It is important to take care of your sexual health. You can feel confident to engage with health services and talk openly. There's lots of support and resources to help you stay healthy and to practice safe sex.
Sexual and reproductive health care services
Access confidential, safe and non-judgemental sexual health and reproductive services, with clinics operating across all campus regions.
Caboolture and Moreton Bay: Metro North Sexual health Service - +61 7 3897 6300
Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast and Gympie: Sunshine Coast Sexual Health Service (Clinic 87) - +61 7 5470 5244
Services for international students: International Student Health Hub
Sexual health checks
If you are sexually active, get a sexual health check at your doctor or through a sexual health clinic.
What to expect
A sexual health check may include:
- questions about your sexual orientation (eg straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender)
- discussion about the number of sexual partners you have had and your sexual practices
- describing your symptoms
- an examination, which may include taking swabs, urine samples and a blood test.
Safe sex
it's probably not the first time you've heard the phrase, but what does it mean to you? Maybe you or your partner is on the contraceptive pill, you use condoms sometimes (or all the time) or maybe you just feel that 'it won't happen to me'.
Safe sex means caring for both your own health and the health of your partner.
Being safe protects you from getting or passing on sexually transmissible infections (STIs) as well as an unplanned pregnancy.
If you are sexually active, practice safe sex by using condoms and talking to your sexual partner about safe sex.
Contraception is one way to prevent pregnancy. It is sometimes called 'birth control'.
Common forms of contraception include the contraceptive pill, implants, injections and condoms. Whilst the contraceptive pill is an effective method of birth control it does not prevent the transmission of STIs.
Barrier contraceptives such as condoms are an effective method for preventing both pregnancies and most STIs.
While some STIs are curable, many are not. STIs such as genital herpes and HIV/AIDs may require a lifetime of maintenance and/or treatment.
Sexually transmissible infections (STI's)
If you have unprotected sex, you may be at risk of a sexually transmissible infection (STI), such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or HIV/AIDS. Many STIs have few symptoms so people may be unaware they are passing on an infection.
Get tested
Getting a test is simple and confidential. There are free tests for chlamydia and gonorrhoea available through Queensland Health.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment
Sexual assault is any kind of sexual activity that occurs without your consent.
Sexual harassment is any form of unwelcome sexual behaviour that's offensive, humiliating or intimidating. Sexual harassment is against the law.
Confidential support is available if you have experienced sexual assault or harassment.
UniSC is committed to creating a community where every member of the university is supported, respected and safe. We are committed to action against sexual assault and sexual harassment.
MORE INFORMATION
There's lots of support to help you take charge of your sexual health. Contact a sexual and reproductive health care service listed above or explore additional community services here.
Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (QC)
Community led and community owned health and wellbeing services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Sistergirl and Brotherboy people and communities in Queensland.
True Relationships and Reproductive Health (True)
Improve your reproductive and sexual health, learn about safe and respectful relationships and access expert clinical services, education and counselling.
Sexual health resources
Access more information about sexual health, safe sex, contraception, sexually transmissible infections, free testing, contact tracing and health services available to you.
Contact Student Wellbeing on phone +61 7 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au for more information.
UniSC takes action to support achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages and Goal 5: Take urgent action to combat climate change and it's impacts.