Sexual Health Week kicks off

Sexual Health Awareness Week (SHAW) kicked off in Queensland today, Valentine’s Day, and will run through until the February 21.

SHAW is targeted at young adults between 18 and 30 years to increase awareness of sexual health issues and encourage the community to start talking openly about relationships and sexuality.

Gay men and young people are over represented in the rates for STIs.

There were 18,322 notifications of Chlamydia in Queensland in 2011, with many young people unaware of the growing risks of Chlamydia, Syphilis and HIV because they don’t always show symptoms and therefore can be passed on without realising it.

Having a sexual health check at your local GP or sexual health clinic ensures any infections found treated quickly.

As a part of week, Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) health promotion officer Amanda Dean has produced a Youtube clip, ‘Sh*t Queers/Gays Say About Sex’.

It showcases some of the common attitudes and misconceptions amongst gay men and other queer people with regards to safer sex and condom use.

Watch it below: