Sexual Health

Practicing Safe Sex

  • Only have sex if and when you are ready
  • Always have consent before AND during sexual activity
  • Talk to your partner about sexual boundaries before having sex
  • Use contraceptives to prevent STIs and potential unplanned pregnancy 
  • Use a dental dam or flavoured condom when performing oral sex to prevent the spread of STI’s (such as herpes/ HSV)
  • Talk to your doctor about being vaccinated against HPV by receiving the Gardasil immunization (also offered at the Trent Wellness Centre)
  • Receive STI testing after having a new partner or once a year (whichever scenario comes first)

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)

STIs are bacterial or viral infections that occur from sexual contact. They can be transmitted via oral, vaginal and anal sex. Follow this link to learn more about the different STIs.

Dental Dams

  • Dental dams are thin rubber barriers (similar to the material of a condom), that may be placed externally over the labia or anus when performing oral sex
  • If used properly a dental dam can help in the prevention of STIs that are spread by oral sex such as herpes (HSV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, syphilis as well as hepatitis A and B

Condoms

Using Condoms

  • Use condoms to prevent the spread of STIs
  • Use flavoured dental dams and condoms for oral and anal sex
  • Use condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancy
  • If you use condoms 100% of the time you should still be tested for STIs once a year or between new partners

What if the condom breaks?

  • If pregnancy is possible – use Plan B from a pharmacy or Student Health Services 
  • Get tested for STIs

Contraceptives

Contraceptives are tools used to prevent unplanned pregnancy. They are very effective resources if used properly but none are 100% effective other than abstinence.

Type Effectiveness when used properly Prevents Pregnancy? Prevents STIs?
Abstinence 100% Yes Yes
Male Condoms  98% Yes Yes
Female Condoms 95% Yes Yes
The Patch  99.7% Yes No
Oral Contraceptives  99.7% Yes No
NuvaRing 99.7% Yes No
Intrauterine Device (IUD) 99.1% Yes No
Intrauterine System (IUS)- includes hormone 99.8% Yes No

Birth Control

Which form of birth control is right for me?

I forgot to take my birth control what do I do?

Emergency Contraceptive 

  • The Morning After Pill (Plan B) can be taken orally within 3 days of having sex to help prevent the risk of pregnancy.

You should consider taking the Morning After Pill if:

  • You didn’t take your birth control on time
  • You had sex without a condom
  • The condom broke during sex

Where can I get the Morning After Pill?

  • Trent University Health Services 
  • Peterborough Public Health Sexual Health Clinic
  • Local Pharmacy

Sexual Violence

PAP Tests

  • A PAP test is cervical screening for those 25 years of age and older who have had oral or vaginal sex
  • PAP tests should be done every 3 years
  • Testing for sexually transmitted infections should be done once a year or in between partners

PAP Testing & HPV Resources 

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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