If you’ve had sex without a condom or a sexual experience where the condom broke, try not to panic.
Things happen, and you’re far from the only person to go through either of these experiences.
What you do need to remember, though, is that there are a few risks associated with these sexual events.
But there are plenty of steps you can take to address those risks so that you remain protected and sexually healthy.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
If you’re able to, leave any situation that makes you feel unsafe and call your local emergency services if you’re in danger.
Seek medical care if necessary, and reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline or Loveisrespect for support and guidance on what to do next.
If you’re looking for more information, our sexual assault resource guide can help.
Immediately after noticing the condom has broken, stop all sexual activity and move away from your partner. If you've had sex without a condom, remember that there are some things you can do right now to help. Going to the toilet First, go to the toilet to remove any residual fluids from the vagina, penis, or anus. This can add comfort and help kill bacteria that can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs).
You can sit on the toilet and use your genital or anal muscles to push down to expel any remaining fluid. Peeing can also help.
Just know that if you have a vulva and have had penile-invaginal intercourse, urination does not eliminate the risk of pregnancy. This is because the sperm has already traveled to the egg.
Don't shower, but wash It's a myth that the genital area needs to be thoroughly cleaned after sexual activity.
While washing and drying intimate areas can further increase your comfort, douching or douching can actually increase your risk of infection.
This is because shower products can cause irritation and inflammation.
So when you want to wash off, just take a shower or use warm water to spritz the area.
See for yourself.
Make sure you take the time to ask yourself how you are feeling.
Experience a variety of emotions after bareback sex, be it concern, anger, or sadness.
Try talking to friends or family about the situation so they can support you.
If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone you know, contact Planned Parenthood or the National Coalition for Sexual Health for help.
Plan Your Next Steps
Once you feel more comfortable, it's a good idea to start thinking about what to do next.
If you need emergency contraception (EC), find out about the nearest pharmacy and their opening times. ECs are available over the counter and do not require a prescription.
If you think you may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or HIV, make an appointment with a doctor or sexual health clinic.
You only have to have oral or penetration sex with someone once to get an STI.
Watch for Symptoms
While some STIs may have no symptoms, others may present as sores, itching, a foul-smelling discharge, or painful urination.
Keep an eye on your genitals, anus, and mouth area, and schedule an STI test if you notice anything unusual.
Within 3 days
Some forms of EC need to be taken within 72 hours of sex without a condom.
Similarly, it’s vital to take preventive medication for HIV within the same timeframe.
Get PEP from a healthcare professional
If you’re concerned that you could have contracted HIV, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can reduce your risk of developing an infection.
Starting the treatment as soon as possible, ideally within a few hours of potential exposure, is vital to its success.
You must begin taking the medication within 72 hours of possible HIV exposure, as it’s highly unlikely to work after this period.
You’ll got to take it once or twice every day for a minimum of twenty eight days and should not be effective for everyone.
Once it will work, the mixture of medicine —known as antiretroviral medications —stop HIV from replicating and spreading throughout the body.
Get arrange B or another levonorgestrel Europe pill from your native pharmacy
EC pills work to forestall gestation by block biological processes like ovulation.
EC pills containing an artificial internal secretion known as levonorgestrel want to be taken inside seventy two hours of sex for optimum effectiveness.
This includes Plan B.
Luckily, these sorts of pills are obtainable over the counter at pharmacies. They usually price up to $50.
If taken within 24 hours of sex, your risk of pregnancy will be reduced by 95 percent.
The risk is cut by 88 percent if a levonorgestrel EC pill is taken between 24 hours and 72 hours after intercourse.
Talk with a healthcare professional about ella or ParaGard
Other types of EC exist to help prevent pregnancy.
These include ella, a pill that can be taken up to 5 days after sex, and ParaGard, an intrauterine device (IUD) that can be used as a long-term birth control method.
To access any of these options, you’ll need to visit a doctor.
Within 5 days
While over-the-counter forms of EC should be taken within 3 days of sex or condom breakage for the best chance of preventing pregnancy, prescription methods are safer to take within 5 days.
If you haven’t used EC yet, ella and ParaGard are just as effective until day 5
ParaGard is the most effective form of EC with only 1 in 1,000 people becoming pregnant after use.
It also works just as well on day 5 as it does on day 1, so you don’t have to worry so much about timing.
Of course, it will require a doctor’s appointment and a sometimes hefty fee.
But as the copper makes it difficult for sperm to reach an egg, it can be used as regular birth control for up to a decade.
Another option is ella.
It prevents or delays ovulation by blocking the hormone progesterone, and lowers pregnancy chances by 85 percent if taken within 5 days of sex.
Plan B and other levonorgestrel pills are less effective, but can still be used
If you’ve gone past the 72-hour window, you can still take a levonorgestrel EC pill, including Plan B, for another 2 days.
But, the longer you wait to take it, the less effective it is at reducing the chance of pregnancy.
2 weeks later
Unusual discharge and painful urination are common symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia.
You should also look out for bleeding after sex and between periods.
Pain can also occur in the throat when gonorrhea is the result of oral sex, and in the stomach or testicles as a result of chlamydia.
However, some people may not experience any symptoms.
Therefore, it is important to get tested for both of these STIs 2 weeks after having sex as they can lead to more serious problems like infertility.
Wait about 14 days after possible exposure. This is considered the time that gives the most reliable results Trusted source.
If you test positive, know that both STIs can be treated with antibiotics and you should avoid sex until the infection clears.
Genital areas aren’t the only places that may need an STI test. If sexual activity involved your mouth or anus, you’ll need to be tested there, too, to make sure you receive the right treatment.
3 weeks later
If you’re concerned you might be pregnant, the first sign tends to be a missed period.
You’ll need to take a pregnancy test to find out for certain.
As pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It can take a while for enough hCG to build up in your body, so you should wait to take a test until 3 weeks after sex.
If the test is positive, book an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss your options.
When it comes to testing for genital herpes and HIV, know that there isn’t a cure for either of these infections.
You may notice genital herpes as blisters that leave open sores or as a burning or itching sensation.
HIV can resemble the flu. But after these short-term symptoms disappear, you may not notice anything else.
Waiting at least 3 weeks to be tested for HIV and genital herpes is necessary, as both have a slightly lengthy incubation period. This means you may receive a false negative if you get tested too soon.
Although the viruses will always remain in your body, there are treatments available.
Antiviral medicine can help genital herpes symptoms if needed. Similar forms of medication can also stop HIV from replicating.
6 weeks later
Syphilis is another STI that can be hard to spot —in fact, you may have no symptoms at all.
However, it’s important to get tested as it can cause long-term health problems in various parts of the body.
Signs of syphilis that may appear include:
- small sores or growths in your genital area or mouth
- blotchy rash on the palms of hands or soles of feet
- fever
- headaches
- joint pain
The incubation period can be even longer than other infections, so wait around 6 weeks to be tested for a more reliable result.
If it’s positive, you’ll be given a course of antibiotics. Again, avoid any sexual activity until the infection has fully cleared.
3 months later
It’s always a good idea to test for any of the above STIs again a few months after sex without a condom or condom failure.
This can help you feel confident that any negative result you received is indeed negative and that any treatment you received has worked.
When it comes to syphilis, in particular, it’s advised to have retests after 3 and 6 months.
This will check for repeat infections and ensure that treatment has been successful, especially as syphilis has shown signs of antibiotic resistance
Things to consider for next time
Accidents happen and, in some cases, you may intentionally choose to have sex without a condom.
If you’re at all worried about the potential consequences, prepare yourself by considering the following.
Barrier methods
Reduce your risk of contracting an STI with a barrier method.
This includes condoms, gloves, and dental dams for oral sex.
When using condoms, check that they aren’t expired and avoid opening the packaging with sharp objects to prevent accidental nicks or cuts on the surface.
Secondary contraception
While condoms will help protect against STIs, they can cause some issues if used as contraception.
If you want a more reliable method, think about using an additional form of birth control, whether it’s a pill or a more long-term method like an IUD.
Regular STI screening
Getting tested for STIs on a regular basis is vital for your sexual health. You can book a test with a healthcare professional or through a sexual health clinic.
It’s wise to get tested at least once a year. If you have multiple partners, consider upping this to every 3 or 6 months.
Remember to be honest and open with your partners, too.
The bottom line
Whether you’ve knowingly had sex without a condom or experienced an accident with a condom, there are plenty of steps you can take to look after your sexual health and protect against pregnancy.
Keeping yourself protected on an ongoing basis is simple, too. All you need is a barrier method and reliable contraception
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