidance, advice and awareness training to public, private and 3rd sector organisations.
BE websiteEmail: info@be-north.org.uk or gemma@be-north.org.uk
Transgender Young People’s Support Service
The service supports 12-25 year olds providing information and guidance for transgender/ gender nonconforming children from ages 5-14 years and their parents and carers.
Call Debs to be put in touch with the Trans children’s worker Emma.
Telephone: 07415 104559
Email: debswalker@trinityyouth.org.uk
Newcastle Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (NIDAS)
Newcastle Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (NIDAS) is a new service for victims of domestic abuse. NIDAS provides emergency accommodation for up to 14 families, IDVA service and outreach support. There are also domestic abuse independent living workers for the new outreach service. The service can also support men to access safe accommodation.
To make a referral to NIDAS you can contact the helpline:
Telephone: 0191 2146501
NIDAS WebsiteEmail: Nidas.Team@thirteengroup.co.uk
LGBT Foundation
The LGBT Foundation has a booklet called ‘Beating Around the Bush‘.
Terrence Higgins Trust
The Terrence Higgins Trust have published booklets and webpages on trans sexual health for both Trans Women and Trans Men, which are also non-binary inclusive:
- Sex and sexual health for trans women and trans feminine people
- Sex and sexual health for trans men and trans masculine people
- NHS population screening: information for trans and non-binary people
Gendered Intelligence
Gendered Intelligence have also published a booklet on sexual health for young trans and non-binary people and also have information on terminology.
Other resources that might be useful:
