Sexual Health

Safer sex. Get checked. Get treatment.

Sex is a normal part of life. Talking openly about your sexual health should be too.

There’s a lot more to sexual health than just sex! It’s about whether you feel safe and comfortable too. Communication is key before, during and after sex.

Talk openly with your partner(s) about sexual health, pleasure, consent and protection. Talk to your doctor, nurse or health worker about your sexuality and relationships, the best protection options for you and sexually transmissible infections (STI) testing (and treatment if necessary).

If you’re sexually active, get a sexual health check at least once a year. When was your last sexual health check?

STIs are part of life

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are common. In fact, it’s estimated around one in six (6) Australians will get an STI in their lifetime. STIs don't discriminate by age, location, gender, sexuality or lifestyle. Anyone who has sex can get an STI – even if you practise safer sex most of the time. You can get an STI through unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex.

There are many different STIs and not all of them have obvious symptoms. So, there is a chance that you or your partner could have an STI without knowing it.

The good news is, most STIs are preventable, curable, and all are treatable.

Getting an STI is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s important to get checked and treated to avoid passing them on and prevent bigger health issues later.

What can I do to prevent STIs?

• Get a sexual health check at least once a year.
• Practise safer sex by using protection like condoms and dams.
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis B and HPV.
• Let your partners know if you have an STI so they can be tested and treated too.

If left untreated, STIs can have serious long-term effects on your body and reproductive health (such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility) for you and also for unborn babies. STIs can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and birth.

A sexual health check is the only way to know for sure if you have an STI. It’s also an opportunity to talk openly and confidentially about sexuality and relationships.

It's really important to let your sexual partner or partners know if you have an STI so that they can be treated. By doing this we can reduce the spread of STIs.

Get checked

Who should get checked?

Anyone who is having sex should get a sexual health check.

If you're having sex, you need to get a sexual health check including STI testing at least once a year.

When should I get checked?

Get checked:

• when you start a new relationship or change sexual partners
• if you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy
• if you or a sexual partner have symptoms
• if you have been told by a sexual partner that they have an STI
• if you have had an STI in the past 12 months
• if you think the condom broke or slipped off during sex.
• If it has been 12 months since your last STI check

How often should I get checked?

Anyone who is sexually active should get checked at least once a year.

In some cases, it is recommended to get STI tested more regularly if you:

• are a gay man or a man who has sex with other men – at least once every year
• have multiple sexual partners over a short period (for example, more than 10 partners in three (3) months) – every three (3) months.

Tests can vary depending on your needs, but may include a urine sample, blood test or swab. Some tests can also be self-collected.

Your health professional will talk with you about your sex life so they can give you the right information to inform your choices. Being informed about your sexual health helps you focus on pleasure in the moment.

Where do I get checked?

Affordable and confidential sexual health checks including STI testing is available from:

• GPs
• community health centres
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
• sexual health clinics
• family planning clinics
• sexual and reproductive health hubs.

Treatment

Had a sexual health check and found you've got an STI? No drama. All STIs are easily treatable and most are curable.

Your doctor can talk you through what treatment you’ll need which might include antibiotics (particularly for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, mycoplasma genitalium and syphilis) or medicated shampoos (for pubic lice and scabies).

For viruses such as genital herpes, HIV, hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV), treatments will control the virus, help prevent symptoms, and prevent them from being transmitted.

The best way to avoid needing treatment is to practise safer sex – by using condoms and regular STI testing. Vaccinations, pre-exposures prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevent (TasP) are also other ways of preventing getting certain types of STI.

Follow your health worker's advice about avoiding sexual contact after treatment. Have follow-up testing to check that the treatment has worked and you have not been re-infected.

You can also let your partners know anonymously and confidentially through Let them Know or Drama Downunder. Your local doctor or health service can also help you do this.

For more information, visit the Better Health Channel

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Resources

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