Gynae Info - The Scary Truth About Holiday Sex

When Margaret * , a 28-year-old nursing student,travelledthrough Europe a few years ago, she did many things outside of her comfort zone like eat hash brownies, skinny-dip in an Italian river and bang a guy she barely knew on the bonnet of a parked car in Switzerland, sans condom. She now blames that last move and the case of chlamydia it led to on #VacationVibes. At home, Id never have unprotected sex with someone Im not in a relationship with, she says.

- Krissy Brady

Research suggests this type of judgment lapse isn’t an isolated incident. Two recent studies led by Liza Berdychevsky of the University of Illinois found that women are much more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviour when travelling (versus while hooking up at home), including unprotected sex and going back to a complete stranger’s place. ‘When people are on holiday, they often leave some of their usual boundaries behind,’ says clinical psychologist Anna Kress. This can, of course, feel liberating and wildly exciting– but if you don’t properly prepare (or exercise a little caution in the moment), a hot holiday fling can put you at risk.

WHEN SAFETY DOESN’T COME FIRST