Your Sexual Warrant of Fitness

Smear tests are very important as they are about detecting early signs of cervical cancer. You can visit your local GP, or closest family planning clinic to get your smear test, which needs to be done not once, but once every three years. Although they're not the most pleasant thing to have, it’s better to have a minute of embarrassment than becoming very sick.

 

Nobody likes the idea of getting an STD, but the truth is more than 50% of the population is carrying genital warts! Again, STD/STI tests can be done at your local GP or family planning clinic. Depending on what you think you may have (and after a discussion with your health professional) you will then need to have either a blood test, swab test or it may even be able to be diagnosed on the spot by it being checked by the doctor.

 

Stage Two: Contraception
Contraception isn’t just a choice of one or two things, as there are a few more options than just a condom or the pill. You need to make sure you are using the best one for you.

The Pill
There are two kinds of pill and both kinds need to be taken daily. There’s the combined pill, which has both progesterone and oestrogen. The other is just progesterone only. There are a few subtle differences between them both, and your health professional is the best person to discuss this with.

Condoms
Portable, help protect you from STD’s and getting pregnant and great for those unexpected ‘heated’ moments, condoms are pretty reliable when it comes to contraception (used correctly!) They can also be a lot of fun too for you, especially since Durex has a HUGE range to choose from.

You can get them thin so you can get closer to that ‘real’ feeling with Durex Featherlite, ribbed/dotted to really rub on your g-spot with Durex Pleasuremax, or even flavoured for when you feel like just pleasuring him with Durex Select (and it’s like your just sucking on a yummy sugar-free lollipop!). To make it even more fun using condoms, get yourself some Durex 2in1 Lubricant to make everything slip and slide so much easier.

The Injection
The injection is basically liquid form progesterone and when you get the depo provera, it can last you for up to 12 weeks. It’s great for those of us who can’t remember to take a pill everyday, but not so good if you have a fear of needles! But if you are having casual sex, you still need to use a condom!   

IUD (Intra-Uterine Device)
It sounds a bit scary and uncomfortable at first, but it is completely safe and used by many women as a long term contraception. Basically it is a plastic/copper device put into your uterus by a doctor, and it can stay in place for up to five years!

Dental/Vaginal Dam
A vaginal dam is basically a rubber dome-shaped device that fits inside over the cervix to stop sperm from entering the uterus. After a tutorial by your GP, you can fit it yourself and it can be done quite a few hours before intercourse. It needs to be used in conjunction with spermicide.

 

The scary (and quite important thing) is that some STDs have no visible signs so to be on the safe side, you should get a check up once a year.

Chlamydia
It is basically an infection in the lining of the uterus and if left untreated, can cause infertility. It is caused by not using a condom during sex (vaginal, anal, oral) and scarily, it is the most common STD/STI diagnosed amongst women (and men) in New Zealand. For a lot of people there aren’t any symptoms, but some can include: pain during intercourse, pain when urinating, vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods and lower abdominal pains. If caught early, it is extremely treatable with antibiotics.

Genital Herpes
GH is a virus that causes cold sores on the mouth and lips, and also on the genitals (although just because someone has a cold sore, it doesn’t mean they have genital herpes!). You will know if you have genital herpes as they are often painful blisters or ulcers on the skin, but people can carry the virus without knowing – so just because your partner doesn’t have the visible signs, they could still pass it to you. You need to see your doctor to get a cause of treatment.

Genital Warts
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes small lumps around the vagina and anus. Ouch. Sometimes you can use a cream, or as with warts anywhere else on your body, freezing with liquid nitrogen can be effective.

Gonorrhoea
This is a bacterial infection of the genital, throat of rectum. Again, it can cause infertility, and is spread by unprotected sex (not using a condom). There may be no symptoms, but the following could be a sign of Gonorrhoea: pain during sex, heavier periods, vaginal discharge, and lower abdominal pain. It can be treated by antibiotics, but a few different ones need to be tried as many of the bugs are resistant to the usual antibiotics.

 

It is important to know that some of the above STDs/STIs can be just passed by skin to skin contact, so it is best to be cautious when you have a new sexual partner; always use a condom and make sure you get yourself regular STD/STI.

Erin Boyle