Information and support
Websites and contacts if you want to know more about:
- kink/SM/rough sex
- HIV and sexual health
- HIV treatments
- sexual health clinics
- hepatitis
- herpes
- drugs and alcohol
- help with sexual problems.
General kink/SM/rough sex web sites
Check out the end of each HardCell Playroom section for links to sites about specific sex acts. The following sites cover a wide range of kink activity:
- www.bmezine.com has everything you could want to know about body mods, piercing, tats and more extreme sex
- www.wipipedia.org is a fetish and BDSM info site modelled on – and sharing a lot of content with – the famous online encyclopaedia Wikipedia.
Other sites include:
SM Gays
London-based social and educational group that also organises regular themed SM events.
GMFA
London-based gay men’s health organisation.
Telephone: 020 7738 6872
Email: [email protected]
Spanner Trust
Learn how the law in the UK has been used against those into SM and what we can do about it at www.spannertrust.org
HIV and sexual health
Terrence Higgins Trust
The UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. Has information on services provided by Terrence Higgins Trust, including counselling, post-exposure prophylaxis and HIV testing.
THT Direct
Anonymous and confidential helpline for all your questions about HIV and sexual health.
Telephone: 0808 802 1221 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm)
Email: [email protected]
THT Direct also runs an online advice service
Terrence Higgins Trust also offers a free online counselling service for those living with HIV in the UK.
myHIV community forum
The myHIV community forum is the UK’s largest community network for people living with HIV with over 4,000 members, and can help you connect with others.
Your rights
This site has information on your rights (confidentiality, making complaints, dealing with discrimination and so on) when using the Health Service, including GPs, dentists, sexual health/HIV clinics and other hospital departments:
HIV, sex and the law
Find out about recent prosecutions for infecting others with HIV: HIV, sex and the law
HIV treatments
As well as Terrence Higgins Trust, these organisations have detailed information about HIV treatments:
NAM
HIV i-Base
Treatments helpline: 0808 800 6013 (Monday to Wednesday 12pm to 4pm)
Sexual health clinics
For details of all sexual health/GUM clinics in the UK check out:
HIV testing by post
For details of free HIV testing by post service: www.tht.org.uk/postaltest
You can also get a free home self–testing kit.
Hepatitis
For information on hepatitis visit theTerrence Higgins Trust hepatitis section.
For specific info on hepatitis C look at the www.hcvadvocate.org website or contact:
Hepatitis C Trust
Helpline: 0845 223 4424 (for times see website)
NHS Hepatitis C information
Information line: 0800 451 451 (7am to 11pm every day)
Herpes
Herpes Viruses Association
Helpline: 0845 12 32 305 (4pm to 8pm weekdays)
Or check out these websites:
Drugs and alcohol
Friday/Monday
A resource on safer chemsex, including reactions between recreational drugs and HIV medications
Talk To Frank
Information and support around drug use
Helpline: 0300 123 6600 (24 hours a day)
Email: via the web site
Antidote
London service including one-to-one counselling and support groups for lesbian, gay and bisexual, and transgender people concerned about their drug use
Telephone: 020 7437 3523
Antidote staff also work in two specialist sexual health clinics in London:
the CODE clinic at 56 Dean Street in Soho
A clinic for gay and bisexual men into the hard sex scene
the Club Drug clinic for people who use club drugs and who live in Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster.
To contact Antidote about your drug or alcohol issues call 020 7833 1674 (10am – 6pm Monday to Friday).
For the general helpline 020 7837 3337 (7.30 – 9.30pm Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday).
Urban75
Website and messageboard with a ‘bullshit free’ drugs information section.
Erowid
Expansive site dedicated to drug use, including users posting their experiences of various substances.
Release
Help and information about drugs and the law.
Questions can be sent to [email protected].
Narcotics Anonymous
Helpline: 0300 999 1212
Help with sexual problems
You can get free treatment on the NHS with a referral from your doctor or a GUM clinic. You can also see a sex or relationship counsellor/therapist at:
Terrence Higgins Trust
Centres around the UK.
For local details call THT Direct on 0808 08 802 1221.
In London Terrence Higgins Trust runs group support for gay and bisexual men around addiction to sex or drugs. Call either THT Direct on 0808 08 802 1221 or phone 020 7812 1773 for more details.
PACE
Free or low cost counselling for gay and bisexual men in London
Telephone: 020 7700 1323
British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy
Private, (paid for) counselling.
Your local gay men’s health project will have information on local services too.
Last review: 07/09/2018
Next review: 07/09/2021