The Basics

There are some simple things we can all think about and do to keep ourselves and our partners safe during sex and ensure we have a great time.

• What do I want? It's a great idea to think about the sex that you want, what it is going to mean to you and how you can get it. Are you interested in monogamous relationships? Do you enjoy casual sex? What do you want the sex to be like?
• Communication - In order to get the type of sex you want, you are going to need to communicate this to your partner/s. This can be done in a range of ways both directly and indirectly, verbally and non-verbally. While it is especially helpful to have a direct discussion about what you want, you will work out the best communication method for you over time.
• Condoms, latex barriers and lube - Condoms are extremely effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and many other STIs and should be used in conjunction with water-based lube. This is particularly important for anal or vaginal sex and it is also essential to change condoms when sharing toys with a partner. Latex barriers such as dams are useful for oral-vaginal and oral-anal sex.
• Testing - Getting a regular sexual health test is great way to keep healthy if you are sexually active. These days they are generally very quick and unobtrusive, usually involving a consultation for about 15 to 20 minutes including the collection of some samples, and returning a week later to get the results. Sexual health centres, youth health centres and women’s health centres are good places to go (see a list below). However you can also get them from your local GP, however you may have to be specific about the tests you request in those cases.

Research about young GLBT people and sexual health

There are some important differences between young same-sex attracted people and their peers when it comes to sexual health. In 2005 Hillier et al. published Writing Themselves in Again which is the most comprehensive report to date on same-sex attracted (SSA) youth.

Among other things the authors asked about sexual health and the key findings were:

• SSA young people were more likely to be sexually active earlier that their Year 10 and 12 peers in secondary school and that SSA young people were more likely to be having sex that matched their sexual attraction than in 1998
• 38% of young people were in a relationship at the time of the survey, with more young women (48%) than young men
• 65% used a condom at their last penetrative sexual encounter and 10% of young people reported being diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection
• 11% of young women had been pregnant, 10% of the 15-18 sub-sample

Hillier, L., Turner, A., Mitchell, A. (2005) Writing Themselves in Again. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. La Trobe University. Melbourne.

If you're interested in more research on sex and sexual health you can go to the websites of the National Centre in HIV Social Research, The Kirby Institute or the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society.

Find out more

Have more questions about HIV or STIs? Want some facts and tips about the sex men are having and where? Want to more about the wonderful world of gay relationships? Find out about that and more in the Men’s Health section of the website.

The Women’s Health section of the ACON website has stacks of info for young same-sex attracted women about lesbian sex and sexuality. Get info on heaps of topics such as what lesbian sex is, sex in public places and how to look after your sexual health.

More info

Contact: ACON's Fun & Esteem Project (for guys) or the Young Women's Project

Tel: (02) 9206 2000
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

E-mail: youth@acon.org.au