Experts warn of STI “boom” after Christmas party and holiday season

When you think of things you want to get for the holidays, most people picture a lovely scarf, a new gadget, or a gift card to a nice restaurant.

They tend not to think about getting an STI.

However, for many people over the holidays, this ends up being the case.

The rate of STI transmission tends to rise during the festive period, between early to mid-December and the first weeks of the new year. Holidays of all kinds can lead to an increased transmission of STIs, for a variety of reasons.

But why does this happen? Keep reading to find out.

Don’t let the festive period turn into a downer. Get tested for an STI today.

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What are STIs?

In order to understand why STIs spike during the holiday season, we need to understand how they work.

Most STIs spread through sexual activity, which is a fancy term for vaginal and anal sex and, to a lesser extent, oral sex and sharing sex toys. You can also get certain STIs from foreplay, like manual stimulation of a partner’s genitals. This can be how infections like HPV and Herpes spread.

You’re most likely to get an STI when having unprotected sex. Without protection, there is no physical barrier between you and your sexual partner, massively increasing the ability of pathogens to enter your body.

Here’s a list of some of the most common STIs if you’d like to learn more about each infection, their symptoms, and how they can spread:

Why are STIs more likely to spread during the holidays?

Experts warn that STIs boom during the holiday period due to various factors, leading to an increased number of tests and diagnoses in December and January. Here are some of the most common contributors to holiday-season infections.

Increased drug and alcohol consumption

One risk factor for STI transmission is increased drug and alcohol consumption. These substances are incredibly popular during the holiday period.

At the end of the year, more people are socialising and going out than at any other point. Alcohol can act as a social lubricant for most people, and taking drugs can often enhance social experiences in other ways.

However, these substances also lower your inhibitions and are strongly linked to unsafe and risky sexual behaviour.

If you’re at an office Christmas party and you’re drinking a lot, you’re more likely to make decisions you wouldn’t make if you were sober. This can often mean people have sex with people they may not want to, in situations they wouldn’t normally, under the influences of alcohol and other substances; putting yourself in these situations makes it more likely that you’ll be exposed to an STI.

Decreased condom use

If you’re under the influence of alcohol or simply caught up in the good cheer, you’re more likely to engage in sexual relationships you didn’t intend.

A corollary to this is if you didn’t intend to have sex with someone, you may not be prepared.

People are less likely to use protection during the holiday period. If you don’t use a condom during a new sexual encounter, you’re far more likely to be exposed to an STI.

Exposure to new sexual networks

If you’re going out to Christmas parties, you’re more likely to mingle in other social and sexual networks, whether through work or common gathering places like bars, pubs, or dance clubs. Being in these situations may increase the likelihood of a sexual encounter.

How to avoid getting STIs

If you want to keep yourself safe from STIs this holiday season, there are some tried-and-true tips you can follow.

Use condoms: Using a condom will drastically reduce the likelihood of STI transmission during sex. Make sure the condoms you use haven’t expired and that you follow the manufacturer’s directions for application. Don’t re-use condoms – use a new condom after each use.
Don’t over-indulge in drugs or alcohol: Impairing your judgement by drinking too much alcohol can often lead to choices you may regret later.
Avoid sex with multiple partners: Aside from having unprotected sex with a new partner, having unprotected sex with multiple partners will increase the likelihood of exposure.
Have conversations with any new sexual partner about your STI status: While it might dampen the mood, having a conversation with a new sexual partner about your sexual health status can help ensure you and your partner are on the same page and that you’re not taking any risks you don’t want to.

When to get tested

If you’re worried about a recent sexual encounter, Better2Know recommends waiting between 14-28 days before getting tested.

Getting tested too early can result in a false negative result. This is because the pathogen hasn’t had enough time to reach detectable levels in your system. Someone who gets tested a couple of days after a sexual encounter may get a negative result. They then may carry that infection into another sexual relationship, passing it on without knowing.

Where to get tested

Better2Know offers a few convenient ways to get tested for STIs.

You can make an appointment at one of our private sexual health clinics. You should be able to find one near you using our convenient map feature. You can get tested for a wide variety of STIs and even get your test results on the same day.

You can also take advantage of one of our comprehensive home testing kits. Our test kits can test for more than twice the number of STIs as your average home test kit, providing you with clarity and peace of mind about your sexual health. Check out our Platinum Screen for the best coverage.

You may also want to consider our Everywhere service, where we send a private nurse to your chosen location to gather your test samples.

Final thoughts

You should enjoy your holiday celebrations but be aware of the risks of any new sexual encounter if you’re worried about your sexual health.

Do you need to speak to someone today? Call the number at the top of this page to speak to one of our trained Sexual Health Advisors. They can discuss your situation with you and help you determine a plan of action that will protect your sexual health.

You can also book an appointment today by clicking the button below.