sexual health info

Protection from sexually transmissible infections

To protect you and your partner from sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs), you should:

• use condoms and dental dams
• get vaccinated
• have regular check-ups.

Using condoms and dental dams

Condoms and dental dams are not 100% effective in preventing STIs, but they offer the best available protection when used the right way. For vaginal, anal and oral sex, you should use condoms. You can also use dental dams for oral sex. For anal sex, you should use a water based lubricant. You can use a water based lubricant for other types of sex if you need or want to. 

Male condoms

Female condoms

Getting vaccinated

Cervical cancer

Young women aged between 12-18 are eligible to receive the cervical cancer vaccine for free. This vaccine lessens your chance of getting cancer of the cervix and greatly reduces your chance of getting genital warts. At the moment, the vaccine is given to girls at school, but if you've missed out, you might still be eligible. The vaccine also works for young men. They don't receive it at school, but they can get it from a doctor for a fee. For more information, speak to a doctor or visit one of our clinics.

Hepatitis 

Hepatitis B can cause a serious liver infection. It can be passed on through vaginal and anal sex. At the moment, the Hepatitis B vaccine is given at school, but if you've missed out, you might still be eligible. For more information, speak to a doctor or visit one of our clinics. 

Hepatitis A can be passed on by sexual practices like rimming (kissing or licking the anus). You can get the Hepatitis A vaccine from a doctor for a fee.

Check-ups

Most STIs are silent. This means you don't notice anything different if you have one. Diagnosing an STI early means less complications and less chance of passing it on to others. If you're under 25 and sexually active, you should have regular check-ups to make sure you're STI-free.

Men who have sex with men should have regular blood and urine tests as well as swab tests, depending on the number of partners they have and the type of sex they're having.

All women aged between 18-70 who have ever had sex with anyone (male or female) should have a Pap test every two years. Regular Pap tests lessen the risk of getting cervical cancer by detecting early abnormalities in the cervix. Treatment at this stage is simple and very effective.

To have a check-up, see a doctor or visit one of our clinics. Tests are bulk-billed through Medicare.