Topic: Sexual Health Checks
Description
A sexual health check is a check-up by a doctor, nurse or other health worker with a focus on sexual health. You do not need to be experiencing symptoms to have a check-up. There are a number of sexually transmitted infection (STIs) which often cause no symptoms (eg. chlamydia).
Do's
How often and when you need to have a check-up depends on your lifestyle and sexual activity. All sexually active women need to have a Pap smear at least every two years.
A sexual health check is advisable in the following circumstances:
- you think you may have an STI
- you have had unsafe sex – unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex
- you have had a condom break or fall off during sex
- you or your partner has other sexual partners
- you have shared injecting equipment
- you are starting a new sexual relationship
- to talk about safe sex, even if you are not sexually active
- to talk about preventing pregnancy
- you have been sexually assaulted.
Tips
A sexual health check may include:
- talking about your sex life
- talking about safe sex and using condoms
- talking about birth control (preventing pregnancy)
- checking for STIs
- women having a Pap smear
- asking questions about sexuality and sexual health
- getting safer sex supplies and written information.
Helpful Hints
During a sexual health check, the doctor, nurse or other health worker will begin by asking you about your sexual history such as:
- you have any symptoms
- number of sexual partners both now and in the past
- sexual practices
- your sexual orientation (e.g. heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual)
- you have injected drugs
- you have had tattoos or body piercing, or have had acupuncture.
Some of these questions are very personal, but everything you say remains confidential. It is between you and the person you talk to. It is a good time for you to ask any questions about your sexual health that may have been worrying you.
The doctor, nurse or health worker will usually examine your genital area and other parts of your body. This is to check you are healthy and to look for any signs of an STI. Women may have a vaginal examination. This means looking inside the vagina using a device called a speculum. This is uncomfortable but should not be painful.
A range of tests may be done. Swabs can be taken from inside the vagina, from the cervix, from the tip of the penis, and if necessary, from the throat or the rectum (back passage). Blood tests and urine tests are useful to look for several STIs.
In women, a Pap smear can be taken during the vaginal examination, if necessary. This means taking a sample of cells from the opening of the cervix. The Pap smear is used to screen for very early changes in the cervix seen before cancer develops. If these changes are found, they can be treated and cancer is prevented.
Practical Advice
Sexual health checks may include testing for a number of STIs.
There are many different STIs. Some STIs can be cured. Some cannot be cured but can be controlled with medication.
Using condoms every time you have sex reduces the risk of getting an STI or passing an STI on to others.
Other Resources
Queensland Health Sexual Health website
Related Content
Last updated: 13th October, 2009
Review Date: 30th June, 2010
