Related Articles
Flatting? Try these easy recipes!»Read More
Lose those love handles!
»Read More
Cardio just not cutting it?
»Read More
Is it being vegetarian actually better for you?
»Read More
Healthy lamb kebabs
»Read More
Love it, Win it!
 |
WIN Impulse Love PacksEnter Now |
|---|
 |
WIN a double pass to My Week With Marilyn!Enter Now |
|---|
Do you have an STI?
STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are transmitted from person to person during unprotected sex. And some are passed on just through skin to skin contact.
You can’t always tell if you have an STI, but some common signs/symptoms are:
- unusual vaginal discharge or smell
- a burning sensation or pain when you wee
- unusual lumps, blisters, sores or rashes on, in or around your genitals
- pain or bleeding during or after sex
- itchiness or irritation
- lower abdominal pain
- bleeding between periods
- no symptoms (in many cases you can have an STI and not know)
(Thanks to www.familyplanning.org.nz)
Making sure you’re STI free is not just about your own health! It’s about making sure you don’t pass infections on to other people too. As well as sexual partners, STIs can also be passed from pregnant women to their child/ren.
Avoiding STIs.
The only guaranteed way to avoid STIs is to not have sex at all. As this isn’t a practical solution for most people, the next best thing is to use protection (i.e. a condom or oral dam), EVERY TIME you have sex, and to limit the number of people you’re sexually intimate with. It’s also important to get tested as STIs aren’t always visible, which means you can never assume you or your partner are STI free.
Although you should be able to assume a relationship is monogamous you have to allow for the possibility it’s not. Getting tested is also a good way of making sure neither of you are carrying any nasties from past relationships.
It’s worth noting that being on the pill will help you avoid unwanted pregnancy, but it WON’T protect against STIs.
Helpful sites:
Check out what Lady Gaga and 80s pop icon Cyndi Lauper are up to in the name of safe sex!
 |
SOOOOO important for young people to know these days! Posted by MelissaW "on" 05/24 "at"06:04 PM |
|
..just commenting. Posted by Sugaax! "on" 08/08 "at"11:56 AM |
Best of the rest
