Your guide to a healthy, safe sex life

Updated April 2026 | 4 min read
Expert contributor: Deborah Bateson, Professor of Practice at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney
Words by Linda Vergnani

Sexual health is part of overall health – and safe sex reduces your risk of STIs and unintended pregnancy. Follow these tips to stay informed and protected.

Whether you’re in a relationship or single, having a healthy sex life can be a positive choice with added health benefits. Research into women's health shows sex can support heart health, improve sleep, boost your mood and even reduce pain.

“We know sex is a pleasurable part of life, so having a healthy sex life is important,” says Deborah Bateson AM, Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney.

While a good sex life can mean different things to different people, she adds, overall, it means having sex when you want it and feeling comfortable and confident.

But maintaining your sexual health is a marathon, not a one-night plan. Despite great strides in sex education, many young Aussies are still not having safe sex.

Practising safe sex reduces your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. It’s about staying informed, knowing your options and being confident you’re making the right choices for your – and your partner’s – health.

STIs: Causes, symptoms and prevention

One in six Australians will get an STI in their lifetime. A 2025 report found reported cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea have more than doubled in the past decade. Chlamydia diagnoses remain high, with about half occurring in people aged 20 to 29.

STIs are spread during sexual activity, including vaginal, anal and oral sex, through direct contact and bodily fluids. Some STIs can also spread through skin-to-skin contact and from pregnant people to their babies. 

If left untreated, some STIs can lead to serious health problems, including infertility. STIs during pregnancy can also be dangerous for unborn babies.

Common STI symptoms

People with STIs often have no symptoms, so regular testing is important to help find and treat infections early.

If STI symptoms do occur, they usually affect the genitals or anus and may include:

• itching/irritation
• pain (in the genital and lower abdominal regions)
• rashes
• leaking or discharge from your genitals or anus
• burning when you urinate
• discomfort
• feeling feverish.

How to prevent STIs

To prevent STIs, the Australian Centre for Disease Control recommends:

• talking openly with your partner(s) about STIs
• not having sex with people who have symptoms that could be due to an STI – including in their mouth, anal or genital areas
• making sure you and your partner(s) have been tested for STIs before you have sex
• using a barrier – like a condom or dental dam – for vaginal, anal or oral sex
• using condom-safe lubricants to reduce the risk of condoms tearing
• having protection available in unexpected situations, like when travelling or attending parties
• not sharing sex toys and washing them thoroughly each time you use them.

Book regular STI tests

It’s recommended that anyone who’s sexually active gets an STI test every six to 12 months – even if you're in a long-term relationship or you always use protection.

“The key thing people are unaware of is that most STIs don’t have any symptoms,” Prof Bateson explains. This makes testing an important part of sexual health that should be normalised – “just a routine thing you do”. It’s also an essential step for anyone who believes they may have had exposure to an STI.

Research from UNSW found only 16% of Australians aged 16 to 49 have ever been tested for an STI, with only one in two discussing sexual health with their healthcare providers.

“I think there’s a lot of angst, stigma and shame… [people] may be embarrassed and worried about going to their GP to find out more information or get tested,” says Prof Bateson.

But there’s no shame in having an STI test, she adds, and everyone has the right to visit health services like a doctor, family planning or sexual health clinic to be checked – especially if you've been having unprotected sex.

Good sexual health starts with condoms

When used correctly, condoms significantly reduce the risk of most STIs and unintended pregnancy. Both men and women should be proactive about buying and using condoms, experts say.

“Negotiate the use of condoms in a new sexual relationship,” Prof Bateson suggests, “because people don’t always know they have an STI and many unwittingly pass it on to a partner – then feel mortified about it.”

Follow this guide to safe condom use.

• Use a new condom every time you have sex and check the expiry date before using it.
• Be careful not to tear the condom when opening the packet.
• Only use water-based lubricants as other lubricants can damage the condom.
• Use condoms on vibrators and sex toys that you share with partners.
• Use the condom (or dental dam for oral sex) from the start of sex to the very end.

Other methods of contraception

Condoms are one form of contraception (birth control) that can help prevent both pregnancy and the spread of STIs. However, since no form of contraception is 100% effective, you may want to consider combining condoms with other methods, like:

• oral contraceptives (‘the pill’)
• an intrauterine device (IUD)
• the contraceptive injection or implant
• a vaginal ring.

It’s important to remember that some methods are more effective than others. If you’re considering birth control, speak with your GP about your options so you can understand the benefits, risks and what’s right for you.

Get support for your sexual health

If you’re concerned about your sexual health, booking a GP appointment is a great first step. Our partnership with GP2U, an online video GP service, makes it easier for eligible members^* to access telehealth services, including a standard GP consultation (up to 10 minutes) for a fee of $50^*. This consultation can be used for a range of services including getting sick notes, referrals and prescription medications, to help you get access to care when you need it.