Travelsex: Guide to safe sex during holidays

Many people return from holidays with sexually transmitted infections and undesired pregnancies

Every September Italian hospitals are full of people seeking to terminate undesired pregnancies and those seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections, Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians has said.

Medics hold that Italy is a lazy country when it comes to the use of contraceptives.

According to their research, coitus interruptus is the most common method used by young people in the country. In fact 30% of young people who go for casual sex use coitus interruptus. This method is also known as “withdrawal” or “interrupted intercourse” because the man pulls out before ejaculation.

Although coitus interruptus can at times help avoid pregnancy, it is not effective at all in preventing sexually transmitted infections.

“As a method of contraception, it’s certainly better than nothing,” Dr. David Delvin, GP and family planning specialist in the UK writes on the Netdoctor.co.uk.

Dr. Delvin says that doctors do not recommend coitus interruptus because “it's easy to fail to withdraw early enough” and because “there may be sperms present in the 'dew drop' of fluid that a man produces when he is excited, but well before he actually ejaculates.”

Research by the Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians reveals that 22% of young people in Italy say they don’t use any contraceptive method because their partners are opposed to the idea.

Equally striking is the fact that 58% say they don't use any protection at all because they don’t have it at hand when they need it.

It clearly emerges that most sexually active young people in the country are exposed to all sorts of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

In Europe, Italy ranks six when it comes to the use of emergency contraceptive. In France and Portugal, 40% of women use pills. Throughout Europe, 24% of women use pills, but in Italy, only 16% do so.

“We have a long way to go,” says Dr. Giorgio Vittori, President of the Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians. The country has certainly made some progress but there is still much more to be done, he says.

The Italian Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians has launched a campaign titled “Travelsex” to promote responsible sexual behaviour to prevent undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections during summer holidays.

They’ll be holding workshops in 10 cities on the use of contraceptives and distributing information brochures in 20 other cities.

Those who take part in the workshops and prove to have acquired basic level of knowledge of contraceptive methods will be issued the so-called Passport of safe sex (Passaporto dell’amore sicuro), a symbolic certificate and a “Travelsex” guide book.

This guide book published by Giunti editore, is available in all bookshops. It has information about places to visit, what to say and how to behave in order to avoid sexual problems during summer holidays.

Dr. Vittori says it has become their tradition to promote awareness about safe and responsible sexual behaviour in summer.

At least 37% of young people in the country have their first sexual relationship without any preparation and without protection leading to an increasing rate of sexually transmitted infections, he says.

Minister of Youth Giorgia Meloni whose ministry sponsors the campaign says “sexual education of our young people is an investment on their future and the future of our community because helping them to safeguard their health is good for all.”

She has praised the campaign saying it is necessary in making the young people avoid undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Apart from the workshops, it is also possible to take part in the “Travelsex” campaign online, by logging on to the website www.sceglitu.it where there is a quiz, interactive games and detailed information about contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections.

“It is through such initiatives which use the young people’s language, that we may succeed to improve their level of knowledge of sexual health and reduce undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,” Dr. Vittori says.