Been diagnosed with an STI? Now what?
If you’ve been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI), you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, worried or unsure about what’s next.
It might seem scary but getting an...
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Talking to your doctor about sexual health
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. It can be a...
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Can I get an STI from oral sex?
While you can’t get pregnant from oral sex, it doesn’t mean that oral sex is a no-risk situation. Oral sex (using your mouth to pleasure someone’s penis, vagina, or anus)...
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Safe sex between women
Women who have sex with women are wonderfully diverse. And sex between women is just as diverse. The risk of getting an STI or HIV depends on what kind of...
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MPOX 101
Chances are you’ve heard about about mpox (previously referred to as monkeypox or MPXV) over the last few months.
There’s been some information on the news, but not enough to...
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Keeping your genitals healthy
Getting to know your genitals and knowing how to care for them is super important. Not only does it allow you to keep them healthy, it also means that if...
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Here’s your STI check, Australia!
Get up to speed on Australia’s Sexual Health with Dr Skye McGregor and find out what happened to STI rates during COVID-19.
STIs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis, have been...
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Guess who’s back, back again…Syphilis
You may think of syphilis as an infection that affected people back in the days of Henry VIII, but we’re here to tell you that syphilis is not only alive...
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5 ways you can get involved with SEXtember
Talking about sex in real-life is part of our everyday here at Play Safe. For a lot of people though, especially those new to or experimenting with their sexuality, this...
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6 things we wish sex ed had taught us
With consent education becoming mandatory for schools in NSW and VIC, we thought it would be worth revisiting sexual education as a whole. Whether you graduated in the early 00’s,...
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What’s “normal” when it comes to vaginal discharge?
All people with a vagina have vaginal discharge (fluid or semi-solid substance that flows out of the vaginal opening). It’s a way the body maintains a healthy vagina. In fact,...
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Ask Nurse Nettie: the top 10 questions from 2021
Nurse Nettie, our resident sexual health expert, is available throughout the year to answer sexual health and relationship questions from young people across NSW.
All answers are 100% anonymous (always)...
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What’s the difference between an STI and an STD?
STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection, not disease. That last word makes all the difference because most of the bacteria or viruses passed on via sex are actually infections, not...
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Safe sex for young people: how to protect yourself from STIs
By understanding the risks associated with sex – and doing what you can do to minimise them – you can protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and take control...
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Is it normal to bleed after sex?
Bleeding from inside the vagina after penetrative sex is called post-coital bleeding, and is more common than you might think. There are plenty of reasons why it might be happening...
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Preparing to have sex for the first time
Deciding to have sex for the first time is a big decision. Being prepared is one of the best things that you can do to make sure it’s safe and...
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Erectile dysfunction
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when your penis usually or always won’t get fully erect (hard) or won’t stay erect when you want it to.Everyone with...
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How to put a condom on without being awkward
Condoms. They’re the only contraception that protects against both unwanted pregnancy and STIs, yet they can cause people a whole lot of stress when it comes to putting them on...
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Can pre-cum get you pregnant?
Pre-cum (or pre-ejaculate if we want to use the fancy proper name), is fluid that’s released from the penis during foreplay or sex. It usually happens during arousal, and a...
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Can I get an STI from that?
Sex is great. But also kinda confusing sometimes. What risks are there for different kinds of sex? And how do you stay safe and take control of your sexual health?...
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When can you stop using condoms with a partner?
When someone chooses to be in a monogamous relationship, they might start thinking about stopping the use of condoms during sex. It might be for reasons of trust, lust, or...
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Can technology help us have safer sex?
Technology has changed every part of the world we live in; from the way we listen to music to the way we date. But we want to know; can technology...
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5 condom myths
Did you know that condoms are the only form of contraception that protects against both STIs and pregnancy? But for some reason, some people choose not to use them when...
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How to ask your partner to wear a condom
Even though condoms are literally the only way to protect yourself from STIs and pregnancy during sex, for some reason some people still want to avoid using them. From ‘it...
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Foreskin Care- Everything you need to know
Turtleneck, penis beanie, magician’s cloak – the foreskin seems to bear the brunt of a lot of ridicule. People either love them or hate them, but either way you should...
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Our favourite sex and relationship YouTubers
YouTube is the second most visited website in the world and is packed with content that tackles every subject imaginable – from sex and sexual health, to relationships, body positivity...
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Herpes Pt 3: How to talk about it with a partner
Talking about herpes can be hard. Stigma exists. But it’s important to let any new sexual partners know if you’ve been diagnosed with herpes. This allows people to make informed...
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Herpes Pt 2: How to avoid passing it on
1. You can only pass herpes on from the part of the body where you have the infection
For example: if you get cold sores on the mouth, you can...
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Herpes Pt 1: Everything you need to know
Herpes might be the most misunderstood infections around so let’s start with the facts.
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is usually passed on by kissing, oral sex, vaginal sex or anal...
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Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the biggest worries I hear about it, but it’s rarely medical issue. So what is it? PE is just a fancy way of describing...
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The dos and don’ts of online dating
There are so many online dating sites to choose from today, and more and more people are finding relationships and hookups online. But, navigating the world of online dating isn’t...
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Our favourite Posts on the Play Safe Forum
Run by our team of volunteer moderators (mods), the Play Safe forum is packed full of topics, threads and conversations from people just like you. Covering everything from sexual health...
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Sex on your period. Everything you need to know.
Sex on your period will undoubtedly be messy, but can also be enjoyable. In fact, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having sex during this time. But… there’s a few things...
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Does anxiety impact your sex life?
Sexual health isn’t just about STIs. It’s also about feeling safe in your own body, being able to experience pleasure, and being confident to make decisions that are right for...
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8 must haves for your festival packing list
Who doesn’t love a festival? The music, the vibes, the people. The free STI testing (yep, that’s a thing). Whether it’s a day festival or a three-day camping extravaganza we’ve...
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7 gifs that show why we love condoms
The 14th February isn’t just Valentine’s Day. It’s National Condom Day here in Australia. To celebrate, we share seven reasons why we believe in no glove, no love.
1). Condoms...
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Six steps to condom sexcess this Schoolies
Did you know that condoms are the only form of contraception that protect against both pregnancy and STIs? They come in lots of different shapes, sizes and flavours, meaning there’s...
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Consent – it’s not a yes, unless it’s a hell yes
With summer fast approaching, and Schoolies around the corner it’s easily going to be one of the most exciting times of your life and with excitement comes new experiences. Some...
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How to talk about STIs
Want to ask your partner to get an STI test? Or let someone know you’ve got an STI? Talking about STIs isn’t always easy – here’s some advice to make...
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What is oral sex?
Whether you’re preparing for penetrative sex or you’re just not quite ready to go ‘all the way’; oral sex is a great way to experience and experiment with intimacy. Officially,...
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Foreplay
Foreplay is usually a big part of sex – some might even say the best part.
What is foreplay?
Foreplay builds sexual arousal and pleasure through physical and mental stimulation....
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Sex toys – the low down
Sex toys can bring extra fun to masturbating and sex. They’re not just for using alone – they’re also a lot of fun to use with someone else too.
Sex...
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Consent 101
Before having sex, it’s important you have your partner’s consent. Here’s the who, what, when, where, how, and why of consent:
What is consent?
Consent means to agree to do...
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Lumps, bumps & itching – Taking care down there
It’s pretty easy to have a freak out when you find a strange lump or bump on or around your genitals. Luckily most of them harmless but it’s better to...
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Where did the Condom go?
So you’ve just had sex, but the condom has disappeared? No need to freak out, here are a few steps you can take.
Find the condom
The first thing you...
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What does the word “sex” mean to you?
Have you just started our ‘Have I got an STI?’ quiz but you’re not sure if the questions apply to you?
That’s because sex isn’t quite as simple as it...
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Nurse Nettie reveals the top 10 questions for 2017
Nurse Nettie is a sexual health nurse who has heaps of experience. She’s the perfect person to give you the very best advice for taking care of yourself and playing...
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Get to Know Your Schoolies Superhero!
The most epic week of your life has arrived. You have just finished the HSC and you’re ready to let your hair down on Schoolies! But before your trip starts,...
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Vaginal pain during sex
Vaginal pain during sex is more common than you might think. Here, we discuss the different causes of vaginal pain during sex, how you can address it with your partner,...
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Hepatitis – everything you need to know
So what is Viral Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a viral illness that makes the liver sick. The three most common types are: A, B and C. Because of the job the...
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Visiting a Youth Health Service
A Youth Health WHAT?
What is a Youth Health Service? And what should you expect when you visit one?
A Youth Health Service is a FREE, SAFE, & CONFIDENTIAL place...
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A guide to menstrual Cups
When compared with tampons or pads, menstrual cups have historically been the less popular choice for period management. However that’s now shifting and there are two big reasons as to...
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Pubic lice
Let’s talk about Pubic Lice, or Crabs.
What are Pubic Lice?
Pubic lice are tiny insects that generally live on the pubic hair around the genitals. They can sometimes attach...
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World AIDS Day
What’s World AIDS Day?
Held worldwide on 1st December each year, World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for everyone to:
Remember those who lost their lives to HIV and AIDS...
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Doctors. They’re not that scary
Making an appointment and visiting a medical centre or sexual health clinic can be overwhelming.
Just like anyone else, young people under 18 years of age have the right to ...
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What is gonorrhoea?
Hey, Nurse Nettie here for a quick chat about gonorrhoea or “Gono” for short. I’ve even heard it called the “Clap” (no round of applause please!).
Gonorrhoea is an STI...
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Penile Discharge
What’s normal?
For guys, the urethra runs through the middle of the penis to the opening at the head of the penis (glans), and carries urine (pee) during urination or...
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Vaginal Discharge
What’s normal and not normal?
All women have some vaginal discharge (fluid or semisolid substance that flows out of the vaginal opening). It’s a way the body maintains a healthy...
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What is herpes?
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are two types: HSV 1 (usually known as cold sores) and HSV 2 (usually known as genital herpes).
It’s really...
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Lumps & Bumps
I’ve been getting questions lately from people worried about lumps and bumps on and around their genitals (penis, vagina, and anal area). To put you all at ease I asked...
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