Your sexual health is not just about preventing a pregnancy or an STI, it is also about feeling good and getting the most out of your relationships. Taking care of your sexual health really matters! It is just as important as keeping the rest of your body healthy.

Taking your time to get to know a new partner will mean you’ll feel more comfortable when you do decide to have sex. If you’ve decided you are both ready for sex, it’s time to talk about safe sex.

In Scotland, the age of consent is 16 for sex whether straight (guy on girl) or gay (guy on guy or girl on girl). If either person is under 16, then the person over 16 is breaking the law.

Sex between two people aged 13-15 is considered in law to be an offence even if they both consent (give permission). People under 13 are not legally able to give consent and anyone having sex with someone under 13 could be sentenced to life in prison.

Most sexually transmitted infections can be passed on through unprotected oral sex. It can be low risk if you practise safer oral sex.

The risks from oral sex can be reduced if you:

• always use a fresh condom
• change the dam or condom if in use for a long time
• refrain from oral sex if there are any signs of infection
• refrain from oral sex if the person giving it has any cuts or sores in their mouth.

Having unprotected anal sex, whether you're a man or a woman, is a high risk activity for almost every sexually transmitted infection.

The risks from anal sex can be reduced if you:

• always use a fresh condom
• use extra lubrication
• never share anal toys without a fresh condom
• don't touch your face, genitals or any cuts or wounds before washing your hands.

This is a virus which attacks the body’s defence system (immune system), and makes you less able to fight off infections. You may have HIV for many years and feel quite well. When the immune system begins to break down, infections and cancers can develop, known as AIDS.

Dumfries and Galloway Sexual Health Team provide information about, prevention, testing & offer training to NHS staff, statutory and non statutory organisations and members of the public who are at increased risk of catching a bloodborne virus.
Tel: 01387 272724

Find out more about your sexual health: Dumfries and Galloway Sexual Health team

Free condoms and lubricant by post is a project available only for those living in Dumfries & Galloway who may find it difficult to access free condoms and lubricant.

Condoms
Used correctly and consistently, can help you and your partner to prevent most sexually transmitted infections and HIV. This is a confidential service and none of your details will be used or shared for any other purpose. See our confidentiality statement.

Condoms come in various sizes and if the condom is too tight then it could burst and if the condom is too big it could slip off. If people are allergic to latex then non-latex condoms can be ordered.

Lubricant
Recent research indicates that all condoms carrying the CE mark are suitable for anal sex when used responsibly with water-based lubricants. NEVER use oil-based lubricants (such as hand creams, baby oil, lard, cooking oil, Vaseline, sun creams, lip balm etc) as these will perish the latex. Extra lubricant is not routinely required for vaginal sex. A 2012 report from B.A.S.H.H. /B.H.I.V.A. states that "the risk of slippage may be doubled with the additional use of lubrication for vaginal sex". For more information about condoms, see our condom page.

Condoms and lubricant can be posted out to your choice of address in Dumfries & Galloway and will normally be processed in 7 working days. Free condoms can also be picked up from our Sexual Health clinics in Dumfries & Galloway.

Important information about your order
In some cases, we will email for confirmation of details before processing the order to ensure the order is genuine. Please do not request condoms or lubricant for any individual other than yourself You must provide a forename and surname and a full delivery address You must provide a valid email address in case we need to contact you about your order. Please do not use a self-destructible email address as these orders may not be processed.

We regularly monitor order requests to avoid any abuse of the system.

You can order a starter pack (Trim, Regular, King-size & Super King-size) to check which size of condom is best suited to you, and up to 20 sachets of water-based lubricant Or You can order up to 20 condoms in various sizes and up to 20 sachets of water-based lubricant

Before you begin:

• You must be aged 16 or over.
• You must reside in Dumfries and Galloway.
• You must wait two weeks after your last sexual contact - tests will not show results if sexual contact was only within the last 2 weeks.

Sexual Health D&G provides postal testing kits for chlamydia and gonorrhoea to people living in Dumfries & Galloway. The kits and postage are free, easy to use and allow you test in the privacy of your own home. When you order a kit online you can choose the address it is posted to (it is a package in a white envelope which will fit through your letterbox). You are required to have a UK mobile phone or email address to receive the results by text within 7 days of the sample being received.

Eligibility
If you are aged 16 or over and living in Dumfries and Galloway and you are worried about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) you can use the following form to request a free chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing kit. You can choose to collect a kit from one of our clinics or to have one posted to you. Just follow the instructions in the kit to take your own samples and post the kit back to us free of charge. We will test your samples and text or call you with the results within 7 days after we have received your kit. Please note, to request a self-sampling kit you must have a mobile phone as your unique code will be texted to you.

Postal kits will be dispatched on the next working day after you submit your request and will include instructions on how to do your test and return it.

How do I take the samples?
There are full step by step instructions in the pack on how to obtain samples and what paperwork to fill in.

How quickly do I need to return the samples?
Once you have taken your samples, you should return them straight away in the freepost envelope provided ensuring you have paperwork filled in and returned along with samples.

Please note: STIs do not show up immediately in test results so you might be given the all-clear by mistake if you take the sample too soon. We recommend waiting 2 weeks after unprotected sex before taking a sample.

When and how will I get my results? You will receive your results by text or phonecall. If you haven’t heard within 2 weeks of posting the test please contact us on 03457023687

Can you still have sex while waiting for results?
If you think you have an STI, it is best to stop having sex until you have received your results. If you do have sex before getting your results, be sure to have safer sex including using a condom.

What happens if my test is positive?
Please do not worry as Sexual Health D&G services are here to support you and one of our experienced clinicians will discuss treatment options with you. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are treatable infections and often have no symptoms. You and if you have a current partner(s) will needed treatment.