Sexual & Reproductive Health

High School Education

Written on 26 November 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

SHFPACT has developed a range of workshops and education sessions for students in High School and College. Sessions can be tailored to small or large groups of students, and to meet the needs of the student, school and parents/caregivers.Topics can include: Gender and Sexual Identity Respectful Relationships Consent Technology, Social Media and Pornography Contraception, STIs and BBVs For presentations to large groups of students, the cost is $190 per educator per hour. For workshops, the cost is $10 per student, per workshop (there is a discount available if a school books multiple...

Last updated on 28 November 2023.

Contraception Kits

Written on 24 November 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

SHFPACT hires Contraception Kits to any High Schools and Colleges that have a Friends of SHFPACT Membership (Organisational/Nonprofit/Small Business/Schools). To take out a Friends of SHFPACT Membership follow the link below: Friends of SHFPACT Membership SHFPACT’s Contraception Kits contain: 1x diaphragm (Caya®) 1x hormone releasing IUD (Mirena®) 6 x male condoms 6 x lubricants 2 x female condoms 2 x dental dam 1 x oral contraception pill sample box 1 x emergency contraception sample box 1 x vaginal ring (Nuvaring®) 1 x contraceptive implant (Implanon®) 1 x contraceptive injection...

Contraception

Last updated on 24 November 2023.

Vasectomy

Written on 06 September 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

A vasectomy is a permanent form of contraception. It involves a simple surgical procedure that prevents sperm from traveling from the testicles to the semen ejaculated from the penis. After vasectomy, your semen is the same, but it has no sperm in it. Vasectomy is a safe, effective, and permanent form of contraception. How effective is vasectomy? A vasectomy is over 99% effective. However, while it is rare, a vasectomy may fail, and you may stay fertile or become fertile again. This can happen if the tubes are not entirely blocked off, grow back together, or if a third vas deferens tube exists....

Contraception, Vasectomy, Factsheet

Last updated on 06 September 2023.

Chlamydia

Written on 31 August 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

What is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmissible infection (STI) which is caused by a bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis. It is the most common bacterial STI in young people under 30 in Australia. Chlamydia is easy to catch, easy to test, and easy to treat. It can cause infection of the cervix, anus, throat, urethra(penis), and occasionally the eyes. How do you get chlamydia? You get chlamydia by having sex without a condom with a person who has the infection. Chlamydia is sometimes also transmitted through oral sex. Is a chlamydia infection serious? If chlamydia...

Last updated on 31 August 2023.

HIV / AIDS

Written on 30 August 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body’s immune system, and if it untreated, it can lead to AIDS. The virus that causes HIV is called a retrovirus. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome and is a late stage of untreated HIV. This is where the body’s immune system is damaged by the HIV virus making the infected person vulnerable to diseases and infections. With the HIV treatments that are now available in Australia, AIDS is extremely rare. How do you get HIV? HIV can be found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal secretions, and breast milk. You can get HIV through: Sex...

Last updated on 31 August 2023.

Unplanned Pregnancy

Written on 12 June 2023. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Unplanned pregnancy is common, and it is estimated that approximately 150,00 to 200,000 unplanned pregnancies occur in Australia every year. There are three choices available when you have an unplanned pregnancy: Continue the pregnancy and parent. Continue the pregnancy and place the child for adoption. Have an abortion. What to do first if you think you might be pregnant? If you think you are pregnant the first step is to find out if you definitely are. To do this you need to have a pregnancy test. Finding out if you are pregnant is important so that you can get the right care early...

Last updated on 06 September 2023.

Gonorrhoea

Written on 04 November 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

WHAT I GONORRHOEA? Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) which is caused by a bacterium called neisseria gonorrhoeae. It can infect the urethra, throat, cervix, anus, and (rarely) the eyes. HOW DO YOU CATCH GONORRHOEA? Gonorrhoea is passed on during oral, vaginal, or anal sex without condoms. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Symptoms will depend on where the infection is. Up to 80% of people with a vaginal infection will have no symptoms at all. In people with an infection in the penis most will have symptoms, only about 10-15% will not have symptoms. Symptoms are very uncommon...

Last updated on 21 November 2022.

A photo of a woman a red dress sitting on the grass, crossing her legs over.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus

Written on 04 November 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

WHAT IS VULVAR LICHEN SCLEROSUS? Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a common long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects the genitals. Lichen sclerosus can ccur anywhere on the body, but most often affects the vulva. It can occur at any age but usually starts around menopause and affects around 1 in 20 women who have gone through menopause. It can occasionally affect men and children. If lichen sclerosus is left untreated for a long time, there can be an increased risk of skin cancer in the vulva. Lichen sclerosus does not affect the vagina which is different tissue to the vulva. WHAT CAUSES...

Factsheet

Last updated on 28 August 2023.

PrEP & PEP and how to get it?

Written on 01 November 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Are you thinking about taking PrEP and would like to know more? PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It is a prescription medication which is a combination of two different HIV drugs taken by HIV negative people to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV. When used correctly PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV infection.

Mens Health, PrEP, Gay Men, HIV, PEP

Last updated on 05 September 2023.

Found man in bed opening a condom for safe sex

Condoms

Written on 19 September 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Condoms are worn during sexual activity to prevent sexually transmissible infections and as a contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. A condom is a physical barrier that stops body fluids (e.g., semen, vaginal fluids) from passing between sexual partners. There are two different kinds of condom available, the external (male) condom and the internal (female) condom. HOW DO EXTERNAL CONDOMS WORK AND WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? External condoms are made of thin, strong latex rubber or polyurethane. HOW DO YOU USE THEM? They are used by being rolled onto the erect penis before vaginal, anal,...

Contraception, Condoms

Last updated on 21 March 2023.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause

Written on 01 September 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM is a term used to describe the changes that can occur in the vulva, vagina, urethra, and bladder when you reach menopause. These changes are common. Up to 80% of people have GSM following menopause, and more than 50% experience symptoms. Symptoms of GSM can occur following natural menopause or surgical menopause. Unlike other symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes and night sweats, which can improve over time, symptoms of GSM usually persist and may possibly worsen. GSM can cause significant discomfort and distress, and it is important that it...

Last updated on 04 September 2023.

Herpes

Written on 01 September 2022. Posted in Sexual & Reproductive Health.

WHAT IS HERPES? Herpes is a skin condition caused by a very common virus called the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). There are two types of HSV: HSV 1 and HSV 2. HSV 1 causes almost all oral herpes (cold sores) and about half of genital herpes. Infection with HSV 1 tends to be milder and doesn’t usually require treatment. HSV 2 causes about half of genital herpes. It rarely causes oral herpes. Infection with HSV 2 is more likely to have recurrences and to need treatment but can also be quite mild. Both HSV types can have no symptoms and many people who have HSV do not know that they have it. HOW...

Last updated on 04 September 2023.