Mims Davies MP encourages residents to look after their sexual health this Summer.
Whether at home or on holiday, it is important to remember to take care of your sexual health, as there's been a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the UK, including West Sussex, and in Europe.
No matter the type of sexual intercourse you have, they all carry a risk of STI transmission however there are lots of ways in which sex can be made safer:
Safer Sex - Sefton Sexual Health Service
Across the UK, in 2023 there were 401,800 diagnoses of new STIs, an increase of 4.7% since 2022.
Gonorrhoea diagnoses increased by 7.5% and infectious syphilis diagnoses increased by 9.4% from 2022 to 2023 with the impact of STIs remains greatest in young people aged 15 to 24 years; GBMSM; and some minority ethnic groups
STIs can be serious, even if you have no symptoms. Be sure to protect yourself and others by ordering a free, easy to use home testing kit for common sti’s from one of the links below, depending upon where you live.
If you're 24 or under, you can order free condoms online.
PrEP, a highly effective HIV prevention method, is available for free at local sexual health clinics.
For help and advice on any of the above, if you live in West Sussex, you can visit https://www.sexualhealthwestsussex.nhs.uk and https://www.eastsussexsexualhealth.co.uk if you live in East Sussex.