WHAT IF...?

If you feel like you’re in the dark about some of the most frequently asked sexual health questions, check out our guidance below…

“... I identify as straight, but sometimes I watch gay porn or experiment with people of the same sex. Am I gay?”

Experimentation is normal and is much more common than you might think. Not everyone experiments in this way, but a lot of people do. You may just want to try sex with someone of the same sex once, you may be attracted to people of the same sex, or you may be into people regardless of their gender identity. Experimenting with people of the same sex doesn’t mean you have to identify as gay or bisexual.

“... I had unprotected sex?”

Having sex without a condom (known as unprotected sex) leaves you at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy. You only have to have sex once to get an STI or become pregnant. If you have had unprotected vaginal sex (and you don’t want to be pregnant), you should visit a sexual health clinic, such as Brook, to discuss emergency contraception. The IUD is the most effective form of emergency contraception and must be fitted within five days of having unprotected sex. Some types of emergency contraception pills (known as the morning-after pill) can also be taken up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Speak to a sexual health professional or GP to find the best option for you. If you’ve had unprotected sex (whether it’s vaginal, anal or oral sex), you should get tested for STIs. Many STIs don’t have symptoms so you must get checked to be sure. If you do test positive for an STI, a sexual health professional will prescribe treatment and encourage you to speak to any partners who may be at risk too. If you don’t want to tell your partners, then speak to the sexual health clinic to see if they can offer the anonymous partner notification – your partner will receive a text saying they need to be checked, but they won’t know it has come from you.

“... I don’t know how often to get tested for STIs? It is really important to take care of your sexual health in the same way you do with other aspects of your health, like going to the dentist. In addition to getting tested after any unprotected sexual contact with a new partner, you should also have regular check-ups. Depending on how many partners you have, this could be every three months or once a year as a minimum. It’s also a good idea to get tested if you decide to stop using condoms with a new partner. Even if you’re in a longterm relationship, you could still catch an STI. You can read more about STIs on page 87.

“... I want to have casual sex? Is this OK?”

Casual sex means having sex with someone you’re not in a relationship with. There are lots of societal ideals about casual sex, and what is considered right and wrong. Society is often more judgemental towards women who choose to have casual sex, than men who choose to have casual sex. In short, if you and your partner want to have sex and you both consent, then do what makes you happy. Make sure that you communicate with your partner – simply consenting once does not mean you can’t change your mind later, and remember, if you are drunk or high, you can’t consent. Check out page 88 for further information.

“... I don’t know which method of contraception to use?”

Not many people know that there are 15 diffferent types of contraception available. It can really help to talk through your options with a sexual health professional, such as a Brook nurse or your GP, to make sure you have all the information you need to decide which method is right for you. Check out page 84 to see our complete guide to contraception and find out about Brook’s online tool.

Avoid The Consumption Of Drugs And Alcohol When Engaging In Sexual Acts

people watch porn regularly and some people never watch it. However, if it is affecting your relationship or studies, or you think it is having a negative effect on other parts of your life, then you should speak to someone. See page 94 for more information and links to help.

“... I think I’m watching too much porn?”

It is very hard to say how much porn is ‘too much porn’ as this depends on the person. Some