“It Hurts When I Have Sex. Should I Just Push Through?”
Short answer: No. Sex should not be something you “just tolerate.” Pain during sex is common, but it is not something you should ignore or push through. If sex hurts, your body is telling you something. And that deserves attention, not shame. First: You’re Not Overreacting Pain during sex can happen for lots of reasons. […]
“I Love Them, But I Don’t Want the Same Things Sexually. What Now?”
You care about your partner. The relationship works in lots of ways. But sexually? You’re not on the same page. Maybe one of you has a higher sex drive. Maybe one of you wants to try things the other doesn’t. Maybe your interests just don’t quite match. This is incredibly common and it doesn’t automatically […]
Can I Take a Break From Contraception?
You might have seen people online talking about taking a “contraception holiday”, stopping their method for a while to “let their body reset.” But is that safe? And is it necessary? Do I Need a Break? For most people, no. Hormonal contraception does not build up in your body. Once you stop, the hormones leave […]
What’s the Best Contraception If I Have a Partner With a Penis and One With a Vagina?
If you have partners with different bodies, whether you’re queer, bisexual, pansexual, polyamorous, non-monogamous, or just figuring things out, it’s completely normal to wonder what contraception you actually need. There isn’t one single “best” option. For many people, the answer is using different methods for different situations. Think about what you’re trying to prevent Contraception […]
How Do You Tell Someone You’ve Got an STI?
Finding out you have an STI can be stressful enough, telling someone else about it can feel even harder. You might be worried about awkwardness, rejection, or being judged. You might even feel embarrassed or ashamed. Let’s be clear from the start: having an STI is common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of. First: […]
How to Talk About What You Want in Bed (Without Feeling Embarrassed)
Let’s be honest, talking about sex can feel awkward. Even if you’re confident in other parts of your life, saying what you like (or don’t like) in bed can bring up embarrassment, nerves, or the fear of “making it weird”. The good news? You’re not bad at communication, you’re just human. And it does get […]
Welcome to the Suffolk Sexual Health newsletter!
We hope you are well and looking forward to getting into the festive spirit. Did you know that within the UK, September is the most common month for somebody to be born in? This is attributed to more conceptions happening around Christmas time nine months prior. This means that at Suffolk Sexual Health Service, we […]
Can Contraception Help With Things Other Than Pregnancy?
When most people think about contraception, preventing pregnancy is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But did you know that many types of contraception can also help with other health issues; like acne, painful periods, and conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)? Contraception isn’t one-size-fits-all, and some methods can have […]
What Happens If I Miss One Pill? Or Two? Or a Whole Pack?
Life happens. Alarms get ignored. Packs get left at home. And suddenly you’re staring at your pill strip thinking, “Wait… did I take that yesterday?” First things first: missing a pill is common and it doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to get pregnant. What matters is how many you’ve missed, what type of pill you’re […]
Can You Catch the Same STI Twice?
Short answer: yes, you absolutely can and it happens more often than people realise. A lot of people think that once you’ve had an STI and been treated, you’re “immune” or safe from getting it again. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. You can catch the same STI more than once, even if you’ve been […]
