Everything You Need To Know About Sexual Health at Christmas
Practising safe sex is important at any time of year, not just Christmas, but with around 20% of British adults admitting to a sexual encounter with someone from the office or work at the Christmas party, we thought it would be best to broach the subject. Here we will look at how you can protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections over the Christmas period, and how to get tested if you feel you may have contracted an STI.
With Christmas parties, Mad Friday and New Year’s Eve just around the corner, and let’s face it, this year is going to be like no other after everything was cancelled in 2020 thanks to Covid 19, what better time to talk about protecting your sexual ‘elf over Christmas and the festive period.
Alcohol, Christmas and Sexual Health
We all know alcohol can cloud your judgments, and with that in mind we recommend ensuring you stick to the recommended weekly alcohol units, which is no more than 14 units. During the Christmas period (or any period for that matter) if you are out celebrating and enjoying a few beers with the lads or cocktails with the girls, make sure you carry condoms with you. Should you find yourself about to enjoy a sexual encounter with another person, it is always better to have condoms with you, as they are the main source of protection against STIs. However, here at Broadgate GP, we know that alcohol intake can make you take risks in certain situations, so if you do have unprotected sex, don’t worry we can provide with you a quick STI test to put your mind at ease.
Sexual Transmitted Infection Prevention
Prevention is better than treatment, that’s what the land of doctors and nurses say anyway. When it comes to Christmas parties and celebrations we know that inhibitions can be lost, and as we see a rise in the number of people have unprotected sex we also see a rise in the number of confirmed STIs. With this in mind we have two top tips for making sure you look after your sexual ‘elf during the party season:
- Fill Yer Stockings – make sure you have condoms to last you over the festive period. If you are using oral contraception be sure to make sure you have enough of this too.
- Wrap it Up – use condoms to protect yourself and others against sexually transmitted infections.
There’s no need to panic though, if you do find that you have been at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, get in touch with our team today, who will be able to provide you with an efficient test and effective treatment if needed.
Who is at Risk of STIs at Christmas?
Sexually transmitted infections can affect anyone, of any gender, regardless of your sexual preferences. Whether you are hetrosexual, homosexual, or bisexual you are at risk of contracting an STI if you don’t practice safe sex during the Christmas party season. All it takes is one unprotected sexual encounter to expose to you a STI, engaging in unprotected sex increases your risk of not just contracting an unwanted infection but transmitting them too, especially if you have multiple sexual partners. So to protect yourself and others at Christmas, take precautions.
What are the Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Symptoms for a sexually transmitted infection can vary depending on the type of STI. In fact some STIs don’t even have symptoms, which is why it is important to get tested quickly and receive effective treatment if you think you are at risk, or if you know you have engaged in unprotected sex. Although there are some symptoms that are linked to STIs that you can look out for:
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Sores, bumps and lumps around the genital area
- Itching genitalia
- Unusual discharge
- Pain when having sex
- Fever
How Soon Should I Get Tested for an STI at Christmas?
While Christmas is a time of giving, there are some gifts you don’t want like an STI. If you have enjoyed a fumble over the Christmas season, and you haven’t exactly practised safe sex you may be at risk of an STI. However, there is no simple answer to the question, how soon should I get tested? That is because the different infections have different incubation, we’ve listed a rough guide below:
Chlamydia – usually 1 – 5 days after exposure, with a re-test carried out 2 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection has cleared up.
Gonorrhea – generally 2 – 6s after exposure, as with Chlamydia we recommend re-testing 2 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection is clear.
Syphilis – 3 – 6 weeks after exposure. Test again 2 weeks after treatment to ensure the infection is clear.
Hepatitis B – 6 weeks after exposure. There is no need to retest as the Hepatitis B infection can remain in the individual’s system.
Genital Herpes – 4 – 6 weeks after exposure. A retest is required 3 months after treatment to ensure the infection is cleared and a negative result is recorded.
HIV – you are most likely to get an accurate result for HIV 3 months after exposure to the virus. You can get tested sooner but your result may not be accurate.
What to do if you have had unprotected sex over the Christmas period
If you have taken festive frolicking too far, don’t panic. The team at Broadgate GP are here to help you. We can put your mind at ease by completing an efficient STI check and providing you with effective treatment. But, remember, prevention is better than cure so be sure to protect your sexual ‘elf this Christmas and wrap it up.
If you would like more information about the warning signs of STIs check out our blog on the subject.
