Let’s face it, sexually transmitted infections (or STIs) are probably not the first thing to come to mind when you think of Christmas. But it may come as a surprise to know that STI acquisition (the fancy term for getting an STI) rises during the festive period, thanks to good old holiday horn.
Certain STIs, including genital herpes, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia are on the rise in general during recent years. But, each year, the festive period proves to be a bit of a hotbed (pun intended) for STI swapping. Research shows that sexual intercourse and unsafe sex (sex without the use of contraception) occur more around the holidays. NHS sexual health service Brook tells us visits to their nationwide centres shoot up big-time during the festive period, as well as just after New Year.
Young people are the most vulnerable to catching an STI, and an NHS survey found that six out of ten people under the age of 25 fear that they have been infected with an STI over the holidays. The survey, which questioned 509 people aged between 16 and 24, also found that 69 percent of them had engaged in unprotected sex during the holiday period. Research from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre —which has also shared concerns about the Christmas period seeing higher rates of STI acquisition — showed men to be significantly more reckless when it came to unprotected sex over the festive season.
After all, it’s the time of the year when parties, socialising, and get-togethers are far more frequent. And most allosexual folk (referring to those of us who enjoy sex with other people) understand how those situations can sometimes result in having sex. In fact, according to research from FPA sexual health charity, 20 percent of Brits have had sex at the annual office bash with a colleague. We just love spreading Christmas cheer by… sleeping with each other. Yet, one in 10 of those people admitted they have caught an STI, or know someone who has, at a Christmas party.
On top of this, 10 percent hoping to have a sexual encounter with a colleague this Christmas, while 14 percent of men and 6 percent of women will be carrying a condom somewhere within their party attire for the big Christmas night out, in the hopes they’ll get to hook up with someone. It’s the most horny time of the year, and a pretty vulnerable time for infections, so we need to talk safety details.
Amber Newman-Clark, education and wellbeing coordinator at Brook, says the service always tends to see a spike in visits to sexual health clinics throughout Christmas and New Year which is why its so important to have conversations with our sex partners about STIs and how to keep ourselves safe.
How to have safe sex
To avoid getting an STI this Christmas, Newman-Clark says we need to be practicing safe sex more often. Especially if you’re having casual sex, hooking up at Christmas parties or you have a new sexual partner.
"Using condoms and testing regularly are the best ways to protect yourself from STIs. If you’ve had unprotected sex, especially if it’s with a new partner, you should have an STI test even if you don’t have any symptoms," Newman-Clark tells Mashable.
This is important as STIs spread fast despite being asymptomatic more often than not. Anyone can get an STI and there are often no physical symptoms at all: nine out 10 women and seven out of 10 men have no symptoms when they have chlamydia, which is the most common culprit.
"Getting screened together is a great way to start a relationship that feels balanced and safe."
To stay safe, ask new sexual partners to wear a condom so you can both feel protected.
Emily Rymland, HIV specialist at at-home health provider Nurx, tells Mashable that a condom must always be worn if you are a person at risk for pregnancy and not on contraception and to protect yourself from infection. "STIs are present in the urethra, skin, and mouth... So the spread of STIs in those areas is decreased when a condom is used.. getting screened together is a great way to start a relationship that feels balanced and safe," she tells Mashable.
Oh, and if you’re using lube with condoms, make sure it’s water based. Oil based lubes have a special talent for disintegrating latex condoms. You’ll thank us later.
Remember that if anyone tries to talk you out of using protection, or uses silly excuses like "condoms don’t fit me properly" (they come in all sizes, by the way), that person isn’t respecting your choices and doesn’t deserve to have sex with you. If a sexual partner is ever being difficult about wearing a condom, you can go ahead and consider them a walking red flag. Or, rather, a giant neon red sign shouting "run!". Safe, respectful sex is simply the only sex worth having.
"If a sexual partner is ever being difficult about wearing a condom, you can go ahead and consider them a walking red flag."
Rymland adds that sexual safety doesn’t just extend to condom use, though. Particularly during Christmas time, people need to be wary of mixing alcohol with sex. "Most folks have the good intention if practicing safe sex but then things get in the way of our better judgement," he explains.
"Alcohol, other drugs, and peer pressure often override our intentions or make us a little sloppy and hopeful.. Its bet to prepare prior to partaking, have a condom with you as you head out to a possible sexual encounter. Try not to drink too much so that your judgement is impaired. Let a friend know to remind you if you think that may be helpful." And if you see someone absolutely smashed at a Christmas party, just help them get home safe. Now’s not the time to be hitting on them, pal.
Get tested regularly
Getting tested for STIs regularly keeps you and other people safe. Newman-Clark says that along with the use of condoms, getting tested regularly is one of the best ways to protect yourself from STIs. "We recommend getting a test every 3-6 months or each time you have sex with a new partner," she says.
"Remember to consider window periods. Waiting two weeks after unprotected sex to take the test will provide a more accurate result [on an STI test]."
You can visit a Brook service to get an STI test, visit a local sexual health service (GUM clinic), or your GP. You can find your nearest sexual service via Brook’s Find a Service tool. If it’s easier, you can also often order an STI test to do at home.
Rymland adds that, as well as booking an STI test after every new partner, this is a good time for a sex toy clean-up too. "Toys can be great fun but they can also spread STIs if not cleaned in between use," she explains. "If there are multiple partners using the toys then give them a thorough clean in between partners."
Talk about testing with partners
Newman-Clark says that communication is also really important to safe sex. "Have a conversation (or lots of them) about how you are going to make sure you have safer sex and anything else you want to discuss." You can discuss things like where your sexual boundaries are, what you enjoy, what you don’t enjoy, which creates a natural path to discussing condom use.
It can be difficult to communicate boundaries and sexual safety needs to a sexual partner, particularly a new one, but it’s incredibly important. Remember that there’s no shame in asking any sexual partner — even if it happens to be a co-worker — when they were last tested. The more conversations like these happen, the easier they get.
"Have a conversation (or lots of them) about how you are going to make sure you have safer sex and anything else you want to discuss."
Starting by telling a partner what you do to take care of your own health can establish your boundaries and provide a sounding board to see if the person you are talking to is also aware. "Comparing sexual health check ups with other types of general health check ups can also help to normalise looking after your sexual health for example comparing getting tested for an STI regularly to booking a dentist appointment regularly," she explains.
These conversations don’t just help us, either. They help those around us. It’s also great to have these conversations with your wider networks, like your friends, as and when you are comfortable. This way, you can help empower them to have these conversations with their own sexual partners too. Talking about STIs and encouraging testing in yourselves and those around us is a step to bringing the STI acquisition rate down, whether it’s at Christmas time or any other time of year.
"Destigmatising sexual health by engaging in these conversations are key in ensuring people feel safe to practise safer sex, get tested and treated when they need to," Newman-Clark says.
What happens if I get an STI?
Newman-Clark stresses that if you get an STI, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. "Most infections are easily treated, and treatment is free and confidential. If you test positive for any STI, your clinic will encourage you to talk to your current partner and sometimes to your previous partners so they can be tested as well," she explains.
If you’re safe and able to, you should also tell sexual partners about your STI diagnosis so that they are aware and can get tested for it too. "For most STIs, there is no legal requirement to tell your sexual partners that you have an STI (although the law is slightly different around HIV), however, at Brook we believe that telling your sexual partners that you have an STI is the right thing to do," Newman-Clark says. "This is to help keep people safe and reduce the transmission of STIs."
If you have been diagnosed with an STI and are worried about contacting your previous partners, there are ways to tell them anonymously. Sexual health services will often offer you the opportunity do this, or you could use a service like Tell Your Partner.
Getting an STI isn’t very Christmassy, so ensure safe sex practices like these are part of your festive sex life, and keep yourself and those around you healthy.
