How to stay sexy and healthy

• Use a condom when you have vaginal or Anal sex. Practise putting one on when you are alone, or better still get someone else to put it on for you – it can be fun! You will soon get the hang of it!
  
  
• Enjoy sex without Penetration – why not try kissing, hugging, stroking, massaging, Masturbating (wanking) and body rubbing? All of these are safe and fun.
  
  
• Sex toys are safe as long as you don’t share them. If you do share them, you can reduce the risk of infection by using a condom over the sex toy. But you must change the condom or wash the toy with hot soapy water, each time another person is going to use it.

• Condoms

If you are having vaginal or anal sex, condoms can help make it safer and more fun. Condoms have really changed. You can get them in all different colours, shapes and flavours. Try different kinds of condoms and see which ones suit you and your partner. More and more people are now finding that condoms are easy and sexy to use. You can also get female condoms. They are called Femidoms and are a tube-shape, made of very thin material which lines the Vagina.

Using a stronger condom is the best way to make anal sex safer. Stronger condoms include Durex Ultra Strong, Mates Super Strong or HT Specials. Water based lubricants like Liquid Silk, KY Jelly or Aquagel prevent condoms from tearing and make sex safer and more fun. Condoms with Spermicide are not suitable for anal sex.

Free condoms

If you have any worries about your sexual health you can make an appointment at a genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual-health clinic. You can get free condoms, safer sex advice and treatment at these clinics. Lanarkshire also has a free condom scheme, the C Card Scheme, which is available in over 50 health centres in Lanarkshire. You can also get free condoms and safer sex advice from family planning clinics. With all condoms, it is important to follow the instructions carefully.

Talking about sex

Some people find it hard to talk about condoms and safer sex. It’s important to choose a time when you and your partner are both relaxed. Remember it’s very difficult to talk about safer sex when you are drunk, tired or already in the mood. Be honest about what you want. Tell your partner that you want to use a condom. You could suggest using the condom as Contraception. By using a condom you are protecting your partner’s health as well as your own.

Oral sex

Oral sex (mouth or tongue licking the Genitals) is low risk. But it’s not a good idea to have oral sex if the person doing the sucking has sores or cuts in or around their mouth. Don’t brush your teeth before oral sex if you often have bleeding gums. You can get condoms in lots of different flavours to use for oral sex. You can also use dental dams (thin sheet of latex available free on request from Family Planning and other sexual health services) or cling film (but only the non-microwavable kind) as a barrier over the vagina or anus.

Helplines

Lanarkshire HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis Centre - 01236 747960
LHAHC offers free counselling to anyone who is worried about HIV/AIDS and themselves or someone close to them. They can give you safer sex information, safer-injecting information, free condoms and clean injecting equipment (while you are being counselled). 

National Sexual Health Helpline - 0800 567 123 (freephone - mobile costs may vary)
They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Know the Score - 0800 587 587 9 (freephone - mobile costs may vary)
If you are worried about drug use, by you or someone close to you, you can contact Know the Score . They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.