In this episode of What The Friday, hosts Phoebe, Lucy, and Poppy sit down with sexual health professionals Tina and Lizzie from Locala to unpack the facts about contraception in a clear, honest way.

They explore:

• What really happens in a contraception appointment and why informed choice matters
• How different methods can affect periods, mood, and pre-existing physical or mental health conditions
• Common myths about fertility, long-term use, and periods “backing up”
• Why contraception should be a shared responsibility, including how to handle pressure not to use condoms
• The truth about emergency contraception and when to use it
• Hormonal and non-hormonal options, including condoms, the copper coil, diaphragms, and fertility awareness methods
• How young people can find and access local sexual health services

Throughout the conversation, Tina and Lizzie emphasise consent, bodily autonomy, and the importance of open communication with partners and health professionals. This episode is designed to help young people feel informed, confident, and supported in making choices about their sexual health.

Useful links and support

• Locala sexual health services: https://www.locala.org.uk
• Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults: https://www.destination.org.uk
• Youth Social (production partners): https://www.youthsocial.co.uk
• NHS contraception overview (further reliable info): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception

This episode was kindly funded by Locala: https://www.locala.org.uk

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes or sign up to the Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults at www.destination.org.uk where you can find loads of useful life-benefiting content for young people.

You can also follow up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whatthefridaypod/ or TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefridaypod(@WhatTheFridayPod)

Special thanks to Jimi for editing and Youth Social www.youthsocial.co.uk for pulling everything together.

Finally special thanks for Paul A Jackson for the music.

In this episode of What The Friday, Bailey Grace sits down with Tina and Lizzie, sexual health engagement professionals from Locala, to explore the realities of teenage pregnancy and parenthood. They unpack the physical, emotional and social effects of becoming a young parent, including the impact on education, friendships, finances and mental health.

Tina and Lizzie share powerful personal experiences of being a teenage mum and living with postnatal depression, explaining how to recognise the signs, where to get help and why nobody should struggle alone. They talk honestly about parenting, abortion, and adoption as valid options, the importance of informed, non-judgmental support, and how to handle pressure from partners or family.

The conversation also covers co-parenting, bonding with your baby, financial preparation, emotional readiness and balancing your own wellbeing with caring for a child, with clear, practical advice for young people who are unsure what to do next.

For more information and support:

• Locala Sexual Health: https://www.locala.org.uk/services/sexual-health
• NHS Pregnancy and Baby: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy
• Brook (sexual health and pregnancy support for young people): https://www.brook.org.uk
• Mind (mental health and perinatal support): https://www.mind.org.uk

This episode was kindly funded by Locala https://www.locala.org.uk

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes or sign up to the Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults at www.destination.org.uk where you can find loads of useful life-benefiting content for young people.

You can also follow up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whatthefridaypod/ or TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefridaypod(@WhatTheFridayPod)

Special thanks to Jimi for editing and Youth Social www.youthsocial.co.uk for pulling everything together.

Finally special thanks for Paul A Jackson for the music.

In this episode Aaminah, Adeena and Joy sit down with Ash, a sexual health doctor from Locala, to answer young people’s real questions about STIs. They unpack what sexually transmitted infections are, how common they are, and why there is no shame in talking about testing or treatment.

Ash explains symptoms and warning signs, why many STIs have no symptoms at all, and what to look out for, including unusual discharge, pain when peeing, sores, rashes or itching. He breaks down the difference between bacterial, viral and parasitic STIs, which infections can be cured and which can be managed long term, and what can happen if STIs are left untreated.

The conversation covers how STIs are passed on through different kinds of sexual contact and sometimes blood to blood contact, which infections are on the rise in the UK such as syphilis and gonorrhoea, and how STIs can affect people with different bodies, including the risks of pelvic inflammatory disease. Ash also gives clear guidance on when to get tested after sex, how often to test if you have new or multiple partners, and how to tell a partner you have an STI, including using anonymous partner notification.

Young listeners hear practical, non judgmental advice on protecting yourself and partners, using condoms, getting HPV and hepatitis vaccines where eligible, and accessing confidential support and testing through sexual health clinics, GPs and trusted online services.

Useful links and organisations mentioned

• Locala (sexual health clinics and support): https://www.locala.org.uk
• SH:24 online sexual health testing and advice: https://sh24.org.uk
• NHS sexual health information: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/

This episode was kindly funded by Locala https://www.locala.org.uk

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes or sign up to the Destination information & opportunities web-app for teens and young adults at www.destination.org.uk where you can find loads of useful life-benefiting content for young people.

You can also follow up on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whatthefridaypod/ or TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whatthefridaypod(@WhatTheFridayPod)

Special thanks to Jimi for editing and Youth Social www.youthsocial.co.uk for pulling everything together.

Finally special thanks for Paul A Jackson for the music.