HealthInfo Canterbury
Sexual health services for young people in Canterbury
In Canterbury, sexual health visits are free for young people. If you need to see a doctor for a sexual health matter, you can choose where you want to go:
- You can see your normal doctor or general practice clinic. Sexual health consultations with your GP are free for people under 18 who are enrolled in a general practice in Canterbury.
- You can go to the Family Planning Clinic. This is free until you turn 22.
- You can also go to The Sexual Health Centre. This is free for everyone.
Sexual health
Sexual health includes contraception (including condoms), the emergency contraceptive pill, pregnancy tests, pregnancy care, discussion or requests for abortion (termination), period problems, concerns about sexually transmitted infections, genital problems (such as pain, soreness, discharge, and itching), questions or concerns about sex, sexual development, gender identity, and more. These free visits are available for both males and females and they're confidential (private to you).
How to have a free sexual health visit
- Make an appointment with the receptionist at your normal general practice clinic or with Family Planning.
- On the day of your appointment turn up and report to reception. You don't have to bring a parent or family member, but you're welcome to, or you can bring a friend.
- Discuss your problem or concern with the doctor or nurse.
- After the appointment, you don't have to pay on the way out. If you've been given a prescription (for example, for contraceptives), you need to take it to a chemist. There's a charge of around $5 for three to six months of contraception at the chemist. Some contraceptives cost more than $5, in which case your doctor will discuss this with you and help you decide what you can afford. There are usually ways around it if you can't afford more than $5.
You can go as many times as you need to for sexual health problems, and you won't be charged.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Community & Public Health – Sexual health
Information about what sexual health services are available through Community & Public Health, plus information about specific services in Christchurch, Ashburton and South Canterbury, and the West Coast.
- Just The Facts – Visiting the sexual health clinic
In this short video, two guys discuss what to expect when you go for a sexual health check-up.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2019. Last updated May 2019.
Review key: HISIT-53216
