Have you ever been having sex and noticed that things were getting a bit…dry? It happens to the best of us and there’s a super easy solution. ENTER: lube. Honestly, lube does not get the love and attention it deserves. Not only can lube make sex feel more comfortable, but […]
Have you ever been having sex and noticed that things were getting a bit…dry? It happens to the best of us and there’s a super easy solution. ENTER: lube. Honestly, lube does not get the love and attention it deserves. Not only can lube make sex feel more comfortable, but […]
Does the thought of talking to your doctor about sexual health give you butterflies or send a shiver down your spine?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here’s our top tips to make chatting to your doctor about sex a whole lot easier.
We’re talking about sexual activity that involves your butt. Anal play can be enjoyed by anyone of any gender or orientation and can be: Putting fingers or a tongue (rimming) around/inside someone’s butt Putting a dildo or other sex toy inside someone’s butt Putting a penis inside someone’s butt There […]
We’re all told time and time again to use condoms to reduce the chance of pregnancy and STIs. But it’s not very often we’re told how they work.
Body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluid, and saliva are where common STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhoea live on our bodies. These infections are easily passed on when infected body fluid mixes with our own.
We can’t see infections by just looking.
The only way you can tell if these body fluids are infected is to get them tested. But sex can happen when you least expect it, so it’s not always realistic to get tested before we have sex with someone!
They’re a physical barrier stopping the fluids from mixing. This is very effective if you put a condom on an erect penis (or sex toy) before any genital contact. Genital contact before a condom is used means infected fluid could be transferred to your partner directly, or on to the condom via genital fluids on your hands. This means the STI could still get passed on!
Some STIs are actually transmitted through the rubbing of genital skin rather than through body fluids. These include herpes, warts, and syphilis. Condoms reduce the amount of genital skin contact and significantly decrease your risk of getting or passing on these infections. But they’re not 100% effective.
When used correctly they prevent transmission of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and HIV, and significantly decrease your risk getting of herpes, warts, and syphilis! They can also prevent pregnancy!
Condoms actually rarely break. But if they do, it’s usually because they’re very old (check the expiry!) or weakened by being stored in bright sun or high heat. They may also be damaged by some oils and lotions or if space isn’t left at the tip to collect the semen.
If a condom does break, the best thing to do is get an STI test. Don’t panic! Most STIs are treatable! If you were using condoms to prevent pregnancy, it’s a good idea to get the emergency contraception pill (ECP) within 72 hours (you don’t need a script for this, just ask for it from your pharmacist).
If you want to know more you can ring 1800 451 624 between 9:00am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday to talk with a sexual health nurse. It’s confidential and free if you call from a landline.
Taking the test… By getting tested for an STI you’re showing that you care about your health and wellbeing. It gives you a huge advantage and is the responsible thing to do. The good news is that most STIs can be easily treated so don’t stress. So you see the […]
Here are some facts about condoms that you probably didn’t know… Condoms aren’t always made of latex Some of the first condoms ever used were made of animal guts. True! Now, most condoms are made of latex, which is a type of rubber. But there are also condoms made of […]
