Hannah caught chlamydia last summer on holiday in Magaluf, she said: “You always let go on holiday, you drink too much and this can lead to getting caught up in the moment. I had no idea my drunken antics would result in me catching a STI.”
Sex on Female First
The 20-year-old, from Derbyshire, went away with her friends in the month of July to the lively resort Magaluf.
She said: “Going away for the first time with the girls was exciting, I knew it was going to be eventful. It was the first holiday without parents for most of the girls. We picked Magaluf, as we knew it would be action-packed.
“This only meant three things, booze, boys and nice beaches.”
It was the first day, of the second week into the holiday. Intoxicated, Hannah had unprotected sex, which resulted in her catching chlamydia.
She said: “I had spent the first week with this guy, I had met him in one of the bars. At the time he seemed sweet, I was drunk, naive and had the holiday buzz.
“After a tiddly night filled with sex on beach cocktails, the irony hey, and countless amounts of shots, I ended up sleeping with him, stupidly without a condom.
“We didn’t even discuss contraception foolishly, it just happened. I didn’t hear from the guy the day after, he was clearly after only one thing, like most of the guys in Magaluf.
”He had given me something I never thought I would catch, you just don’t think it will happen to you.
“Luckily Chlamydia is treatable with antibiotics, but I could of caught anything from him, even HIV.
When asked why she thought people had unprotected sex whilst on holiday, she said: “Whilst abroad, there are so many drinking games in the bars and clubs which, involve public sexual displays, with random partners.
“This, makes sex on holiday a standard thing which, comes part and parcel with these common 18-30’s holiday locations.”
Statistics found on avert.org state in the UK, young people aged 16-24 years are most at risk of being diagnosed with an STD. Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease and genital warts is the most common viral STD.
AVERT is an international HIV and AIDS charity, based in the UK. Working to avert HIV and AIDS worldwide through, education, treatment and care.
Caitlin Mahn, information assistant at Avert, believes during the summer people are presented with more opportunities where, they might loose their inhibition.
She said: “It is difficult to assess why there might be an increase in new STI infections during the summer months. People typically have more leisure time and are presented with more opportunities, where they might loose their inhibitions.
“Increased consumption of alcohol means that it is generally harder for people to make sensible judgements. Which might mean being prepared for, or even negotiating condom use.”
Caitlin believes its vital people keep their wits about them, and are prepared when on holiday.
She added: “Going on holiday is generally associated with increased alcohol consumption. Which can increase a person’s vulnerability to sexual advances; they might make decisions they would not have made sober.
“Whilst it is perfectly natural to let loose and have fun on holiday, it is vital that they keep their wits about them, and ensure that they are prepared if they do decide to have sex.”
Hannah considers it as natural to become laidback on holiday, as she has experience of this, but believes it shouldn’t be an excuse.
She said: “I think when you are on holiday, you become very laidback. But this is no excuse for unprotected sex. Morals seem to be left at home, along with the condoms.
“I believe due to the amount of people that go on holiday during the summer months, the STI rates would be much higher during this time of year than any other.
“So many people go on holiday for the purpose of having casual sex, you often hear young adults saying what happens in such and such a place stays in such and such a place and then going on to discuss the amount of sexual antics they are hoping to participate in.”
Hannah stresses the importance of regular STI check ups, whether that’s after a booze filled holiday or not.
She added: “When I arrived back from my holiday, I had no clue whatsoever that I had caught an infection, I had no symptoms present.
“One of the girls I went away with suggested we went to the GUM clinic, as she had unprotected sex too. Unfortunately both my friend and I had caught something.
“That’s why its vital that if you do have unprotected sex, on holiday or even in general, you get checked out. Symptoms don’t always appear and its important to ensure your health isn’t at risk.
“Having an STI check is very simple and doesn’t hurt at all, they can tell if you have certain things straight away and the rest only take two weeks.
“The five minute check is well worth having if it makes the difference between treating a sexually transmitted disease and not. Especially if it could affect your health or fertility.
“It’s Malia this year for us girls, but I think we have learnt from last years experience. Condoms are far more important to pack than bikinis.”
Femalefirst Alexandra Ashton
tagged in Home Travel Sexually Transmitted Infection five Sexual Health Common Travel Health Sexual Health Education