Keeping sexually aware on campus

**Sexual health awareness day was recently held on campus in an effort to encourage students to be more proactive and less hesitant to talk about their sexual health.**

An estimated 1 in 10 sexually active young people have chlamydia, with students being the most affected age group. The event encouraged Warwick students to have open conversations about the topic, ridding them of any pre-conceptions of embarrassment or shame.

This is especially relevant since [Warwick was recently given a ‘third’ for sexual health](https://theboar.org/news/2013/feb/25/warwick-given-third-sexual-health/) according to a sexual health report compiled by DrEd.

Speaking to the Boar at the time, Dr Jasper Mordhorst, DrEd clinical consultant, commented: “Despite [good sexual health services in the UK generally], in the under 25 age group, sexual health issues remain critical.

“Roughly 10 percent of under 25’s still carry chlamydia, and chlamydia remains the number one reason why women can’t conceive in later life.”

Held on Wednesday 6 March, sexual health awareness day encouraged students to not only talk about these issues, but also to get tested for STIs.

As well as using banners and leaflets to catch students’ attention, helpers distributed free condoms at the Students’ Union’s club night ‘POP!’, in an effort to encourage safe rather than irresponsible sex.

One of the day’s coordinators, Rebecca Myers, told the _Boar_: “We realised that, whilst university students are the age group most affected in the UK by STIs, the university still wasn’t the healthy, open environment it should be for talking about and tackling sexual health.

“For me, one of the most important things is just talking about it – getting rid of any shame and embarrassment surrounding the issue of sexual health and just seeing it for what it is: a responsible way of responding to a fact of life.

“Getting checked out should be like visiting the dentist, and you should go every time you change partners, regardless of your sexuality.”

Third-year student Rosa Sullivan praised the initiative, but had hoped it wouldn’t have been necessary: “I think it is a great idea, but at such a forward looking University I think, or at least I would hope that people are already sensible enough to use protection and get checked out.”