This service delivers comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare to HIV-positive women and their partners who are patients at the clinic.
The Royal Free was the first HIV unit to a dedicated Women's clinic.
Services provided by the women’s health service team:
- Cervical screening - The women’s HIV clinic at the Royal Free Hospital was one of the first to offer both HIV care and cervical screening in a single clinic setting. All HIV-positive women are offered gynaecological screening (cervical smear and colposcopy) during their first few months attending the ICDC, and regular follow up with further check ups when necessary.
- Sexual health - STI screening is offered to all new female clients, and at other times when necessary or requested. HIV-positive women can access the women’s health clinic for treatment and advice about vaginal and sexual infections.
- Contraception - A full range of contraception (including the fitting of implants and coils) and the morning after pill is available in the women’s health clinic.
- Early pregnancy management - If you are an HIV-positive woman attending ICDC and become pregnant, whether planned or unplanned, we encourage you to seek advice from the women’s health clinic team as soon as possible.
- Medical management of gynaecological problems - The women’s health doctors can offer advice, treatment and referral (if necessary) for common gynaecological problems such as heavy periods, pelvic pain, urinary incontinence and menopause problems.
- Preconceptual care and fertility advice - Concordant and discordant couples (where the female partner, the male partner or both partners are HIV positive) can access information and advice about the implications of HIV on pregnancy, preparation for a pregnancy and safe means of conception.
The clinic is run on an appointment basis on a Wednesday. Women can refer themselves, or be referred by asking for an appointment in the Wednesday ‘gynae clinic’. We also have a women’s health trained nurse, who is available to provide advice and support to women on other clinic days.
If you would like to discuss this further, please call the Ian Charleson Day Centre nurses on 020 7830 2062, or if you would like to make an appointment, please call 020 7830 2051.