A 21st Century Guide To Staying Sexually Healthy

Sex is something to be celebrated and enjoyed, but unless you’re careful when you get intimate with others, you could be left with more than happy memories. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are more common that you might think. From chlamydia to genital warts, gonorrhoea, genital herpes and HIV, there are a range of infections to avoid and it only takes one mistake to put your health at risk. With this in mind, here is a 21st century guide to staying sexually healthy.

Get tested

You can never be too cautious when it comes to STIs and if you’re sexually active now or have been in the past, it’s wise to get tested. Bear in mind that some infections are symptomless and if you have them and don’t know about it, you might unwittingly pass them onto other people. The only way to know for sure is to get tested. You can go to a sexual health clinic to find out regardless of whether or not you have any symptoms.

The most common STI among younger people is chlamydia and this infection often goes undetected. If left untreated, it can cause infertility in both women and men. If you don’t want to go to a clinic to be tested for this, you can get a chlamydia test kit from a trusted health specialist online. You simply take these urine tests, send them off to be analysed and wait to get the results. If the test comes back positive, you can then receive treatment. For more information on these tests, you can visit websites such as https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com.

Especially if you’re in a new relationship, it’s important to encourage your partner to get tested too. OK, so this may not exactly be a most romantic topic of conversation, but it could help to protect your health and it will also mean you’re able to enjoy more carefree sex in the future.

Use condoms

If you’re single or you’re starting a new relationship and you or your partner hasn’t been tested yet, use condoms. This is the simplest and best way to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Be aware though, if you are using latex condoms, you should steer clear of oil-based lubricants because they can make latex less effective. Instead, it’s safer to opt for water-based lubricants. These products are fine to use with all condoms. Meanwhile, if you’re sensitive to latex, you can use polyisoprene or polyurethane condoms instead.

Understand the risks

The most important thing when it comes to enjoying healthy sex is to understand the risks. The simple fact is, the more people you are intimate with, the more likely you are to get an STI. By getting tested, using condoms and limiting your number of partners, you stand the best chance of avoiding these problems.