Feature

Having unprotected sex over the festival season could make your 'in-tents' experience one you'd rather forget. A recent survey by NME found that 22% of the 112,000 crowd at Glastonbury had sex during the three day festival this year (that's 25,000 people!), so festivals obviously inspire that kind of frisky behaviour!

With the prevalence of 25 sexually transmitted infections (STIs), there is a significantly greater chance of catching an STI than people think, with diagnoses of acute STIs showing an increase of 20% in men and 56% in women over the last ten years.

www.playingsafely.co.uk has announced some top festival tips so that young revellers can still have fun at this summer's festivals, but stay safe at the same time...

Do....

Be prepared
Make sure you are carrying a condom before you set off- this will help prevent careless behaviour later on. Condoms are as essential an item as the obligatory toilet roll, waterproofs and underwear! Using a condom significantly reduces the risk of catching the most common sexually transmitted infections STIs, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital warts and HIV

Look out for your mates
If you're checking out the festival talent - in more ways than one - make it a ritual to check you are all carrying condoms before you leave the confines of the campfire!

Think twice
Festival fun-seekers have a tendency to think 'anything goes' but don't let the music thrills take over.

Don't....

Have unprotected sex
This puts you at serious risk especially if you don't know their sexual history. Remember, you can't tell by looking whether someone has an STI - no matter how gorgeous they are. You're in charge so don't be talked into anything you don't want to do - like having unprotected sex. Just because you've pulled a Chris Martin or a Nicole Appleton look-alike doesn't mean you can't talk about condoms.

Rely only on the Pill
While it is one of the best ways to avoid pregnancy, the Pill doesn't offer any protection against STIs.

Play the Sex Lottery
Use a condom. Festivals are all about having fun and letting go but, if you're not careful, you could get a lot more than you bargain for when you pull this summer..

For further information visit www.playingsafely.co.uk or call 0800 567 123. Textphone (for people with hearing impairments) 0800 521 361.

MyVillage, 31st October