Christmas is undoubtedly a magical time of year. But, it’s also a time when we let our hair down, perhaps drinking a little more than usual.
Surprise, surprise, this can affect our judgement. Poor judgment comes in the form of unprotected sex, which can often lead to a Christmas STI – the last thing you’ll want to unwrap during the festive season.
Protect your chap, your general health, and your mental well-being this Christmas. Here’s my Christmas gift to you – STI Christmas advice 101 coming right up.
Watch it at work parties
According to a survey by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, 20% of people have hooked up with a colleague at a Christmas work party.
If you’ve had spontaneous unprotected sex after a meal and a dance out with your work colleagues, ensure you get checked out as soon as possible the next day.
Try to stay within the RDA alcohol guidelines
I realise this one is a huge ask – I sound like a bit of a Scrooge saying this at Christmas. But drifting out of the boundaries of your 14 units a week will take your guard down and make you more likely to take risks, including those related to your sex life.
If you feel this might be tricky, make sure you’re topping up on water consistently after every few sips to make sure the booze doesn’t go to your head (and your chap’s head!)
Check-in with a 24-hour clinic
It might be Christmas, but some people have got your back 24/7.
Clinics such as Better2Know can give you peace of mind during the holidays, offering testing at a nearby clinic or giving you the option of a home test kit.
Carry condoms (everywhere you go!)
You’ve seen films like Love Actually and Falling for Christmas – you never know when love or lust will come and smack you right in the face. So, it’s best to be ready for when it does. Ensure you carry condoms, not forgetting them if you’re going where booze is on the menu (see tip number 2 above!)
Make sure you don’t forget to take your contraception
This one is more geared towards chappettes, who have the burden of being the ones to make the most effort with contraception (I feel for you ladies; hopefully, one day, things will be equal).
With all the festive fun, it can be super easy for things to slip your mind at Christmas. But it’s not worth risking having to take the morning-after pill. If you think you’ll struggle to remember to take your contraception, set the alarm or write yourself a little reminder note.
Wishing you lovely folk a wonderful, safe sex-filled Christmas and a sizzling and sensational New Year!