Sun, sea and STIs
Nathan Perry says make sure you don’t look like a lobster or catch any crabs on your holidays.
Holidays! That's a word we all love to hear! After slaving away at our desks all year, a well earned holiday is a time to let the haor down and enjoy ourselves!
From the moment the holiday is booked, we daydream of our time in the sun, the brilliant blue sea, and all the exciting adventures we’re bound to experience while away!
So what do we fill our suitcases with? I for one pack my favourite shirt, the one that makes me look like I’m a member of a gym, and I would never forget my orange shorts that make my arse look really hot!
As I’m a sensible traveller, I never forget the sun cream as well. Come on, nobody wants to look like a lobster, and with the increasing awareness of skin cancer, we should all know better about not protecting ourselves from the sun.
The question is, do we actually protect ourselves while on holiday? It is estimated that 30 million UK residents travel abroad each year, and with the excitement of being in a different surrounding, many of us are more likely to embark on a sexual adventure.
According to recent research, one in ten British travellers report having sex with a new partner while abroad, with only 75% saying they used a condom every time. However, Sexually Transmitted Infections,(STI’s) including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Hepatitis and HIV will still infect us, even if we’re on holiday.
I know it’s rude, but it’s SO true! Therefore, our suitcases should not only contain products that protect us from the harmful rays of the sun, but also include products that protect our sexual health. We shouldn’t rely on being able to purchase our protection while away.
Condoms for example may not be readily available, and even if they were, the quality can differ from country to country.
No-one wants to spend their well earned vacation worrying about the possibility of having an STI, and as the standard of sexual health facilities may not be as good as in the UK; we may have problems in seeking the appropriate care and treatment while on our holiday.
It makes sense then to pack condoms, dental dams, gloves and water-based lube alongside the sun cream. Vaccinations against Hepatitis A/B are also available from your nearest GP or nearest GUM clinic providing addition protection. I’m sure we would all rather remember our holidays for the sun, sea and sex, rather than the sun, sea and STIs!!
Very Important! Don’t get condoms near your sun cream. The oil in the cream could damage your rubbers.
