Sex is a topic that everyone should be clued up on and I’m happy to say that I had a relatively good sex education at school.
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Judging by the details below, some people haven’t been as lucky. In a recent article, a group of NHS STI (sexually transmitted infection) nurses revealed the strangest questions they’ve ever been asked by patients. Here are some of the best (or worst depending on how you look at it) ones:
Do I need to disinfect my sex toys after use?
Nurse Suzie says:
Right at the end of a routine examination a lady blurted this question out. Cleaning a sex toy properly is very important for your health, but there’s usually no need to use antibacterial products. Follow the recommended care guidelines, which should recommend washing them after every use using a mild, unscented soap. This is even if you’re only using it on yourself and not sharing with a partner. An unwashed toy can contaminate them with bacteria. You can get an STI by using sex toys or other objects, but only if someone with an STI has used them before you. If you suspect this is the case, wash it thoroughly before use, or use a condom.
Does emptying the semen inside me successfully prevent pregnancy?
Nurse Darren says:
One woman asked this recently after she’d seen it happen on [an episode of Channel 4 show] Catastrophe. The answer is no, trying to physically remove semen that’s inside you following ejaculation is no guarantee that you won’t become pregnant. There is no way to remove all the sperm – and some sperm is released pre-ejaculation. It’s also worth pointing out sperm can live inside a woman after sex, sometimes for up to seven days.
Can mutual masturbation give you an STI?
Nurse Darren says:
This was something that surprised me and I did have to clarify exactly what was meant, which was if they are just using hands. Thankfully, I could reassure them as there is a very low risk from using your hands on someone else and then yourself. But genital to genital masturbation can leave you exposed to things like herpes, HPV [genital warts], pubic lice [crabs] or syphilis.
Can a condom get ”lost” inside me?
Nurse Suzie says:
No, neither a condom nor the contraceptive NuvaRing can get ”lost” inside a woman. There’s no danger of something being pushed too far up in the vagina because the cervix, which is the narrow, lower end of the uterus, will block it from going any farther. If a condom comes off during sex you can reach inside the vagina and gently pull it out. If this happens there is a risk of STIs, and also pregnancy if the woman is not using another type of contraception. Your sexual health clinic can help.
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Should I be worried about how my vagina looks?
Nurse Suzie says:
Stop worrying, because the answer is no. There really isn’t any such thing as a ‘normal vagina’ that looks a certain way. I’m both surprised and saddened to be asked this because it shows how many women have been taught that a ‘healthy’ or ‘attractive’ vagina looks a very specific way, which has probably come from porn imagery. That is short inner labia that don’t protrude, with a small, visible clitoris and – if Caucasian – a consistent light-toned skin.
The vulva, which is the set of external genitals that includes the clitoris and the labia, comes in many different sizes, shapes, colours, and other physical variations. So whether you’re wrinkly, smooth, flappy or bumpy, yours is ‘normal’. That said, if you notice a change in its appearance, especially if that is a redness, sores or other markings, or a change in discharge you should seek advice from an STI clinic.
Well, have we all learned something today? I certainly have… people are idiots. Just kidding – some of those weren’t even too ridiculous, but the person asking about whether they can catch an STI from mutual masturbating must be a bit of a worrier if that’s their main sexual concern.
For more people who need a serious sex education, take a look at this horrifying sex trend that is taking the UK by storm.
