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Knowledge Is Power - Especially When It Comes To Sex, Consent, and Relationships

Here you’ll find straightforward information, support options, and guidance to help you take care of your sexual health and build respectful, healthy relationships. Whether you’re curious, concerned, or just want to know your options, this is a safe place to start.

 

Healthy Sexual Relationships

One of the key aspects of a healthy sexual relationship is consent. But what do we mean by 'consent'?


Consent is a mutual agreement made between two or more people which indicates that everyone is happy to engage in a sexual activity which they have explicitly agreed to. Consent can be withdrawn at point before or during an activity.


Consent to one type of sexual activity (e.g. oral sex), is not consent to another activity (e.g. penetrative sex) - consent needs to be sought whenever one of you wants to change from one activity to another. Explicit, verbal consent is the clearest way to do this - you cannot assume based on someone's appearance or actions that they are consenting to continue, or begin a new, activity.


Somebody agreeing to something doesn't always constitute consent, and the law has some specific conditions that need to be met in order for someone to be said to be consenting, these include:

  • Being of legal age to consent
    In England, the legal age to consent to sexual activity - penetrative sex, oral sex, or masturbating together - is 16 years and over (this includes heterosexual and homosexual sex). (ss.9 and 13, Sexual Offences Act 2003)
     
  • Being sober
    It is well understood that being drunk impairs people's capacity to reason and make decisions - similarly, one cannot give consent to sexual activities in this state.
     
  • Having the mental and physical ability to freely agree
    One's physical and mental state needs to be of a reasonable capacity in which consenting to an act could be seen as a decision made in which you were able to consider and understand all of the ramifications, and agree or decline to it freely.
     
  • Not being threatened or afraid of harm
    (i.e. it doesn't count as consent if saying 'no' is believed to have a risk of harm attached to it)
     
  • Not being detained against your will
    Similar to the above, being coerced into any act as a result of the perception of serious risk or harm to oneself, or as a condition for one's freedom, does not constitute consent.

 

 

Sexual Health Mythbusting

Test your knowledge around STIs, contracpetion, and Sexual Health Testing below with our Mythbusters. How many did you know?


Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
You can tell if someone has an STI by looking at them
Most STIs are asymptomatic, so no symptoms does not mean no infection!

Oral sex is 'safe', and can't transmit STIs
STIs, like chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, and syphilis, can be transmitted orally.
 

Contraception
The pill protects against STIs
Hormonal contraception protects against pregnancy only. Condoms are required for protection against STIs.

Emergency contraception will destroy a fertilized egg
Emergency contracpetion prevents or delays ovulation, it does not terminate a pregnancy.

 

Sexual Health Testing
You only need to have a test if you have symptoms
Most STIs show no symptoms. Testing is about reassurance of good health, rather than suspicion.

STI testing is painful or invasive
Most tests are urine samples or self-swabs - quick, discreet, done.

Testing is embarrassing
Getting tested is responsible. Ignoring your sexual health is the real risk.

 

 

Further Resources + Support

If you are concerned about yourself or a student, there is a range of support available to you:


Campus-based

  • Students' Union Advice Centre: We provide free, confidential, and impartial advice across a range of matters, including academic, money, housing, and wellbeing issues you may be experiencing.
    Head to our page here, to find out more
     
  • Student Support and Success (University of Winchester): They offer support with a wide range of issues, and can offer face-to-face and online appointments by request
    Head here, to find out more (requires sign in)
     
  • Report + Support: Report bullying, discrimination, assault or sexual misconduct through the Report+Support website. Incidents can be things you've experienced or witnessed, and reports are made securely and confidentially* (*confidentiality may be broken if there is a risk to yourself or to others).
    Visit the site, here

General Support

  • Let's Talk about it: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Sexual Health Service provides Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) services across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.
    Letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk
     
  • Treetops SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre): Provides support to individuals of any age/gender in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who have experienced rape or sexual assault, regardless of police involvement. They provide immediate services, including trauma-informed Forensic Medical Examinations (FMEs), emergency contraception, and personalised support and information.
    hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/SARC
     
  • Brook: includes local service search, and help & advice on contraception, periods, genital health, STIs, relationships, abuse, and more.
    brook.org.uk

 

 

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