OK, let’s be honest here. While many people date to find a companion, sex is also a huge part of relationships. And while sex is emotionally complicated, it is also complicated from a safety point of view.

Do it right, and it’s great. Do it wrong, and things get itchy. Do it really wrong and you could end up carting an infant to ECON 1210.

What follows is the Manitoban’s guide to being sexually safe, while being sexually active.
— Leif Larsen, staff

Sexually transmitted infections

That person across the room, the one who has been looking at you with “those eyes” all night, they might be cute, they might be willing to go “all the way” but they might also be a walking Petri dish of plague and pestilence.

According to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) has been on the rise in Winnipeg since the early 2000s after years of decline.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are bacterial infections passed though unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex. Both are insidious in the way that an infected person might not even know they are carrying the bacteria, as symptoms can be mild or completely absent.

Syphilis, like chlamydia and gonorrhea, is a bacterial infection transmitted though unprotected sexual contact. However, unlike the previous two, its symptoms are much more severe, and can ultimately result in damage to the brain, heart and other organs.

All three of the above infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of genital warts (GW) and can be passed though unprotected sexual contact, but can also be passed by any skin-to-skin contact. And while GWs can be easily treated, they have been linked to certain kinds of penile, anal and vaginal cancers.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and can also be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact.

Protecting yourself

The only contraceptives that offer even modest protection from STIs are condoms, which can be had for both men and women. It should be noted that in the case of HPV, the virus could be spread from and to parts of the body not covered by the condom.

Girls and women, between the ages of nine and 26 can now be vaccinated against some strains of HPV.

Getting tested

If you and your partner want to forgo condoms, you can be reasonably sure that neither of you are carrying any unwanted pests by getting an STI test from a clinic, such as Nine Circles Community Health Centre on Broadway Avenue.

Tests are free and confidential.

Also, keep in mind the fact that you should be retested each time you have a new partner.
If you decide to not use condoms, you might have to contend with another possible outcome of unprotected sex.

Pregnancy

Unlike with STIs, where condoms are the only effective defense, there are many ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. While condoms can do the job, if STIs are not a concern (because you got tested . . . right?), diaphragms, sponges and birth control medication can prevent parenthood with near 100 per cent effectiveness if used properly.

Although some people do claim success with things like “pulling out” and timing cycles, do you really want to leave something as serious as pregnancy up to anything that relies on you remembering to separate your bodies right before an orgasm?

So there you go. Keep these things in mind when bumping uglies and you can be as sure as possible that your studies will not be interrupted by weird discharges, itchy nether regions or the crying of a hungry baby at 2 a.m.