Free condoms: Where to get your hands on them
It’s easy to find free condoms made of safe and pleasurable materials – even if you’re under 16
Condoms have been around for yonks. Cave paintings in France suggest that (very old school) condoms were in use over 13,000 years ago – that’s a long contraceptive history! In the time since then, people around the world have used condoms made of a variety of unpleasant-sounding materials – including linen, tortoiseshell and animal intestines. Thankfully times have changed, and these days it’s easy to find free ones made of safe and pleasurable materials.
The quickest and easiest way to find them is through NHS’s nifty free condoms search tool.
Here are some other key locations:
Your GP
Most GP surgeries will happily provide free condoms. You can talk to your GP or practice nurse. You can also ask your GP or practice nurse any questions you might have about safe sex.
Sexual health clinics
It’s a good idea to find out where your local sexual health clinic is. As well as handing out free condoms, these clinics provide a range of services including: advice about contraception, many different (free) methods of contraception (e.g. the pill, the implant), emergency contraception, free pregnancy tests and STI testing. Anybody can go to a sexual health clinic, regardless of their age, sexuality or lifestyle.
Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics
A GUM clinic is an NHS-run clinic that deals with all aspects of sexual health. Like sexual health clinics, you can go to your local GUM clinic for a range of free, confidential advice and treatments.
Sexual health clinics for young people
Some young people prefer to use clinics or services aimed specifically at people their age. You can use the NHS website to find sexual health clinics that specialise in young people’s sexual health.
Young people services
Services like Brook hand out free condoms from their clinics, in addition to providing non-judgemental and honest information and advice about sexual health. A quick online search should show which young people’s services operate near you.
C-Card
Some areas of the UK, such as London, participate in the C-card scheme, which entitles people aged 13-24 to free condoms from any outlets that display the scheme’s logo. An online search will reveal whether your area of the UK participates in the scheme.
By post
Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland will send free condoms out. There are other services that will send condoms to certain postcodes, though this is by no means available in every part of the UK. Check online to see whether you’re eligible.
Some condom facts!
🍆 Condoms are the only contraception that protects against pregnancy and STIs
🍆 When used correctly, condoms are 98% effective
🍆 Condoms have an expiry date, so check it before use
🍆 There are many different brands, sizes and shapes, flavours and textures of condoms
🍆 Latex-free condoms are available for people who have a latex allergy
With all of the options available, there’s no reason to avoid wearing a condom! Suit up and enjoy.
Other support
- The 8 different types of condoms you need to know about
- NHS – Find free condoms services
- Brook – Get free condoms
- Terrence Higgins Trust – Free condoms
Read more
Last Reviewed 2 November 2022
Image Credit: Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition via Unsplash
