Sexual Health - Support


An Introduction . . .
There is no way of protecting yourself fully from sexually transmitted infections and disease's while having intercourse. STI's can be transmitted through not only anal penetration but also oral sex and even sometimes through touch (although this is rare). Sexual health is something that everyone needs to be aware of, not just people in the LGBT community. While HIV is more prevalent in the LGBT community it can affect everyone. It is vital to know about your sexual health and have a basic understanding of it.
The spread of infections . . .
STI's can be transferred between people in a number of different ways. The most common of which are vaginal and anal sex but oral sex is another seriously common form of virus and infection transfer. A common misconception is that if you wear a condom or other forms of protection then you are totally safe. This is not the case and there are no forms of protection which are 100% guaranteed to work.
How to avoid infection . . .
Our advice to try to minimize risks is to get both you and your partner checked for STI's once every six months. If you are with multiple partners then you should get yourself checked more regularly and ideally before sex with each new partner. Always wear a condom, even during oral sex, and make sure that you are totally honest and open with your partner about both previous and current sexual activity and issues.
Getting tested for STIs . . .

There are lots of STI's and some of them are symptom less which is why regular checkup's and tests from doctors are important. All STI's have the potential to be spotless which is why they can be dangerous. The sooner you take care of potential STI's, the better the outcome will be. Some visible symptoms and signs of potential STI's can include:

  • Pain While Urinating
  • Genital Lumps Appearing
  • Sores in the Mouth
  • Pain During Sex
  • Body Rashes
  • Blisters on the Penis

The above are just some of the symptoms so if you are aware of any of them they you should get yourself tested. Testing procedures are often fast and painless but if you are worried then don't hesitate to talk to a doctor about it before hand. Remember, they are nothing to be embarrassed about and the Doctor will have seen it all before.

Finding a local clinic . . .
If you are a UK users then please click here to find your nearest clinic. Outside of the UK the best way to find local clinics is to either speak to your doctor or to use search engines such as Google.

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