Sexual health

If you are sexually active, it is essential that you look after your sexual health and protect yourself by having safe sex. We are all responsible for our own sexual health and should not feel under any pressure to have unsafe sex. Having unsafe sex can lead to sexually transmitted infection (STIs) that can affect your long term health.

What is an STI?

STIs are infections that people usually get by having sex with someone who already has one. Some STIs can be treated and cured with antibiotic medicine. Others cannot be cured, but many of those can be treated to make them easier to live with.

It is important to remember that most of the time you will never know if you are having sex with someone who has an STI. Anyone can get one. It has nothing to do with how "clean" someone is or how the person dresses and acts. Most people who get an STI, including HIV, do not know the person they are having sex with has one.

What are the types of STI's?

A useful website explaining the different types of SDI's is Brook  and they also have lots of other useful info relating to sexual health.  

What should you do if you think you have an SDI?

You should see a doctor immediately and if you don't have one, most NHS hospitals have an STI clinic (sexually transmitted diseases) providing a free walk-in service.  To find the address of your nearest NHS hospital, doctor, sexual health clinic, etc. online click here to find out where they are. 

Other websites offering advice on sexual health matters include:

Terance Higgins - really useful sexual health info for everyone and particularly helpful advice for gay and lesbian young people.

FPA - really helpful section on finding your nearest STI clinic.

YPSH - an entire section devoted to sexual health matters.