Feeling Confident About Condoms? Here’s All You Need to Know

Of all the methods of birth control out there – and, trust me, there’s quite a few – there’s none more popular than condoms, but why? Is it because they protect your wellbeing against unwanted pregnancies? Yes, but all methods of birth control do that – hence the name. Where condoms win out against all other contraceptives is that they’re dynamite for protecting your sexual health against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some other contraceptives do this too, but as condoms are the most readily-available and widely-used barrier method of birth control out there – meaning that they provide a barrier between partners that prevents the spread of STIs – I say that means you need to know a little more about them.

 

The reason why condoms are so widely used is that you don’t need to apply one in advance for them to be effective. Unlike the Pill, which requires you to remember to take it every day at the same time, or the Injection, which involves going in to your doctor’s for an injection on a regular basis, you can crack a condom out just before getting down to business and still protect you and your partner against pregnancies and STIs. Therefore, it’s important that you know how to use a condom properly and always have some with you. That said, some people forget to use their condoms when they’re in the heat of the moment, or are worried about bringing up the subject altogether. So how do you mention condoms to your partner?

 

Let’s think about this logically; if you’re getting hot and heavy with your partner, are you really going to stop to have a well-informed, logical discussion about the merits of birth control? Probably not. Therefore, you need to have this conversation well in advance of having sex with your partner for the first time. You need to first need to tell your partner that you want to use condoms, and then explain why you feel it’s important well before the heat of the moment. However, this is easier said than done, so if you are about to have sex that hasn’t been planned – which is often the case with sex – simply say “condom?” before things get too heavy. If you don’t have one, and neither of you have been tested for STIs, stop what you’re doing. If you know you’re both in the clear for STIs, but don’t want to begin a pregnancy, stick to oral sex. Bear in mind that drinking alcohol and taking other drugs may affect your ability to make safe decisions.

 

You may be worried that your partner will think badly of you for having condoms on you – like you expected sex to happen – or that he or she will be offended by the insinuation that they might have an STI. However, talking about using condoms doesn’t mean that you don’t trust your partner or that you have something to hide yourself, it just shows that you care about your health – and theirs. Don’t forget that, if nothing else, condoms provide a barrier against unwanted pregnancies, or extra protection if you’re already using a birth control method. Remember that anyone who has had previous sexual contact can have an STI, even people with just one or two previous partners, so it’s always worth using condoms just to be sure. If you’re in a long-term relationship and want to stop using condoms, both you and your partner should get tested for STIs first, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Most STIs don’t have any obvious signs, so screening is a must.

Categories: Communication, Condoms, sti testing

STI Testing: The Who, What, Where, When and Why

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is an absolutely vital part of sexual health, both for the sake of your wellbeing and that of anyone you come into sexual contact with. When you have an STI, there are often no symptoms to alert you to the fact that you have been infected, meaning that you could be passing it on to others and letting your own wellness deteriorate without even realising. Therefore, you need to take control of your health by using condoms and getting tested for STIs.

 

Once you begin having sex, it’s a good idea to have regular sexual health check-ups. Whether you have multiple sexual partners or you’re starting a new relationship, you and your partner need to be tested – and recently tested – before you stop using condoms. If you have had unsafe sex, or some of the symptoms of STIs such as pain, discharge or itching in your genital area, you should consult your doctor. Most STIs are treatable but, if left untreated, you may end up experiencing some unpleasant symptoms and even long-term problems such as infertility.

 

Having a test is simple and painless, and easily available from your local GP, family planning clinic or sexual health clinic. There is no single test to detect all STIs, which means you’ll have to have a chat with your doctor about your specific symptoms. Your doctor will also want to discuss your sexual history, so be prepared to talk about that. It can be tempting to lie about or paint a rosier view of your sexual history, but you need to be completely truthful. Even if you’re embarrassed, your doctor will need to use the information from your conversation to work out the tests you should have.

 

If you have an STI such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia, a simple test will be able to pick up the STI soon after you have been infected, even if you haven’t shown any obvious signs or symptoms. However, other STIs – like HIV – won’t show a positive result as quickly and your doctor will advise you on when to be re-tested. As a general rule, the testing will involve a blood sample, urine sample, swab or just a physical examination – depending on which STI is being looked for. Lots of places provide low-cost or even free STI testing for young people, but you’ll need to ask when you make your appointment, and maybe look online for the most price-efficient option in your local area. The cost also depends on the tests required.

 

If you’re worried or embarrassed about someone else finding out about your STI test, you don’t need to be concerned. Your doctor will be legally obliged to keep information that you give him or her confidential, regardless of how old you are. The only exception would be if you are under the age of 16 and an issue of your safety arises. However, the results of STI testing are completely confidential. The results are stored in your medical files and sexual health clinics normally keep separate records to the files kept by your doctor or local hospital. That said, if you do test positive for an STI, you absolutely need to tell your recent sexual partners so that they can be tested too. One of them may have passed it on to you unknowingly, and may be doing so with other people. To help minimise the embarrassment of getting in touch with former partners, many clinics will provide you with letters or other ways to ease the process.

Categories: Costs, doctor, sexual, sexual health, sexual history, sexual partners, sti testing, STIs, Symptoms, tested, Testing