It’s hard to think about the consequences of unprotected sex when you’re in the middle of the act, but it’s important that we protect ourselves from sexually transmitted infections.
Sex on Female First
An online pharmacy which specialises in sexual health has revealed the top ten myths that Britons believe will defend them against the consequences of their unprotected sexual antics, with more than half of Britons believing that ‘the withdrawal method’ can reduce their risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
A new study has identified the top ten myths that Britons believe will protect them against STIs. The survey was conducted online, with 1,938 UK citizens participating in the study. All respondents were aged 18 or over and had previously had at least three sexual partners.
During the study by www.UKMedix.com, participants were provided with a list and asked what measures they believed they could take to reduce the risk of contracting an STI, with the option to select as many as they agreed with. The top 10 answers were:
- The withdrawal method – 55%
- Having sex standing up – 45%
- Using antiseptic measures before and after intercourse e.g. wipes / gel / cream – 36%
- Urinating immediately afterwards – 33%
- Washing with hot water before and after intercourse – 29%
- Using spermicide – 28%
- Having sex in the shower – 27%
- Using the ‘girl on top’ position – 22%
- Only having sex when in a relationship – 14%
- Implementing a no kissing rule – 11%
63% of respondents confirmed that they had not been tested for STIs in the last year, with 44% confessing that they had never had a routine STI test. When asked ‘Have you ever had unprotected sex with someone without previously ensuring you were both free of STIs (without the use of condoms)?’ 72% of respondents confirmed that they had.
Sarah Bailey of UKMedix.com, commented on the findings:
“It is unnerving to think that so many Britons believe that these strange methods will help them to avoid the consequences of their antics and there is a serious message behind these results. Understanding the risks and using the right protection is absolutely vital before anyone engages in any kind of sexual activity. STI tests should be routine for anybody who is sexually active and there should certainly be regular check-ups between partners – think of it like going to the dentist!
“Not only is sexual health important for health and hygiene reasons, it’s also a big part of sexual etiquette. It’s actually quite sad to see that so many people, for one reason or another, are leaving the most basic of their manners outside the bedroom door!”
tagged in Sexually Transmitted Infection Sexual Health