Keep Fresh: Sexual Health During Freshers’ Week

Make sure it’s consensual – does your partner want to have sex? Do you want to have sex? What sort of sex do you want to have? Talk about it!

If you’re having penetrative sex, whether that’s vaginal or anal, make sure you use a condom. Even if there isn’t a risk of pregnancy, unprotected sex can still risk catching STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

If you’re giving or receiving oral sex, it’s also good practise to also use protection. Depending on the genitals, you could use a condom or a dental dam. In a pinch, you can make a DIY dental dam from a condom – cut off the top and then along the condom, and it’ll be ready to go.

There are two different types of lube: water based and silicon based. Water based dries slightly faster, whereas silicon is thicker, but some people can be sensitive to silicon lube.

Remember – don’t use silicone lube with silicone condoms or sex toys as it will destroy them!

If you’re having anal sex, use lube, and lots of it! It will make things so much more fun and comfortable.

Did you know the QMU provides a comprehensive free condom service? You can pick up a pack best suited to your needs from the QMU cloakroom between 12pm and 4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for all your sexual health related needs.

It’s super important to get tested regularly if you’re sexually active. The most common STI symptom is no symptoms, and you could have something without even realising.

Terrence Higgins on Sauchiehall St holds drop in testing clinics, details of which can be found on their website. The Sandyford Clinic offers sexual health screenings amongst other services such as pregnancy advice and gender identity services.

Both of these are open to people of all genders, including specialist services for men who have sex with men.