Ladies, ‘tis the season to be jolly, and of course by that we mean having a roll in the hay. What we don’t need is a second immaculate conception (the immaculate being trying to work out the baby daddy’s surname) or an STI. Remember girls, you never know what’s in Santa’s sack. We’ve pulled together (steady now) the top tips for safe sex this Christmas, because the only surprise you want on Christmas day is the expensive jewellery kind. Put A Wrapper On His Cracker It’s pretty simple - ALWAYS use a condom when having any type of sex (vaginal, anal, oral etc.) to reduce your risk from contracting an STI. STIs are exchanged in bodily fluids, but condoms when used correctly and consistently are an effective way of protecting yourself from an infection. Although less effective for protecting against  herpes and HPV, they do greatly reduce the risk of transmission. Keep Your New Christmas Toys Clean A sex-toy can be a great way of spicing up your sex life, but make sure to clean it both before and after use to remove any bodily fluids that could be passed onto another partner. If using a new lube, opt for water-based brands rather than oil-based, which can dissolve the material in a condom. Nothing kills a festive fondle like a rash in Mrs. Claus’ lap. Get talking Asking your partner, or a new buddy, their sexual history might sound uncomfortable, but sharing a positive diagnosis with them and all other partners you could have infected is going to be a LOT more awkward. Again, there shouldn’t be any awkward tension over asking about a condom. If they’re lucky enough to bed you, then the least you deserve to demand is to be kept healthy. Safety first ladies.   Be Careful Mixing Sex with Your Festive Tipple A nice glass of wine and a good session in the sack can be two of life’s greatest pleasures, but do not throw caution to the wind. If you plan on having sex, or think there’s a possibility you could be persuaded, throw a condom in your purse and pack your pill for good measure. Also, an unfortunate side-effect of too much alcohol can be a hangover – which often includes diarrhoea or vomiting. If you are sick or suffering from an overactive bowel, your pill may not be effective or could be flushed out of your system. Remember to use a condom to double up on your protection. Contraception Beats Conception… … But only if used correctly. For your birth control to be effective (depending on your chosen method), remember it is primarily used to prevent pregnancy and does not guarantee you won’t contract an STI. Remember to keep taking your pill at the same time, as prescribed by your doctor, and use a condom to protect yourself from an STI. “He/she looks clean” This should NEVER be a guiding factor when choosing a form of contraception. Remember a lot of STIs such as chlamydia may not have obvious symptoms and can go undetected, even causing infertility in women. If they look clean and healthy, then they must care enough about their health to stay protected… and won’t have any issue in pulling out a condom. Get Tested The only way to keep sexually active and practice safe sex is to keep aware of your body and your actions. Be sure to regularly get tested to ensure you’re healthy and don’t shy away from insisting on contraception or asking for your partner to keep theirs a priority too! Now that what we call a Merry Christmas!