So… you had unprotected sex, what do you do next? We all know that protection is important, especially if you’re having sex with multiple partners. Having unprotected sex puts you at risk of contracting a range of sexually transmitted infections and blood born viruses and for some it could result in pregnancy.
But, we’re all human and sometimes sex JUST HAPPENS.
So if you or someone you know has recently had unprotected sex there are some things you can do.
- Get an STI test. There’s often an idea that you can tell from looking at someone if they would have an STI, or if someone looks ‘clean’. Sorry to burst that bubble, but it’s just not true. Most STIs have no symptoms so a lot of the time people have no clue they have one! Often it’s not until the STI causes other health problems (like infertility) that people know that they have one.
STI tests are super easy to get. You can go to your local GP or a range of other services like Headspace or SHQ. Most of the time they’re free too! Plus you’ll usually just be asked to pee in a cup or to take your own swabs.
- If there’s a possibility you could be pregnant and this is not something you want you can also get emergency contraception. This one isn’t too hard either, you just walk into the chemist ask a staff member for help. They may ask you a couple of short questions like ‘when did you last have unprotected sex?’ but nothing to tricky.
Whilst most people call emergency contraception the ‘morning after’ pill you can actually use it up to 72 hours after sex. Of course the sooner you take it the more effective it is, but you still have some time. Unfortunately emergency contraception isn’t that cheap, but it can be super handy if you need it.
If you have had unprotected sex, don’t worry it’s not the end of the world. But make sure you try to get an STI test as soon as possible to make sure.