Sexual Health Vaccines
Sexual health vaccines help protect against infections that can be passed on through sexual contact or close intimate contact. These vaccines form an important part of preventative healthcare and can reduce the risk of long-term health complications.
The vaccines listed here are not necessarily sexual-health-specific. That means they work against illnesses that can be transmitted through close contact, including sex.
Hepatitis A Vaccination
The hepatitis A vaccine provides protection against hepatitis A, a liver infection. You can read more about hepatitis A through the NHS Inform site here.
Hepatitis A can be transmitted through contact with an infected person’s faeces. That’s why it can be transmitted during sex.
Some people are more at risk of contracting or becoming seriously unwell from hepatitis A:
people planning to travel to or live in parts of the world where hepatitis A is widespread, particularly if levels of cleanliness and food hygiene are expected to be poor
people with any type of long-term (chronic) liver disease
men who have sex with other men
Hepatitis B Vaccination
The hepatitis B vaccine provides protection against hepatitis B, a liver infection. You can read more about hepatitis B through the NHS Inform site here.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. That’s why it can be transmitted during sex.
Some people are more at risk of contracting or becoming seriously unwell from hepatitis B:
close family and sexual partners of someone with hepatitis B
people travelling to a part of the world where hepatitis B is widespread
families adopting or fostering children from high-risk countries
men who have sex with other men
Meningitis B Vaccination
The meningitis B vaccine provides protection against Neissera meningitidis, a type of bacteria that causes meningitis. However, Neissera meningitidis is closely related to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that causes gonorrhoea. This means the meningitis B vaccine provides 30-40% effective protection from gonorrhoea. You can read more about the use of meningitis B vaccines for gonorrhoea through the gov.uk site here.
Gonorrhoea can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Some people are more at risk of contracting or becoming seriously unwell from gonorrhoea:
young adults aged 15–24
individuals with new or multiple sex partners
men who have sex with men (MSM)
Frequently Asked Questions
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We are a fully private clinic, so we don’t offer NHS services.
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Generally as long as you are fit and well, and the vaccines you need are able to be given concomitantly, we can typically accommodate this.
When you book for a sexual health vaccine consultation, simply tick the vaccines you’re interested in receiving.
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Some people do experience side effects after vaccination. These are typically self limiting, and they usually include:
Headache
Fever
Joint or muscle pain
Pain at the site of injection
Your prescriber will complete a thorough consultation with you during your visit, going through potential side effects and explaining when to seek further help.
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Around 10% of adults are thought to have some form of needle phobia. Just let us know during booking or when you arrive, and we’ll:
Offer a chaperone where possible
Help you with breathing techniques
Make sure we don’t show you the needle
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Each vaccine and injection page has comprehensive information, collated by us from the NHS, NICE, BNF, EMC and ourselves.
We have summarised some of these vaccines above.
If you have a question that can’t be answered on our service page, just drop us an email at hello@pharmacyclinicedinburgh.co.uk