What Does Good Sexual Health Look Like?
For Sexual Health Week, we caught up with Aisha from the UK’s largest sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust. She specialises in working with BME communities and has some great advice to share with you...
Whenever I talk to young people the first thing that comes to people’s minds is condoms, and this is great! Condoms are still one of the most effective ways to protect yourselves against pregnancy, STIs and HIV. But it’s important to remember that as much as we’re encouraging young people to use condoms, we need to be also telling them about the importance of good general sexual health.
And one of the most important ways to ensure you’re maintaining good sexual health is by…
GETTING TESTED!
Unfortunately, I do meet many young people who are put off having a test for a number of reasons. For some, it’s the embarrassment or the worry of being judged. For others, it’s the fear of the results and some just incorrectly assume that they ‘don’t need to’.
With young people aged 15-24 representing nearly half (48%) of all new STI diagnoses in 2018, it’s important that we do away with the fear and embarrassment and encourage as many young people as possible to get tested – and we’re in luck because truthfully, testing has never been so easy!
From online testing kits to walk-in clinics and dedicated testing centres there are so many ways you can get tested nowadays. I mean you can literally pop to your local Superdrug and get your hands on an STI testing kit – it’s that simple. However, STI tests aren’t the only test you need to be taking. It’s also important to make sure you’re testing for HIV at least once every six months.
MYTHBUSTING
I’ve spoken to young people previously who have thought that as long as they are pulling out before the end of sex then they won’t need to worry about STIs or that if they are just having oral sex then there are no worries. Both of these are huge MYTHS!
STIs can be present in your throat as well as at your obvious areas and in terms of the pull-out method – it can take a while to get to that stage by which time you have already exchanged fluids and come into contact with areas that could spread STIs, if they are present – so don’t believe the myths! If you’re going to have fun: be aware, be safe and be tested!
THERE IS NO SHAME
Remember, when getting tested there is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about. You’re taking the necessary precautions to ensure that you’re healthy, and remember if your results don’t come back as you’d hoped you can get on treatment right away. STIs are generally easy to treat so the sooner you know you have an STI, the quicker they can be treated.
Essentially good sexual health practice is about you taking charge of your body and your own health by getting tested and staying safe.
Terrence Higgins Trust offer testing for HIV and STIs in its centres across England, Scotland and Wales. To find out where your nearest centre, head over to their website.
