Your annual reminder to keep things safe, sexy, and scandal-free.
Let’s Talk About Safe Sex, Baby
Ah, SHAG Week - your annual reminder to keep things safe, sexy, and scandal-free.
Sexual Health Awareness & Guidance Week is here to make sure you’re fully equipped with all the knowledge, resources, and protection you need - whether you’re diving headfirst into the dating scene, blissfully in a situationship, or just wondering why your flatmate keeps disappearing with that mysterious ‘study buddy.’
We get it - no one wants a lecture (we're sure you've got enough of those), but let’s be honest, a little knowledge can save you a lot of stress.
From free condoms to STI testing, your Students’ Union has got your back ... and other areas of your anatomy.
Take advantage of all the freebies, grab some advice, and remember: the best surprise is not an unexpected text saying “We need to talk”.
Myth-Busting
Because misinformation is the biggest turn-off
- “You can’t get an STI from oral sex”
- Oh yes, you can. A sore throat isn’t always from karaoke night at JCs
- “Two condoms = double protection”
- Nope - that’s a one-way ticket to Splitville
- “Pulling out is just as good as protection”
- Sure, and student loans disappear if you ignore them Spoiler: they don’t
Dating Apps, One-Night Stands & Flatcest: The Student Experience
Whether you’re swiping, sliding into DMs, or engaging in a cough flatmate romance (spoiler alert: it rarely ends well), SHAG Week is here to make sure your adventures are fun, safe, and regret-free.
Consent is key, communication is sexy, and if you wouldn’t want to run into them in the kitchen making toast ... maybe rethink your choices.
The ‘Oops’ Moment: What to Do Next
Let’s be honest, sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan.
Maybe the condom broke, maybe you forgot to use one, or maybe you woke up thinking, Did that really happen?
Take a deep breath - help is available.
Emergency contraception, STI testing, and non-judgmental advice are all within reach.
Your Students’ Union and local clinics are there to support you, no awkwardness required!
The Weird, the Wild & the Dangerous
- Sex injuries are real
- If you’ve managed to pull a muscle in an intimate situation, don’t suffer in silence - medical professionals have seen worse
- Sex toys: Know your exit strategy
- If it goes in, it needs a way out. No one wants to be the subject of an A&E horror story
- Drunk consent is not consent
- If you’re too tipsy to order a kebab without regretting it, you’re too tipsy to make an informed decision about sex. Simple.
Get Involved!
Grab some free stuff, and get clued up.
Nothing says “I’ve got my life together” like having a sexual health kit in your bedside drawer next to your half-eaten pot noodle!