GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 6 | Page 56

PREVENTION

VACCINATIONS

Condoms are the only form of
contraception that can protect you
from STIs. Bring latex condoms from
your own country with you and keep
one in your purse. Don’t trust the
country to have quality brands available nor the boy to have one with him.
Use condoms for vaginal, anal and
oral sex and on sex toys. Dental dams
for oral sex should be used for casual
lesbian sex – STIs have no sexual
preference.

Before you move to or travel in a high
risk area, get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B. Ask your medical practitioner about the human papillomavirus
(HPV) vaccine too. According to the
World Health Organization’s 2013 report on women’s health, ‘Cervical cancer is the second most common type
of cancer in women worldwide, with all
cases linked to a sexually transmitted
genital infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).’

SYMPTOMS
Vaginas are fairly self sufficient – producing secretions to regulate and cleanse
itself but, if you notice a change, pain, smells, lumps or anything out of the
ordinary, see a doctor. Many STIs have no symptoms for women and while
condoms are your best bed buddy, no method is 100% effective. Regular
sexual health screening is important.