Matte Stories & PSA
Matte Stories
Get it on... but talk about it first!
Reporting by: Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (www.sexualityandu.ca)
When's the right time to talk about contraception and STIs with your date?
The right time is before any intimacy happens....the wrong time is after the fact when it may be too late to avoid potentially dangerous infections, or unwanted pregnancy.
In order to ensure a healthy sexual relationship, it is important to not let good sense get lost in the heat of the moment. Talking to your partner about practicing safe and responsible sex ahead of time can relieve many anxieties that you may have, and in turn make sex more enjoyable.
Contraception
Think that talking about birth control spoils the mood? Not as much as an unwanted pregnancy! Some methods of birth control, such as the pill, require time to take effect, so it's important to plan ahead. If you are planning to have sex with your partner, here are some tips:
- Become familiar with all of the contraceptive choices that are available to you.
- Be honest and talk about your personal preferences. If either of you are not comfortable using a particular method, say so.
- Invite your partner to discuss concerns he or she may have with any of your choices.
- Make sure that your discussion includes taking equal responsibility for contraception.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Having a conversation about STIs and practicing safe sex is more than important - it may literally save your life. The facts:
- One in six Canadians will have an STI by the age 25.1
- Young adults (between 15 and 24) have the highest rates of STIs in Canada.2
- While many STIs are curable, several are not and can lead to serious health complications such as infertility, spontaneous abortion, cancer and even death. Women experience more complications than men.
Prevention is key in the battle against STIs, and you can practice safer sex by using condoms. When used consistently and properly, condoms are the best way to protect against STIs. However, some STIs can be transmitted through any type of sexual contact, not just sex. Herpes and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer and genital warts, can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.
STIs are tricky because people can display no symptoms for weeks, months or even years after infection. The only way to be sure is to get tested. Initiating a conversation with your partner about getting tested for STIs can be intimidating. Do you bring it up at the beginning of the relationship or when you become sexually active? Have you or your partner ever been tested? Do you want to get tested together? Whatever you decide, make sure to let your partner know that you are bringing this up because you care about them and your own health and taking the proper precautions will only help you fully enjoy your sex life - making it better for them too.
1 Statistics Canada. Data from the 1996/97, 1998/99, 2000/01 and 2003 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY).
2 Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Communicable Disease Report, June 2005. 2002 Canadian Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance Report.
