What to do after unprotected sex?

Sex, especially when it takes place between a couple, is very risky. What can you do to reduce your risk after unprotected sex? Read the answers to these questions in this article. 

Right after

After unprotected sex, it is very important to urinate. This behavior helps to reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection. Urinating helps to eliminate germs that have entered the urethra and other areas of the urinary system. This is especially important for women, who are 30 times more likely to get a UTI than men.

The next day

If a woman is not using contraception and coitus has occurred during a period of the menstrual cycle that is favorable to pregnancy, she can use emergency contraception (the morning-after pill or non-hormonal IUD) within 5 days. However, these methods do not protect against STIs. Partners should talk to a doctor about their exposure to STIs for screening. For HIV, post-exposure treatment (PEP) can be administered within 48 hours to reduce the risk of the body being affected by 80%.

During the first month

Two weeks after sex, the woman should be tested for pregnancy and both partners should be tested for STIs. Certain signs would have already alerted to a possible pregnancy (delay in menstruation, swelling of the chest, nausea, mood swings) or STI (unusual discharge from the vagina, penis or anus, pain when ejaculating or urinating).

Between two and six months

Some sexually transmitted infections are detectable over time. Syphilis, for example, takes longer to detect, so it must be screened again. At first, HIV symptoms may be absent. But over time, the virus weakens the immune system and exposes you to more serious diseases (cancers, tuberculosis, etc.). During this period, it is best not to have unprotected sex.