*Safe* Sex in the City.

So a few weeks ago it was Safe Sex Awareness Week at my college. There were girls walking around handing out condoms in super cute floral packages that encourage you to use them shamelessly. I thought this topic would be great, not just for city-bound girls/guys, but anyone reading my blog.

Tips:

• In NYC, it’s not strange to see bowls full of free condoms next to store registers. I think that even if you’re not sexually active, take a few! You really never know when you (or a friend!!) may need one.
• Too embarrassed to go to a store to buy condoms and sceptical about the free ones? Go to CondomDepot, they offer discrete (free!) shipping and the word “condom” or anything weird will not be printed on the box or will appear on your credit card bill. (they sell other things like lubricant, as well!)
• CondomDepot is also good for researching which condoms are best based on reviews from real people.
  
• If you have an accident where your condom broke, slipped, you forgot to take your birth control, were forced into sex or just didn’t take any precautions: Don’t Panic just yet. Go to your local pharmacy and get Plan B One Step. (If it’s late at night, Google “24 hour pharmacies” in your area) You have 72 hours to take this after your accident and it well help prevent an accidental pregnancy. (For more info, click here.) It costs $50 but here’s a coupon you can print out if you ever need it.
• Interested in birth control? I suggest you get in touch with your local Planned Parenthood. They’re “the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care provider. [Their] health centers provide the highest quality care through a wide range of services, including emergency contraception (morning after pill) and other birth control.”
• Don’t be embarrassed to get yourself tested! Also encourage your partner to do the same. This link gives you places to get tested in NYC plus tells you what to expect from the visit and what to do before the visit.
  
• If you happen to know that you/your partner has HIV here’s some interesting info I discovered recently. Don’t use spermicide.
  ”Nonoxynol-9 has been shown to increase the risk of HIV infection when used frequently by women at high risk of infection… Non-9 is a powerful detergent. It is so strong that it can actually irritate the vaginal walls and rectal cavity causing a path for the virus to enter your system.” More info here.
• Don’t put condoms in your wallet. The friction/heat that happen while stuck in there will cause it to weaken and possibly break! A suggestion I read a while ago is that if you absolutely must store it there then you: a) put it in the wallet right before going out. b) if at the end of the night your don’t use it, take it out of the wallet and store it again where it was (a drawer, box, secret hiding place etc…)
• Last but not least, please know your partner. Know if you can trust them, know if they have a clean bill of health, just know them and stay safe.

This is definitely not everything you need to know, but they’re things I’ve learned about here in The City. I want you guys to stay safe and have fun! And one more thing, know that if any of you are worried or have any questions or just need someone to talk to that I’m here happy to listen!

Take Care
xoxo Aleks