This section on sexual health aims to provide you with all the essential information you need to stay in good sexual health. It describes in detail, by clicking on the links to the right, the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI's) – from crabs to warts, via gonorrhoea, hepatitis and syphilis – which affect us all.
The links provide information on how STI's get into your body and it gives tips on avoiding them |
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| For many of us sex is an important part of life, even to the extent of creating a sense of personal identity. For some, sex will be with one partner over an extended period, whilst for others, the variety of sexual experiences will only be exceeded by the number of partners. But for most, sex will occur in a series of relationships and casual encounters. Whether you are single and enjoy casual sexual encounters with a variety of people, or a couple who occasionally have sex outside the relationship your sexual behaviour can affect your health in many ways. |
How you find the right balance in your sexual health will change throughout your life. If you're young and new to the gay scene you may not know that hepatitis A and B are serious illnesses that can easily be prevented through vaccination. You may be an HIV positive man who would like to know more about the connection between gonorrhoea and HIV transmission, or you may be a couple who have talked about fucking without condoms but are not sure about the broader health consequences of this decision. |
Of course good sexual health is about more than just treating infections. Health is an asset for life and each person will have a different perception of what is acceptable sexual health. |
| Maintaining an erection while having sex, being comfortable with your body shape, or finding partners who share your sexual tastes, are all valid sexual health concerns. |
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| It's probably no big surprise that the warm moist parts of the body that are usually associated with sexual pleasure are a perfect environment for a host of STI's. In brief, the penis, vagina, arse and throat are the places where STI's are most likely to appear. There's quite a lot your eyes, nose and fingers can tell you about your body. If it doesn't look, smell or feel right then have it checked out at a Sexual Health Clinic or GUM Clinic. Things don't just go away if you ignore them, they usually get worse. |
Remember, many people will be unaware they have an STI or are infectious, so if you are sexually active, or you or your partner are sexually active outside your relationship, it is important to have regular checkups. |
| You can go to any sexual health clinic you choose. It doesn't have to be near where you live. You can make an appointment at a sexual health clinic or GUM Clinic by phone. You will be asked if you have visited the clinic before. That's just so they can have the records of your previous visit ready when you come for your appointment. If this is your first visit, then you will only have to give your name at this stage. You can give a false name if you wish. You will be offered the next available appointment, but you can of course, ask for another day or time. If you need an urgent appointment – because you feel quite ill or have obvious symptoms, say so. It might be possible for them to fit you in. |
| CLICK HERE for Sexual Health (GUM) Clinics in Central Lancashire. All the information you give at a clinic is confidential and not passed on to anyone. |
