Running The Risk :: Safe sex

Safe Sex & STi's

What is safe sex?

Like safety in all aspects of our lives it’s all about taking care of yourself and others and reducing risk. You could get depressed looking at the list of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) you could get from sex, but armed with some common sense and some vital knowledge you can keep safer.

The more you know the better your chance of avoiding problems in the first place, or detecting and treating them if they arise.

You don't need to sleep around to be at risk of catching an STI. Even if you're in a long-term relationship there's still a risk because your partner may have picked up an STI in the past and the symptoms went unnoticed and untreated. STIs can be transmitted through unprotected:

vaginal sex
oral sex
anal sex
skin to skin contact (e.g. genital warts)

There are two main ways of reducing the risk:

Carry and use condoms.
Be prepared! Always carry a condom to avoid risking unprotected sex.
Get checked out
regularly at a sexual health / GUM Clinic (genitourinary medicine) – you and your partner.

Don’t forget - mosts STIs can be easily treated and cured.

What are the most common STi'S?

These are the ones that are common:

Chlamydia - See Besure website

approx 1 in 10 sexually active young people have Chlamydia
chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection amongst young people
it can go unnoticed
can cause fertility problems if left untreated in males and females

Genital Warts (VIRUS)

caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)
spread by direct skin to skin contact with an infected person
appear as small, flesh-coloured lumps in the genital area
in women it may cause abnormal cells to develop on the cervix which may lead to cancer

Gonorrhoea

bacterial infection which can be treated and cured with antibiotics
untreated can lead to fertility problems in men and women
can affect an unborn baby if the mother is infected during pregnancy, possible risk of eye infections

Genital Herpes (Virus)

can also be passed on during skin to skin contact
cold sores can be spread to the genital area
causes small painful blisters, itching, tingling and even flu-like symptoms

Syphilis

can also be passed on during skin to skin contact
a serious disease which can be treated with penicillin
has three stages – spot to ulcer – rash and ulcers – nervous system damage
may take 3 - 30 years to develop to the final stage when the brain is affected causing paralysis, blindness and heart problems

HIV / AIDS (Virus)

HIV is the virus that causes Aids
HIV kills off vital cells in the immune system
the number of infected heterosexual young men and women is increasing
HIV can be passed on through unsafe sex – by sharing drug-injecting equipment – and from a mother to her baby

Trichomonas

caused by a single-celled parasite called trichomonas vaginalis
symptoms in women include an unpleasant discharge, irritation and itching
symptoms in men include a discharge and discomfort during sex or when urinating
can be treated successfully witha course of antibiotics

Hepatitis B

causes liver inflammation, flu-like symptoms and yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice)
can lead on to serious liver disease
spread by contact with blood and other body fluids as well as through unprotected sex

They all have their own range of signs or symptoms, which might indicate that you’ve caught an STI and that you should book an appointment at the doctors. See links section.

If you: (not always)

have an unusual and smelly discharge coming from the penis.
have a tight foreskin.
can’t get an erection, or have painful erections or ones that won’t go down.
can’t come or feel pain when coming.
lose your sex drive.
feel pain when urinating, have a slow flow or there’s blood in the urine.
see blood in the semen.
notice a change in size, shape or firmness of your balls.
feel pain in the balls.
get sores, blisters, ulcers or growths on the genitals.

HOWEVER, IT COULD BE THAT YOU HAVE NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS
If you require further information why not visit some of the other Sexual health related websites in the links section?

Getting advice

The first port of call should be your own GP or a GUM clinic where you will find free confidential advice, information, support and guidance. If you’ve had unprotected sex or condom failure then get yourself checked out. See link for testing services.

If in doubt get checked out!

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