Safe Sex is Good Sex

Top 5 Plus Points

• Only need to be used when you have sex
• Help protect against STIs, including HIV and AIDS
• Easily available
• Come in many shapes and sizes to suit everyone

Any bad points?

• Putting them on can interrupt sex
• Some people claim condoms reduce sensitivity during sex

Where can I get them from?

Condoms are often available free from family planning clinics, many sexual health clinics, some GPs and online.

What is it?

Chlamydia can affect both men and women. Once transmitted to women though, Chlamydia may cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which could mean they can’t have children.

How is it spread?

It is spread by having unprotected sex with someone who has the infection. It may not be obvious that they have it as 70 - 80% people don’t have symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

• The need to frequently pass water and, when you do, you feel a burning sensation or discomfort.
• For men, a slight, cloudy fluid, which oozes from the tip of the penis, mainly when waking up in the morning (this is a different fluid to semen). Or, painful, swollen testicles.
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina, urethra or anus.
• Many people never experience any symptoms but may still be infected.
• For women, bleeding between periods or during or after sex or lower abdominal pain.

Any bad points?

• Putting them on can interrupt sex
• Some people claim condoms reduce sensitivity during sex

How can I get rid of it?

A course of antibiotics - which can be prescribed at sexual health clinics or GP surgeries.

To reduce the chances of getting it – use a condom!

Top Plus Points

• Doesn't interfere with sex
• Can be used if you are breastfeeding
• Normal levels of fertility return after the implant is removed
• Contraception lasts for between three and five years

Any bad points?

• Periods may change, bleeding can be irregular
• Possible side effects include headaches, acne, tender breasts, weight gain abdominal pain and bloating
• Very rarely an infection can occur in the arm where the implant is inserted
• A small procedure is required to both fit and remove it
• Can occasionally be difficult to remove the implant
• Some women experience depression and mood swings
• Doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS

Where can I get one?

The contraceptive implant is only available from GPs or family planning clinics, because it has to be fitted by a trained doctor or nurse.

Top Plus Points

• Doesn't interfere with sex
• Can be used if you are breastfeeding
• It reduces the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease and cancer of the womb
• Offers contraceptive protection for 8-12 weeks
• May reduce heavy, painful periods and help with premenstrual symptoms for some women

Any bad points?

• Periods may change, bleeding can be irregular (this can continue for several months or as long as the injection lasts)
• Possible side effects include headaches, acne, tender breasts, weight gain, mood swings abdominal pain and bloating
• Any side effects will probably last as long as the injection lasts (8-12 weeks)
• Sometimes fertility can take more than a year to return to normal after stopping the injection
• Doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS

Where can I get one?

The contraceptive injection is only available from GPs and family planning clinics.

Top Plus Points

• Only need to be used when you have sex
• Can be put in at any convenient time before sex
• Diaphragms and caps may give some protection against STIs, sponges do not

Any bad points?

• Some women have a problem with cystitis
• Can take time to learn how to use them effectively
• Diaphragms and caps only provide limited protection against STIs, including HIV/AIDS

Where can I get them from?

Each must be initially fitted by a doctor or nurse at a GP surgery or family planning clinic. Once fitted, they can be bought from pharmacies.

Please note: the morning after pill is not intended to be used as a form of regular contraception. For emergency use only.

Side Effects:

• Can cause sickness. If you are sick within 2 hours of taking the pill, then this can reduce its effectiveness
• Doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS
• Has to be taken within a limited time after unprotected sex
• Should not be used as a regular method of contraception
• It can disrupt your periods

Where can I get it from?

GPs, family planning clinics and sexual health clinics and pharmacies.

Top 5 Plus Points

• Lasts for five years
• Doesn't interfere with sex
• Periods often become lighter, shorter and sometimes less painful
• Fertility returns quickly after it is removed
• Can be used if you’re breast feeding

Any bad points?

• A lot of women have slight but irregular bleeding for the first six months
• Temporary side effects can include headaches, acne and breast tenderness
• Some women develop cysts on their ovaries. These are not dangerous but can sometimes cause pain. They usually disappear without treatment
• Can be pushed out by the womb or become dislodged
• Can puncture or perforate the womb which may require removal by surgery, although this is rare
• Doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS
• Small chance of infection after the device has been put in

Where can I get one?

Available from family planning clinics, sexual health clinics and some GPs as it has to be fitted by a trained doctor or nurse.

This is a permanent method of contraception and is a surgical procedure where the tubes that supply sperm in a man and the tubes that carry the egg in a woman are cut or tied.

Male sterilisation is up to 100%** effective. Female sterilisation is also up to 100%*** effective.

Top Plus Points

• Doesn't interfere with sex
• It is permanent
• Male sterilisation is a quick and simple operation with less chance of failure than female sterilisation

Any bad points?

• Both procedures are permanent and cannot be easily reversed
• It can take from two months for all sperm to disappear from the semen, so extra contraception must be used before you have a semen test to confirm there are no sperm left
• The tubes may rejoin and fertility may return (this isn’t common)
• Doesn't protect against STIs, including HIV/AIDS
• Female sterilisation usually involves a general anaesthetic, male sterilisation usually requires a local anaesthetic

Where can I find out more?

Because this is a surgical procedure it must only be performed by a trained doctor. However, family planning clinics, sexual health clinics and GPs will be able to give you more information.

(The above information is only a selection of the good and bad points for the different forms of contraception.)

** 1 in 2,000 operations may fail

*** 1 in 200 operations may fail

SOURCE: www.mariestopes.org.uk and Durex Information Service leaflets