Family planning
Family planning is used either to avoid pregnancy, or to increase the chances of becoming pregnant. You can find details about family planning through the NHS, including emergency contraception, natural family planning and useful links to further information on this topic.
Family planning through the NHS
Family Planning is free through the NHS. It’s available from family planning clinics and most GPs and sexual health clinics, so you have a choice of where to go.
If you are looking to find out about natural family planning methods, there is advice and information available. There are a number of different routes to gain this information, designed to suit all needs.
Contraception
Contraception allows people to choose when and if they want to have a baby. There are 13 different types of contraception which work in different ways - a doctor or nurse will help you and your partner choose which method is best for you. They can answer any questions you may have about contraception or safer sex. All family planning clinics and most GPs and sexual health clinics offer emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception
If you have had sex without using contraception or think your method might have failed there are two emergency methods you can use, emergency pills which must be started up to three days (72 hours) after sex (they are more effective the earlier they are started after sex) and an inter-uterine device, which must be fitted up to five days after sex.
Abortion
Abortion is the common name for the medical process of ending pregnancy. Healthcare professionals may call it termination.
If you are pregnant and not sure that you want to have a baby, there are a lot of things to consider. It can be a difficult choice to make and it can be a very emotional time. Talking to people you trust and making sure you have accurate information can help. Ultimately the decision is yours.
Unplanned pregnancy is very common. About one in three pregnancies are unplanned and in one in five pregnancies the woman chooses to have an abortion.
Local services
There are several local organisations that can give you advice:
Contraception and Sexual Health Services
26a Snow Hill
Wolverhampton
WV2 4AD
Phone: 01902 444444
Wolverhampton Pregnancy Advisory Service
19-21 Queen Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 3JW
Phone: 01902 421131
Health and Community Care Information Service
10 King Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 1ST
Birmingham Brook Advisory Centre
59-65 John Bright Street
Birmingham
B1 1BL
Phone: 0121 643 5341
National organisations
- NHS Direct, with advice on family planning, abortion and contraception
- R U Thinking, website aimed at informing young adults about sexual health.
Contact us
For more information contact us by either using our online form or by:
e-mail: socialservices@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 551199
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 551195