'It's like a trophy if you have sex without using a condom - it's no big deal if you contract an STI.' As university infection rates soar, the shocking truth about sex on campus

  • Many male students think having unprotected sex is like getting a 'trophy'
  • One student, 20, had unprotected sex with a man she knew had chlamydia
  • Experts say there is a 'massive STI problem' amongst students

By Scarlett Russell

PUBLISHED: 05:40 EST, 18 March 2014 | UPDATED: 05:52 EST, 18 March 2014


For most people, university is the perfect time for meeting new people and having wild, one-off experiences.

But a worrying trend reported by The Debrief has found that such experiences are putting hundreds of students health at risk, as a shocking number are choosing to have unprotected sex.

One 20-year-old Exeter student even admitted to the website that she’d had unprotected sex with a fellow student knowing he had chlamydia.

Ready for bed? University students are shunning condoms in favour of 'nights of passion'

Ready for bed? University students are shunning condoms in favour of 'nights of passion'

‘He was completely honest about contracting the disease – we were even joking about it that night – but I just let the passion get the better of me,’ said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous.

 

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‘I knew that it was easy to treat and that there was a chance I wouldn’t get it at all, so I just thought “f**** it”.

‘I was pretty wasted at the time, which didn’t help.

‘Now that I look back, I can’t believe how reckless I was – what if he had something else?’

It might seem shocking, but she is not the only student risking their health for a night of passion.

Online pharmacy www.UKMedix.com carried out research last week stating that 19 per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds would have sex with someone knowing that their potential partner had an STI.

'No condom? No problem.' Website reports trend of unsafe sex amongst British university students

'No condom? No problem.' Website reports trend of unsafe sex amongst British university students

And, 39 per cent of these people claim they already have had unprotected sex with someone with an STI.

Another 26 per cent explained they would be happy to have sex with someone with an STI because if they used protection it would be, ‘impossible to catch it’.

Some 11 per cent explained they would still have sex because they ‘always let passion get the better of them.’

Furthermore, another recent study has found that 39% of students at the prestigious Oxford University have willingly had unprotected sex.

But what’s brought on this sudden disregard for safe sex?

Many students at UK universities say they'd have sex with someone knowing the potential partner had an STI

Many students at UK universities say they'd have sex with someone knowing the potential partner had an STI

‘We see a lot of university students,’ Victoria Leonard, Nurse manager for young persons’ health service Brook in Salford and Bolton told The Debrief.

‘The number of people who have come into our services enquiring about STI testing has actually decreased in the last year, but the number of tests which come back positive has increased from 6.8% to 7.6% in only a year.

‘That’s a worrying trend.’

Linda Ahearne, who manages the sexual health clinic at the London College of Arts, claims there is a ‘massive STI problem,’ among students, despite raised awareness and publicity.

‘I suspect that STIs have increased amongst students in the last couple of years,’ she said.

‘Despite all the publicity and help available, students seem to be having more unprotected sex and are slow to get tested when they have.'

William Wright – a 19-year-old first year ergonomics student at Loughborough University – told The Debrief that having unprotected sex with a girl was the equivalent of getting a trophy.

‘I never wear condoms, and neither do most of the guys I know,’ he said.

‘A lot of guys I know from uni brag about not using condoms when they have sex with a girl.

‘It’s mainly because they’re uncomfortable and make you lose sensation.

‘Also, there’s nothing more unnatural than stopping stuff with a girl to strap on a bit of latex.

‘Some girls do make a point of asking, but not that many of them insist on it.

‘The way I see it, everything is so easy to treat these days that it’s not that big of a deal if you contract an STI.'

Fact check: The five most asked questions about STIs

How will I know if I've got an STI?
Different STIs have very different symptoms. And some have no symptoms at all. But if you can see or feel symptoms, these can include an unusual discharge from the vagina or penis, heavy periods or bleeding between periods, pain or burning sensation when passing urine, rashes, itching or tingling around the genitals or anus.

What does a test involve?
Tests for STIs vary. Lots of services also offer urine testing, some can mean just taking a swab from the cervix or tip of the penis. Sometimes you can swab yourself, other times a doctor or nurse will do the swab. Others involve taking a blood sample. Your health advisor can talk you through what will happen with the tests and anything you are worried about.

Can you get sexually transmitted infections from oral sex?
Yes. Some STIs, including Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhoea, Genital Warts and HIV, are passed on through oral sex. To reduce the risk of infection, use a condom for oral sex.

What happens if the test says I have an STI?
Your clinic will encourage you to talk to your current partner and sometimes to your previous partners. This is so they can also be tested. And remember, most STIs are treatable with antibiotics.

How can I protect myself from STIs?
The best form of protection is to use a condom. And you can use a condom with any other form of contraception for the ultimate in safer sex.

For more information visit www.brook.org.uk

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Yep, 'cause nothing says "Winner" like cold sores & pubic lice! - Tifa Lockheart, Midgar, United Kingdom, 18/03/2014 11:38 Woah, cold sores are NOT an STI!

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And these you 'intellectuals' are meant to be our future.....we're screwed!

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And these people are meant to be intelligent???

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Herpes, warts, HIV, hepatitis B. Yep, go ahead and see what fun those are and how you have to live with them forever . Oh and while you're at it , unwanted pregnancies(or even better, one that the girl wants and you don't !- good luck with 18 years of child support ! )

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Cannot believe what I'm reading

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I blame the widening participation agenda!

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Promiscuity obviously runs through many a person. These Apps like Tinder and such are unleashing peoples inner Ho!!

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Lets hope they get something life changing and then they will think twice about acting so reckless

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Well the guys I've slept with came in the condom so why they make such a big deal about it surprises me. They still eja*ulate so where's the problem? I'll be damned if I'm going to catch something because they don't care where they put it or in fact don't even care what they catch which tells you a lot about them whereas I value my health more than anything thank you very much. C'mon ladies. No condom. No action!

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who are these crazies!!

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