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Everyone has their own theories about sexual health, but we’ve had some students check their references and come to the right source.
SHINE SA have partnered with the team at University of Adelaide to provide answers to some commonly asked questions from students.
We’ve run these questions by our expert sexual health nurses and we’re giving them a high distinction.
What is an STI?
STI stands for sexually transmitted infection and it’s all in the name. An STI is passed on through any sexual activity including vaginal, anal and oral sex, from one person to another. Some STIs can be passed through skin-to-skin contact alone.
There are different types of STIs but one thing to take away is that STIs are super common, and most are easy to test and treat.
P.S. You might have noticed that we don’t use the phrase STD or sexually transmitted disease. There are many reasons for this but one of them is that it’s more clinically accurate. Many infections are curable or manageable with treatment (hence infection being more accurate).
Why is it important to get tested?
Most people get the idea that it’s important to get tested for STIs, but you might be wondering why? Can’t we just keep passing them around like a cold infection? Well, sadly no, that’s not a good idea and there are a couple reasons why.
Firstly, you probably won’t know that you have an STI without testing. Most STIs have no symptoms. Without regular testing you could be passing on an STI without even knowing that you have it.
Secondly, STIs aren’t friendly to our health in the long term. STIs can have serious health consequences over time including pelvic inflammatory disease.
It’s important to remember that anyone who is sexually active can get an STI no matter the amount of sex, the position or whether it is penetrative sex or not.
Regular testing means an infection can be picked up early and treated early which keeps you safe and your partner/s safe by preventing the spread of STIs.
Remember, your best protection against STIs if you’re having sex is to use a condom (internal or external).
What are the most common myths about STI testing, and how can we debunk them?
STI testing has become something that is super easy to do!
Often, people worry that they will need to have a genital examination to get tested for STIs. This is not the case. If you don’t have any symptoms, you can choose self-collection and collect your swab samples yourself.
You may also be offered a urine and blood test. If you do have some symptoms such as unusual discharge, your health care provider may offer you an examination to try to work out what might be going on, but you have the right to decline this if you want.
Another myth or misconception is that you don’t need to get tested, for example, if you’re not having much sex or you’re having sex with someone that is the same gender as you.
Can you explain the process of STI testing and what students should expect during their visit? Where can I get a test?
There’s lots of places you can go to get an STI test. You can get an STI test at your local GP clinic, Adelaide Sexual Health Centre or SHINE SA. If you’re 21 and under or a full-time student, you can visit a SHINE SA clinic for free!
Here’s a brief guide on what getting an STI test usually involves:
First, you’ll be asked some general questions about your sexual and reproductive health history. We know it might sound awkward, but it helps the health worker to find out your risk of STIs and what tests might be needed. Its a good idea to remember that being non-judgmental is part of a health workers role and your appointment will be confidential. Plus, we can assure you they’ve heard it all before!
Some questions you might be asked during a consult include:
- Do you have any symptoms?
- What is the gender identity of the people you have sex with?
- Do you have oral, vaginal, anal sex?
- Do you use any contraception or condoms?
Depending on what type of sex you’re having you may be asked to provide a urine test (wee in a pot) and/or swabs and a blood test. After your STI test you’ll get your results in a few days. If your test result is positive, you will be invited back to talk about treatment.
For more information you can check out our blog: Ask SHINE SA: What’s Involved In Getting an STI Test?
What unique challenges do international students face regarding sexual health, and how can they overcome these challenges?
Sometimes it can be challenging for international students to find out how to navigate the local healthcare system and to find out where to go for sexual health care.
The SHINE SA website is a great resource for students to find sexual and reproductive health information around STIs, choices in contraception, information on abortion in SA, endometriosis and more.
For those who don’t have a Medicare card, Adelaide Sexual Health Centre provides a service that is free for everyone. At other services like SHINE SA, international students will need to pay upfront and then claim the costs on their Student Health Insurance.
SHINE SA also offers a free Sexual Healthline service. This service is accessible for everyone and is anonymous to speak to a sexual health nurse between 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Call 1300 883 793 or 1800 188 171 (toll-free) for country callers.
What are some misconceptions about consent that you frequently encounter?
We know that almost half of Australians are conflicted in their understanding of sexual consent. Some people aren’t aware that they have the right to say no to sex or to change their mind.
Another common misconception about consent is that it’s rigid or boring, this isn’t true. Consent is key to pleasure. Finding out about what your partner/s wants and checking in during sex is how you experience mutual pleasure. For example, asking things like, is this what you would like, are you enjoying this, would you like us to do [insert sexual act]?
Some important things to remember about consent when it comes to sexual activity:
- Consent must be given freely without being pressured.
- Consent must be gained before sexual activity and be present throughout the activity.
- Just because someone does not say ‘no’, it does not mean that consent has been given.
- If someone gives consent to one type of sexual activity it doesn’t mean that they consent to other sexual activities. Talk with your partner/s and agree together about what’s OK for each of you.
Consent is an ongoing process that needs to be maintained throughout sexual activity meaning that you check in with each other to see if you are both still happy to go on. If at any time you or your partner/s are uncomfortable, it’s your/their right to stop at any time.
It is against the law to have sex/continue sex with someone without their consent. This is never OK.
How can students have open and honest conversations about consent with their partners?
Talking about consent doesn’t have to be cringe or boring. As mentioned, consent can be hot.
Consent is all about making sure everyone involved feels comfortable, respected, and excited about what’s happening. Why do something you’re not feeling good about?
Here are some tips to help you have open and honest conversations about consent:
- Don’t wait until you’re in the heat of the moment. Talking about consent well before anything happens sets the tone for a healthy and respectful relationship.
- Use clear language to express your needs and boundaries. I It’s okay to say, “are you comfortable?”, “how do you feel about doing this?” or “actually that’s not what I thought we were going to do, I’d like to pause?”. Make sure you’re on the same page.
- Pay attention to your partner’s words, body language, and overall comfort level. Mirroring or moving towards touch often indicates consent whereas freezing or moving away often indicates no consent. Make sure that the words being said match the actions. If there is hesitation or doubt, check in.
- Consent isn’t a one-time question; it’s an ongoing verbal and non-verbal conversation. Check in with each other, especially if things change or if you try something new.
- If your partner says no or isn’t sure, respect their decision without pressuring them. It’s important to create a safe space where both of you feel comfortable expressing your boundaries.
- Encourage your partner to share their thoughts and feelings with you and be receptive to their feedback. This helps build trust and ensures that both of you feel heard and valued.
By having open and honest conversations about consent, you’re protecting each other’s boundaries, building a stronger relationship, and having better sex.
How do cultural and religious backgrounds influence perceptions of sexual health and consent, and how can we approach these topics respectfully?
Our values, our cultural and religious backgrounds, the way we were brought up: these all influence the way we understand our sexual and reproductive health and our relationships.
We can approach these topics by being considerate and compassionate whilst also staying true to the evidence and our individual rights.
Can you explain the importance of PrEP and PEP in HIV prevention and how students can access these treatments?
So much has changed to make HIV something we can now prevent and manage! Did you know that HIV treatment is now so powerful that it’s referred to as U=U? U=U means that people living with HIV who take their medication as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners. An undetectable viral load means the amount of HIV in the blood is so low that it cannot be detected by standard tests.
Prevention has also changed a lot! PrEP is a type of medication designed to prevent HIV. PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and is the same medication taken daily or on demand to prevent becoming infected with HIV. This can be accessed at sexual health services and all GPs are able to prescribe this.
It is important to be aware that PrEP only prevents you from getting HIV so you can still become infected with other STIs if you’re not using condoms.
PEP stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV. It is basically HIV medication taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV. It is only recommended for people from high-risk populations such as men who have sex men or someone how has had sex with a person from a high-prevalence country. PEP can be accessed at SHINE SA, Adelaide Sexual Health Centre of Emergency Departments at public hospitals. If the person you had sex with is living with HIV, PEP is very effective at preventing you from becoming infected with HIV.
What are some lesser-known but important aspects of sexual health that students should be aware of?
There are so many aspects of sexual health that people don’t know about! What’s most important is finding a source of trusted information.
For example:
- The SHINE SA website or Sexual Healthline
How can students maintain good sexual health and prevent STIs in a university setting?
Good sexual health is a lifetime thing, but we know that looking after your sexual health in the younger years is super important.
Good sexual health is part of having good sex. Most of us are having sex because we enjoy it and feeling in control of things like our STI testing, protection and contraception can actually make having sex less stressful.
This comes down to safer sex. This could look like: getting regular STI checks, using condoms paired with a water-based lube (to prevent breakage and for more pleasure!) or dental dams for oral sex, finding the right contraception for you and talking openly about STIs, about pleasure and about what feels good for you and your sexual partner/s.
It’s a good idea to know the services that are available to you (for example your university GP or SHINE SA) and where to look to find evidence-based and clinically reviewed information – the SHINE SA website is a great place to start!
