By Aaron O’Sullivan LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX, BABY! So very importantly, remember to: • Ask the person if they are okay, before, during and after sexual activity. • For many people in Ireland, relationship and sexuality education in schools was less than sufficient and for the vast majority of the LGBTI+ community,
Hormonal Contraception Hormonal contraception is prescribed by a doctor for girls, women, and people assigned female at birth. This includes: the pill, the patch, implants (also known as the bar), contraceptive injections and the intrauterine device.
There are a number of options available for STI testing in Cork: • South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital GUM Clinic, Old Blackrock Road, Ballintemple, Cork. You can make an appointment for a free STI test by calling them on 021 4966 844. • Youth Health Service, Penrose House, Penrose Quay, Cork. T23 V38E. • The Youth Health Service is a free HSE sexual health service for young people aged 23 years and under. You can make an appointment by calling them on 021 4937 250. • SH24 – www.sh24.ie • Free home testing is available in every county across Ireland. Anyone who is aged 17 or over can order a free STI test to their home or to any other valid postal address in Ireland. • Sexual Health Centre, 16 Peters Street, Cork, T12 DX73 We offer free Rapid HIV testing on site. You can make an appointment through our website sexualhealthcentre.com or calling us on 021 427 6676. PrEP PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is taken by HIV negative people before having sex (pre-exposure) and after sex, to prevent HIV (this is called prophylaxis). PrEP has been shown in many studies to be safe, and when takencorrectly, highly effective at preventing HIV. PrEP is the newest HIV prevention tool available and is best used in combination with other HIV prevention measures. If you decide to use PrEP, it is important to do this with support from a healthcare professional. In Cork you can access PrEP through the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) Cork, which is located on Old Blackrock Road in Cork City. For an appointment, call 087 450 4239. For information on who is eligible to access free PrEP and for contact details for PrEP clinics elsewhere in Ireland, check sexualwellbeing.ie. PEP Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency course of medication that aims to prevent HIV acquisition following a recent sexual, or needle-stick, exposure to HIV. PEP must be started as soon as possible (and within 72 hours) after a possible exposure to HIV. A full course of PEP is for 28 days (4 weeks) and is available in many STI clinics. In Cork it is available through the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) Cork (Tel: 021 496 6844). If it is not possible to get PEP from your STI clinic within 72 hours, PEP can be accessed in the emergency departments of Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital and the injury unit of Bantry General Hospital. For information on where you can access PEP elsewhere in Ireland, check www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
More information is available through our website sexualhealthcentre.com In order to determine what might be the best contraceptive choice for you, you can discuss it with your GP. Free contraception is currently available to girls, women and people with uteruses aged 17-26 through GPs and this is due to be expanded to those aged 16-30 from September 2023.
inclusive and relevant sexual education was sporadic or completely lacking. Although there have been some advances in recent years, many LGBTI+ people are still left to figure things out on their own, sometimes uncomfortable to ask questions for fear of looking foolish and are therefore reliant on others for their own sexual wellbeing who may well be in the same boat themselves. I will set out some information and resources that may be of use to you or someone in your life. As the LGBTI+ community is not one homogenous entity some aspects of sexual wellbeing will be relevant to everyone, but many will be specific to particular cohorts. Consent Regardless of whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight or otherwise, consent is critical in every relationship and each and every intimate, romantic or sexual interaction. Consent is an ongoing, mutual, freely given, informed decision, between clear minded, of age participants before any and every sexual act. It must be: • Ongoing because you need to give and receive consent before and during each and every act. • Mutual because every person that is involved must give consent. • Freely Given because it’s not consent if someone is pressured or coerced into agreeing. Some people are not capable of giving consent according to Irish law. If they say ‘yes’ to any sexual interaction, it does not count as consent. This includes: • If you are unconscious; • If you are not clear minded (for example through voluntary intoxication – drink/drugs or deceptive administering of any drug or intoxicant); • If you are under the age of 17; • If you are incapable of understanding the nature or consequences of the sexual act, or incapable of communicating consent, due to a mental or intellectual disability or mental illness.
Check in with the other person each and every time a new type of sexual activity begins. Stop if the other person seems unhappy or you are unsure whether they are consenting.
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• Know that you and the other person have the right to change your mind and withdraw consent at any time. Sexual Wellbeing Good sexual health means making sure you have the knowledge, skills and ability to make informed sexual choices and acting responsibly to protect your health and the health of others. This includes preventing STIs. Some STIs can cause long-term problems, yet lots of people don’t know much about them. Contraception & Protection Contraception is used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. Whatever your sexual orientation or gender, if you are sexually active, you are at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Barrier Contraception • Condoms – The Sexual Health Centre runs a free national condom postal service and condoms can either be ordered through our website or can be collected by calling into the centre. • Dental Dams – This is a sheet of latex that is used as a barrier during oral sex. A dental dam protects against sexually transmitted infections.
STI Testing People frequently ask when and how often you should get an STI test. You should be tested if: • you have any symptoms which suggest an STI • your partner has an STI • you change your sexual partner • you have multiple sexual partners
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