Thursday June 3rd 2021
Cool for the summer - Sex workshop
6pm - 7pm on ZOOM
Summer is just around the corner, COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifting, and we’re all able to go out and meet new people and have fun!
Whether you’re spending time with your partner or hooking up with new people, it is really important to look after your sexual health. This includes knowing when to get STI tests, knowing how to reduce your risk of infection, and how to have safe sex in the context of COVID-19.
Sometimes, questions about sex can be quite daunting and you may not know where to turn to for advice. But don’t worry- Trade is here to help! We will be running a virtual workshop where we can answer all of your sexual health questions and can give you advice on how to be cool for the summer.
For you to get a taste of what the workshop will entail, we’ve decided to answer some of your most common questions about sexual health.
“Why is getting tested regularly for STIs so important? I thought you only needed to do it once a year, and I heard that if you have a long-term partner you never need to test!”
Getting tested is really important, no matter what your situation! However, how frequently you get tested for STIs may depend on the amount of sexual partners you have. For example, if you have a long-term partner, then it may only be necessary to test once a year or at the start of a relationship, as a precaution. But if you are planning to hook-up with several people, then regular testing is necessary. Trade recommends getting a test at least once every three months if this is the case.
By attending the workshop, Trade will provide you with further details and help you to understand all there is to know about STI testing: where to get them, how frequently you need one, STI window periods, and much more! You’ll leave the workshop equipped with all the necessary knowledge on how to keep you and your partners safe over summer.
“How do STI tests work? I don’t know what is involved and I might get embarrassed.”
STI tests are very straightforward- there is nothing to worry about! You can access testing services for free with the following options available to you, by your local sexual health clinic, through your GP or ordering a home testing for free online. Most tests involve a urine sample, swabs and small sample of blood.
You can even do a test at home by yourself if you prefer! You will need to provide a sample of blood for this. During the workshop, Trade will provide you with a demonstration on how to use a testing kit. This will ensure that no mistakes are made and you get your results in a timely manner. Trade has also created a video on how to provide a blood sample, which can be found here.
“I’m worried about Covid and how it might affect my sex life if lockdown measures are reinforced. Is there a way for me to hook-up with people over summer whilst staying safe?”
Hooking up with people can sometimes carry its own risks to our sexual health, and even more so now when we’re living with the threat of Covid! However, sex doesn’t always have to involve being in the same room as another person. There are plenty of options for those who are worried about the risks of hooking up over summer. Having sex thorugh videocall or using couples sex toys are some ways that can reduce your risk of catching Covid, and can be used if any lockdown restrictions were to be brought back.
During the workshop, Trade will be starting a conversation on the purpose of sex, what sex involves, which sexual acts present the most risk, as well as discussing the best sexual practices if lockdown measures are reintroduced. We would love to hear your thoughts about sex and what it entails, particularly from an LGBTQ+ perspective, and welcome you to join this discussion.
We’ll be covering all this and more in our free virtual workshop on Monday 7th June, 6-7pm. This workshop is part of our ‘Cool for the summer’ campaign, where we will be hosting three free virtual workshops in one week with the themes ‘Sex. Love. Life.’
If you like the sound of the topics that will be covered in this workshop, and would like to find out more on how to be cool for the summer, then feel free to come along.
When you leave the workshop, you will have the knowledge and confidence to look after your sexual health over the summer. We look forward to seeing you there!
The workshop will be running on June 3rd via Zoom, 6-7pm on ZOOM
