Sexual Health
Condoms
When you’re with a client/casual partner always use a condom.
You should even use a condom on your dildos/vibrator.
Don't share your sex toys.
Unless they make you itch, use condoms with spermicide. This will help to stop you getting pregnant.
Always use a water-based lubricant, like KY jelly.
Always use a condom for oral sex. Flavoured ones are good
Some clients may try to take the condom off during sex.
So be careful if he -
• suggests lots of different positions.
• flips you over to have sex from behind.
Anal sex can be dangerous, so don’t do it if you can help it. If you have to, use lots of lubricant and an extra strong condom.
If you have to work when you’re “on” (having your period), use a diaphragm as well as a condom.
For more information ask POW workers.
Safe Practice
Try to make sure the client has washed himself before you see him.
Try to check his cock, balls and pubic hair against -
• broken skin, herpes or sores.
• warts.
• redness around the tip.
• any discharge or strong smell.
You can get a sexually transmitted infection from a client’s mouth so –
• don’t kiss him.
• don’t let him go down on you especially if he has cold sores.
Don’t let him put his fingers inside as dirty nails could lead to infections.
It’s really important to keep yourself wet during sex as dryness can lead to condom breakage.So if you start to dry up-use more lubricant!
Tips
With a bit of practice you can make him think he’s inside you when he’s only between your legs. If you’ve got long hair you can make him think he’s having oral when he’s not.
The outreach team can give demonstrations of these important tips.
USING CONDOMS
Only use condoms with the kite mark.
You can leave it to him to put it on, but some clients can be awkward sods so it’s best to be sure and put it on him yourself.Tell him it can be fun as well as safe.
There are three ways to put it on.
1 By hand on a stiff penis (cock)
• Open the pack carefully.
• Put it on as soon as the cock is hard.
• Squeeze the air out of the tip of
• the condom and gently roll it down the full length of the cock.
• After he has come, hold the condom in place as he pulls out of you, gently unroll it down the full length of the cock.
• Make sure no spunk spills out when he takes it off.
• Be careful when you throw it away.
2 By hand on a soft penis (cock)
• Squeeze the air out of the tip of the condom.
• Stretch it over the end of his cock.
• Hold the condom and the cock in one hand and gently pull the cock upwards and outwards.
• Roll the condom all the way down, stroking the cock as you go.
• As it gets stiff, make sure there are no air bubbles trapped and that the condom doesn’t get caught up in his pubic hair.
3 By mouth
• Use an unlubricated condom, i.e. flavoured.
• Unroll it a bit to loosen it and carefully roll it up again.
• with your mouth nearly shut, put the condom in front of your teeth and behind your lips - make sure it’s the right way round so it will unroll properly.
• Hold the cock firmly, and with the same hand grip the rim of the condom with thumb and finger.
• Tighten your lips and push the rim of the condom down over the cock using your lips and tongue, firmly but suggestively.
If you’ve not done this before, have a go on a cucumber!
LUBRICANTS
Always use the right lubricant with a condom. Although they may be handy, you should never use Vaseline, baby oil, suntan oil, hand cream or butter or margarine.
Instead use -
• KY jelly
• spermicide
• or spit
3 Breakages
You may have had a condom break on you before. This may well have been because -
• all the air wasn’t squeezed out of the tip when it was put on
• it got ripped by fingernails, jewellery, or teeth
• it was kept somewhere warm, like in a pocket, and the rubber had gone weak
• it was past it’s sell-by date
• you didn’t use enough lubricant
• you used the wrong lubricant
• you used condoms without the kite mark
Excuses, excuses!
Some clients will try anything not to use a condom, so be ready for his excuses.
IF HE -
• is shy and doesn’t want to discuss it, or know how to use one
• thinks of himself as not really a client, but just an occasional visitor
• is too pissed or stoned or both to think straight
• says he trusts you
• says there’s no risk because you can tell when someone’s infected
• says that condoms aren’t natural or they don’t feel so good
• says that you don’t trust him that he hasn’t got anything wrong with him
• says that they don’t work
• says he hasn’t got any
THEN YOU -
• take the lead and tell him you’ll do it in style
• humour him and remind him it’s still safer with one
• take charge - never drink or take drugs so much that you can’t take control
• tell him you can’t tell someone’s got an infection just by looking at them
• tell him how much fun they are and that because you’re relaxed you’ll make him feel good
• tell him you do trust him, but that neither of you can be sure
• tell him it’s much safer if you use them properly - and they can be fun
• open up your supply!
SEXUALLY - TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STI’s)
Most STI’s are caught through vaginal/anal sex. Some are also caught through oral sex If you have sex with someone who has an STI, you’ll probably catch it yourself. You can catch most STI’s through oral, vaginal and anal sex. The best way to cut down your chances of getting infected is to use a condom. If you think you have an STI, get yourself off to see those nice people at the GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinic for a check-up. You’ll find the phone number below.
Some STI’s can be detected by a smear test, which can also tell you early on if you have a more serious condition (such as cervical cancer). The test is quick and painless and you should try to have it done every 3 years.
Here are some common STI’s.
• Non-specific genital infections (NSGI)
These are the most common infections and are called ‘non-specific’ because no specific germ causes them. Men are more likely to notice than women.
• Non-specific urethritis (NSU)
This is when a man’s water pipe gets inflamed by an unamed germ, and can be treated by antibiotic tablets. This is important for you because if a client has NSU, Chlamydia. This maybe the cause of the problem.
• Chlamydia (the “silent” STI)
Although some women may feel uncomfortable around the bladder area, or notice a change in the amount, colour, or smell of vaginal discharge, most women do not know they have Chlamydia. So it’s important to have
regular check-ups at the GUM clinic, because if it’s not treated, you may get pelvic inflammatory disease.
Remember, Chlamydia will not show up on a routine smear test.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
If you have an STI, for example Chlamydia, and don’t get it treated, your tubes can eventually become infected and this may mean you’ll never be able to have children. PID can be treated by a course of (free) antibiotics.
• Gonorrhea (clap)
If you get clap in your mouth you will probably get a sore throat, but if your vagina or bum are infected you probably won’t notice, and you could end up with PID. So, again, regular visits to the GUM clinic are a pretty good idea
• Genital herpes (cold sores)
Herpes is caused by a virus which causes itching in the genital area around the vagina, or it can give you small blisters which can burst leaving little ulcers, or just a feeling like you’ve got the flu. Although herpes can’t be cured, the GUM clinic can give you something to relieve the discomfort, and help you to “manage” the condition.
• Genital warts
You can’t always see if a client has warts, but you can catch them from him. If you find you’ve got warts around your vagina or bum, get them seen to as soon as you can.
• Trichomonas (TV or “trike”)
This affects both men and women - if you get it, you may notice a fishy-smelling yellow or white froth coming from your vagina, which will itch. Don’t worry - TV is easily cured by a course of tablets you can get from the doctor.
• Hepatitis B
This is a liver infection caused by a virus that is passed on through body fluids, such as vaginal fluid, spunk and blood. It can be prevented by a 6-month course of jabs.
• Thrush
Thrush usually causes itching and a thick white gunge to come out of your vagina. It can be treated by cream or a tablet that you put in your vagina. Some women recommend popping a dollop of plain yogurt on the end of a tampon, which may be soothing as well as nutritious, but probably won’t cure the thrush!
• Syphilis
This is pretty rare nowadays, but is easily treated. If you notice any sores around your vagina, have the GUM clinic check them out.
• Pubic lice (crabs)
These are nits that hang around pubic hair waiting for the chance to hurl themselves onto you from a passing client. You may notice them on your body or knickers, but you are more likely to notice the itching. You can get rid of the little beggars with a lotion from the chemist or GUM clinic.
HIV AND AIDS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that can lead to AIDS.
There is no way you can tell who’s got HIV just by looking at them.It only shows up in a blood test. HIV is transmitted through blood, spunk and vaginal juices. So you can get it or pass it on when you have unprotected sex or share a needle.
You can’t get it by shaking hands, off a toilet seat or from cutlery or cups.
The best way to protect yourself is to -
• always use a condom with the kite mark
• never share needles
If you are pregnant you have a one-in-twelve chance of passing
HIV to your baby.
It is twice as likely that HIV is passed in spunk from
man to woman, than from woman to man during sexual
intercourse. You stand more chance of getting HIV if you-
• have sex without using a condom when you’re “on” (having a period)
• have an STI, such as gonorrhea
• or use drugs or alcohol as it can make you less aware of safe
• sex practices.
There is no cure for AIDS
The HIV test
Some people don’t want to have the test because it makes it harder to get insurance or a mortgage.
Insurance companies think that if you have a test then you’re a “high risk” person. If you are worried about this, the GUM clinic can help you.
There are some very good reasons for having the test -
If HIV is treated early it can delay you getting full-blown AIDS, so the sooner you know you have HIV, the better.
‚If you have got HIV, you will get AIDS faster if you are infected again by someone else who has the virus.If you know you have the HIV virus you can make sure you don’t pass it on. If you know you don’t have HIV it will put your mind at rest.
You can have the test at the GUM clinic. They will talk to you about it before and after you’ve had the test and provide counselling and support.
The test results are completely confidential
No-one except you will know you’ve had the test,or what the result is.
This informationwas written by the POW research team- Susan
Johnson, Maureen McDonald, Nicola James, Carol Clementson and
Pamela Gillies.
• Contacts -
POW - office no 9249992
Health needs for prostitutes
GUM Clinic
Female - 9627747
Male - 9627745
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The Health Shop - 9475414
NHS Direct 0845 4647
Other Contacts
Alcohol Problems Advisory - 9414747
John Storer - 9418964
Compass Young - 8470445
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Legal Help
Tamsin Morris - 9621649
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