How to maintain good sexual health in Australia

Sexual health is about so much more than remaining free from disease or infection. It’s about enjoying a sex life that is emotionally and physically empowering, and where consent and mutual enjoyment is paramount. 

It’s about removing damaging stigma and rhetoric from the conversation around sex to create an environment that is inclusive and safe.

“In my opinion, sexual health is a patient taking charge of their own body and ensuring they are educated about the potential risks they may face,” explains InstantScripts Medical Director, Dr Andrew Thompson.  

“This includes sexually transmitted infections, but also extends to contraception and reproductive health.”

What is safe sex?

Safe sex – sometimes called ‘protected sex’ – is the act of taking precautions to ensure the sexual activities you’re engaging in don’t result in either unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection or disease. This can take the form of using either medication or physical devices and should include regular testing and health checks for both you and your partner.

Contraception options

When it comes to contraception, there are several options to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Methods such as condoms and diaphragms work by creating a barrier that stops semen from entering a woman’s cervix. When used correctly, condoms have a 98% efficacy rate, and diaphragms have a 92-96% efficacy rate. 

If you want to know what contraception options are available, you should speak to a doctor to find out the right method for you. You can request a telehealth consultation with one of our Australian-registered doctors from anywhere in Australia, seven days a week.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

A sexually-transmitted infection (STI) is any infection you contract through sexual activity. Because one in six Australians has had a notable STI in their lifetime, Dr Thompson says understanding your risk factors is crucial. 

“Regular screening for common STI’s in those that are sexually active is very important,” he explains, “and empowering patients to understand when they are at risk is also critical. I would always recommend having a discussion with your regular doctor if you are unsure about any of these factors.”

There are a range of STIs to be aware of:

Chlamydia

Left untreated, Chlamydia – the most frequently-reported infectious disease in Australia – can cause infertility. Luckily, it’s easily treatable and can be detected with a non-invasive test.

Herpes

Genital herpes can cause outbreaks of painful blisters or sores on the genitals and anus, which can recur throughout a person’s life once they are infected.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver which is spread through body fluids in many ways, including sexual contact. Luckily, vaccines are available and provide the best protection against this disease.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is also a liver infection, spread by bodily fluids (primarily blood), although some sexual activities, particularly those which include blood-on-blood contact (such as unprotected anal sex) can also transmit the virus.

HPV and genital warts

There are more than 100 variations of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and over 40 of them are passed through sexual contact. It can affect your genitals, throat and mouth and while many infections show no symptoms, some can lead to the development of genital warts and certain cancers, including cervical and throat cancer.

Syphilis

Symptoms of syphilis can vary depending on which stage of the disease a person is experiencing, and left untreated it can damage every area of the body. Syphilis is spread through skin-to-skin contact during sex, particularly oral, vaginal and anal sex. 

HIV

HIV – which stands for the human immunodeficiency virus – is transmitted through some bodily fluids, and you can become infected through certain unprotected sexual activities. If untreated, the virus attacks a person’s immune system, eventually rendering it unable to fight off infection. The late stage of this virus is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Erectile dysfunction 

If you have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection, you might suffer from erectile dysfunction. It’s something around one in five men over the age of 40 will experience. You can read more about men’s sexual health issues here.

If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction symptoms, you should speak to a doctor to find out the right treatment for you. You can request a telehealth consultation with one of our Australian-registered doctors from anywhere in Australia, seven days a week.

Female sexual health

When it comes to female sexual health, there are a number of ways in which sexual health and happiness can be impacted, including difficulty reaching orgasm, pain during sex and loss of libido. It’s important to note that female sexual health issues are incredibly common, with one study finding that 50.2 percent of Australian women reported experiencing sexually-related personal distress.

What happens when you fall pregnant?

For many, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period – this will occur roughly 14 days after conception.

Most pregnancy tests are sensitive enough that they will show a positive from the time of your missed period. Some highly sensitive tests can show a positive result up to five days before a missed period, although it’s important to be sure of your exact dates.

Increasing your chance of pregnancy

If you’re hoping to fall pregnant, it’s important to prepare your body by improving your diet and lifestyle. This ensures you are not only healthy enough to maintain a pregnancy, but can increase the likelihood of falling pregnant in the first place. Secondly, it’s important to get to know exactly when you ovulate – then ensure you have unprotected sex several times in the days leading up to that date, particularly one or two days beforehand.

Thrush

Vaginal thrush is a common yeast infection that will affect 75% of Australian women at some point in their lifetime. Caused by the candida species of fungus, symptoms can include burning, itching and swelling of the vagina and vulva, and a white, thick discharge that may have the look and consistency of cottage cheese. Thrush, while irritating, is easily treatable and generally not a serious health concern. 

UTI

A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria enters the body through the urinary tract, usually the urethra – which is the tube urine comes out of. The risk for women is higher than for men because this tube is much shorter, and closer to the anus, thus more likely to be exposed to bacteria. Sex can also increase your risk of getting a UTI, as the activity can push bacteria up into the urethra. In order to help prevent this, it’s recommended to always urinate after sex to flush out the area.

Sexuality and sexual identity

Sexual health means not only being educated about the behaviours that can keep you safe and well during sex, but being comfortable and empowered to live authentically within your sexual identity, whatever that may be. The freedom to express yourself sexually in a safe, healthy and inclusive way is one of the cornerstones of true sexual health. 

If you want more information about your sexual health, you should speak to a doctor. You can request a telehealth consultation with one of our Australian-registered doctors from anywhere in Australia, seven days a week.

Bek Day is a writer and journalist with over 15 years of experience in the health and lifestyle space.