University is all about being independent and having the freedom to do what you like. It’s great! This includes being able to explore your sexuality and making the most of having your own bedroom outside of the parental home. Here’s some tips for safe sex at University:
We all know that condoms are a bit of a mood-killer (what do you do when the guy puts it on? Start humming the Countdown tune?) but for casual sex, they’re pretty necessary. Condoms protect you from sexually transmitted infections and from pregnancy, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Remember, not all STIs are treatable so unless the other person has never had sex, it’s best to wrap it up. Condoms can be expensive, but at Freshers Fairs, there’s free condoms galore! Not only can you get regular condoms, there’s also latex-free ones, and also smaller and larger fits. You also may be able to access them at your student halls or your local pharmacy, look out for the ‘Free Condoms’ sticker. No excuse not to cover your stump before you hump!
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to have sex! There’s a high expectation that you’re going to go to university and have a lot of casual sex but if you feel uncomfortable with that, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You may have a lower sex drive or no interest in sex at all, or even if you may want to have sex, there are a number of conditions which can affect your sex life such as vaginismus, and there’s no shame in that. You shouldn’t ever be in a position (no pun intended) where you feel under pressure to do something not in your nature.
People have sex for number of different reasons: because it’s fun, because it feels good, for intimacy and connection, to kickstart a relationship ect. It’s important that, before you engage in sex, you talk to the other person about what you’re looking to get from the experience. Someone may want to have sex with you because they have feelings for you and want to start a relationship with you, and you’re just looking for a regular ‘friends with benefits’. No one wants to deal with that kind of fallout so make sure talk it out, even if it’s as simple as ‘are you looking for a quick bang? Because I’m not looking for a relationship.’
How many times have you been drunk and really dumb things have seemed like an amazing idea? This can extend to having sex with someone you don’t know or have not been attracted to when you’re sober. You don’t want to wake up in the morning and feel regret because you’ve slept with someone you didn’t want to. It will haunt you, trust me. This is one of the most important things you can know about safe sex at University.
There’s nothing worse than feeling disorientated. Even if you’re from the city your university is in, there’s always places you don’t know. Before you go over to someone’s place, make sure your phone is charged and you have data. You never know if you’ll need a quick exit. If you can, let a close friend know where you’re going too.
These clinics are so valuable for almost everything related to sexual health. You can get access to free condoms, discuss contraceptive options, get tested and treatment for STIs and even access counselling to discuss any sexual or relationship issues you may experience. You can find your nearest one here if you’re in England and Wales, and here if you’re in Scotland.
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