Condom care

Sexually-transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea are on the rise in our communities and the best way to stop them from spreading is to use protection and to get tested and treated.

Protection

The best form of protection around (other than abstinence i.e. not having sex) are condoms.  

But like any other product on the shelf you need to follow the instructions for the best results.  

Here's a list:

• Check the use-by-date - If it's expired buy a new batch;
• Never re-use or try cleaning a condom - They're designed to be used once;
• Store appropriately - Heat will make condoms perish so don’t keep them in a warm places like the glove-box of your car or your pockets; 
• Take it easy - Be gentle when removing a condom from its packaging and be careful not to snag or tear the condom on any jewellery or piercings;
• Put it on - Don’t start having sex before putting on a condom; and importantly
• Use a water-based lubricant so the condom doesn’t break.

Listen here to our radio message on safe condom use.

What organ is responsible for some 500 bodily functions like breaking down fats, blood clotting and clearing the blood of drugs and toxins?  The answer is your liver and you need to take care of it. 

If an infection gets into the liver it could create all sorts of problems for you.

One infection to look out for is Hepatitis B virus.  You can get this virus from blood to blood contact such as having unprotected sex with someone who has Hep B.   Read more here.

No signs

If you get Hep B you might not know because there are often no symptoms.  However symptoms to watch out for include loss of appetite, jaundice, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain and tiredness.  

A simple blood test can show if you have Hep B.

To get tested or for more information talk to your doctor, community-controlled health service or sexual health clinic. 

Condoman Says seeks to raise awareness, increase knowledge and understanding in the prevention of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBV) amongst First Nations people in Queensland and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.