Disclaimer: This article will mention sexual assault and termination of pregnancy. If these topics are distressing for you, reader discretion is advised.
Contraception
You can get a hormonal and copper IUD at the Airthrey Park Medical Centre on campus, as well as implants and the pill.
For the morning-after pill, you can get a prescription at Boots in the Thistles Shopping Centre. Free condoms can be found around Campus Central, especially around Welcome Week. Central Sexual Health can also provide condoms by post.
For STDs and STIs, you can receive advice and a referral from the APMC, but the test itself would be done at an NHS sexual health clinic in the local area.
Advice
The Stirling Community Hospital offers a Sexual Health Clinic for advice and support for any sexual health queries. Your GP is also available for guidance on contraception, relationships and sex. Park Terrace and Bridge of Allan both have local GP surgeries.
The Sexual Health Clinic also offers self-testing kits if you think you have contracted an STI.
You can call the Sexual Health Clinic on 01324 673554 or access their website here for more information.
The Student Services Hub on campus can direct you to university or local services and clinics, but does not directly offer advice.
Abortion
For an abortion, you will need to see the NHS Forth Valley Termination of Pregnancy Service. No referral is needed, and at-home and in-hospital abortions are available.
In Scotland, you can have an abortion up to the first 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. However, abortions are not done if you are past 20 weeks along. If you are past that period, you can be directed to services in England. Costs would be covered for travel and accommodation.
You can also call the service during the week for advice before an in-person appointment. The line is open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.
Sexual Assault
If you have been sexually assaulted, you can go to the Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre for confidential help. The staff can provide emotional support and information about the steps to take next. Such as, reporting to the police, but it is entirely your choice. The website also has information on misconceptions about sexual violence and recovering emotionally.
The APMC also provides emergency contraception and some STD test, but only if booked in advance.
The website also has a function to allow you to immediately leave the page and take you to a news website if you are in a complicated situation.
HSTAR is a charity which helps female survivors recover from trauma with non-judgemental and comprehensive care. They offer one to one therapy, Advocacy Claims and more. Their office is at Viewfield Chambers on Viewfield Place, next to the Sheriff Court.
Feature Image Credit: Markus Winkler via Pexels
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
