• Confidentiality
  (what’s said here stays here)
• Non-judgemental / Withholding judgement
• Mobile phones on silent please
• Respect one another's names and pronouns
• Respect diversity of ideas, identities & experiences
  This can include: Diversity of experiences with, or interest in, sex and the subject matter
• “Don’t yuck my yum”
  (don’t make others feel bad for liking different things than you)
• Respect one another's boundaries
• One person speaks at a time
• Step Up / Step back (if you tend to speak more, challenge yourself to ‘step back’ to let others speak. If you tend to be more quiet, challenge yourself to ‘step up’ to speak)
• No pressure to disclose / Permission to pass
• Permission to pause
• There is no such thing as a stupid question (all questions are welcome)

📗 DEFINITION
Contraception means deliberately preventing pregnancy from penis-in-vagina sex, through the use of particular methods, like medication (hormones) or a device.

Many people may be familiar with different contraception, but may not have access in some rural areas, depending on availability of resources, whether they are subsidised (e.g. NuvaRing is not subsidised), proximity to larger urban settings, etc.

🤲 POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES TO USE:

Contraception matching

Contraception Poster

🌐 SCENARIOS
Go through each of these, and discuss with participants:


1. You only have one condom but it is still in the bin, can you reuse it?

ANSWER: NO
Semen, pre-ejaculate, and other sexual fluids will still be present in the condom, and can leak out.



2. What if you wear a condom the wrong way at first? Can you turn it inside out and try again?

ANSWER: NO
Same as above. Semen, pre-ejaculate, and other sexual fluids will still be present in the condom, and can leak out.



3. Can you use a condom as a dental dam?

ANSWER: YES
If you don’t have any dental dams, you can use a condom as one.



4. Is there a way to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, even if you accidentally have unprotected sex?

ANSWER: YES
There is contraception for people with a uterus, such as the pill and intrauterine devices (IUDs), that can be used before sex. There is also emergency contraception you can use after unprotected sex, such as the “morning after pill”, which you have to take within 3 days of unprotected sex, or a copper-IUD, which can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sex. However, any of these options can only help with preventing unplanned pregnancy. They do not prevent STIs.



5. Can you use anything slippery as lube?

ANSWER: NO
Only latex condoms are shown to be effective in preventing STIs and pregnancy. However, latex will easily be destroyed by oils. Only use water-based or silicone-based lubricants.

📗 DEFINITION

Sexually transmissible infections (STIs) are infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual contact, like during oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, and although less often, during manual sex (masturbation). Different types of sex present greater risk than others, for different STIs.

STI-prevention refers to preventing sexually transmissible infections (STIs), usually through barrier methods such as condoms. STIs can be transmitted between people of all sexes and genders, through different types of sex , not just penetration.

🤲 POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES TO USE:

Condom Race

Condom cards

🔥 It can be helpful to remember that STI transmission only occurs with the “4 Es”.

The “4 Es” of STI Transmission:

- EXISTS
The STI has to Exist in at least one partner’s body. For example, if each person does not have HIV, then there is no chance that HIV can be transmitted, no matter what type of sex they have. HIV needs to Exist in at least one partner, in order for there to be a risk of HIV transmission.

- EXIT
The STI has to Exit the body of the partner who has it, through their sexual fluids.

- ENTER
Their sexual fluids need to Enter the body of the partner who doesn’t have it, usually through their mucosal membranes (like the inside the mouth, vagina, tip of the penis, or inside the rectum or anus).

ENOUGH
- There has to be Enough of the sexual fluids, enough contact, and enough of the STIs inside the sexual fluid, in order for transmission to occur. In other words, the risk of STI transmission is higher if there is more sexual fluid. The risk is lower if there is less sexual fluid.

Regardless, it’s best to always practice safer sex, to prevent STI transmission.

Testing and Treatment

STI Testing is usually done as urine tests, genital / oral / anal swabs, or blood tests at the doctor or sexual health clinic. If you test positive for an STI:

- Don’t panic.
STIs are actually extremely common for people who are sexually active. It's only because of social stigma that we don’t often talk about it. So don’t worry: You're not alone.

- Most STIs are treatable.
For example, bacterial STIs are treated with a course of antibiotics, which can be taken orally, or sometimes through an injection. Other STIs may require different types of treatment. It is extremely important that you do not have any sexual contact with others until at least one week after completing your course of treatment, so as to reduce the likelihood of infecting others, or of re-infection.

- Contact tracing.
Contact tracing, also called partner notification, is the final part of the process. This is where someone informs your previous partners who may have been exposed to this STI, or who may possibly have transmitted the infection to you.

💡 How can I do contact tracing?
There are a few options for how to do contact tracing. Often doctors will allow you to do this yourself, as you are able. Some options for online and anonymous partner notification tools include:

Let Them Know: www.letthemknow.org.au

The Drama Downunder (for men who have sex with men): www.thedramadownunder.info

Better to know (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people): www.bettertoknow.org.au

Your doctor may also offer to do contact tracing for you, or to have a professional in their practice do it.

KEY MESSAGES:

• Condoms are the only barrier method that can protect you from both unplanned pregnancy and STIs.
  • We don’t always see people in porn using contraception or worrying about STIs. However, they may just be not wearing condoms, but are actually using other forms of STI prevention or contraception (e.g. internal condoms / IUDs / frequent STI checks etc.)
  • Only external condoms (i.e. condoms for the penis) are effective as both contraception and STI-prevention.
  • What works for you is best determined through a conversation between you and a professional.

• Negotiating Safer sex
  • Safer sex is the responsibility of each person involved
    • Your body your choice. Look after yourself and your partners.
    • Share the burden of contraception in your relationship if you are in a relationship where you or your partner could get pregnant from the sex you have.
  • Challenge stigma around sexual health
    • There is no shame in having an STI. If you are concerned, get tested at a sexual health clinic. Most STIs are treatable, if not curable.
• Bodily Autonomy
  • Bodily autonomy is related to the history of women’s rights, queer struggles and broader struggles for bodily autonomy. Advocating sex for pleasure is a relatively recent phenomenon. These freedoms and opportunities to live authentically in our sexuality is based on a history of struggle, and this struggle is ongoing.
  • We’ve come a long way, but we shouldn’t take our freedoms for granted. For example, in Australia, our health system, free/accessible condoms, anonymised and confidential sexual health clinics, contact tracing, abortion access, and so on, have been hard fought.
  • Some of the ongoing struggles for bodily autonomy include menstrual inequality, women’s health, and trans rights. Think about their implications for a healthy and happy sex life:
    • Freedoms haven’t always been the case
    • People have fought for the rights of women and others to have more rights over our bodies
    • This hasn’t always been true around the world
    • Think of others who don’t have the same freedoms, access to resources or information
    • Look after your mates, and share resources
    • It’s everyone’s responsibility to advocate for women’s rights