4 mins
Your sexual health checklist for Pride
Pride is a celebration of love, identity, resistance, and community. Whether you’re heading to a parade, hitting the dance floor, or simply reconnecting with friends and chosen family, Adam Shanley notes that it’s also a great opportunity to check in on your sexual health.
Practice — Safe — Sex
Looking after yourself not only helps you feel good, but it also strengthens our entire community. Here’s how to care for your sexual health before, during, and after the Pride festivities, so you can have a safe, sexy and confident celebration.
Before: Get prepped and protected
Getting tested for HIV and other STIs ahead of time is a simple, powerful step in taking control of your health. It also plays a huge role in reducing STIs across the wider community. Testing has never been more accessible. You can visit your local sexual health clinic (find one near you at sexualwellbeing.ie), order a discreet and free home testing kit through the HSE’s partnership with SH24.ie, or keep an eye out for rapid HIV testing events hosted in bars, clubs, and community centres. If privacy is important to you, you can even order an HIV self-test to take at home from the folks at MPOWER.
Vaccination is another crucial step. If you haven’t already, consider getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B—especially important for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Mpox also hasn’t gone away. Vaccination remains the best tool to reduce the risk of acquiring mpox and is available through The Mater and St Vincent’s Hospitals in Dublin. Mpox vaccination is recommended for gay and bi men, trans people, sex workers, and those having sex within these communities. If you’re living with HIV, or a gay and bi man up to the age of 45, you’re also eligible for the HPV vaccine, which is effective in preventing genital warts as well as several cancers.
Thinking ahead also means choosing STI prevention options. Condoms and lube are widely available and remain an effective way to prevent many STIs. Other barrier methods like dental dams and fisting gloves are also important tools for the sex you enjoy. Newer prevention tools are available too. DoxyPEP is an emerging STI prevention strategy where a 200mg dose of doxycycline is taken within 72 hours after condomless sex to help prevent bacterial STIs like syphilis and chlamydia. If this sounds like something you’d benefit from, speak to your sexual health provider. For HIV prevention, PrEP is a highly effective medication that can be taken daily or around the time of sex. It’s available for free, but access remains an issue, with many providers working through waiting lists as soon as they can, with limited capacity and resources in clinics.
During: Celebrate smart
Once the festivities begin, it’s all about enjoying yourself— but staying healthy and energised is key. Pride can be a long day (or weekend!), so a little planning goes a long way. Eat a good meal before you head out, stay hydrated throughout the day, and take breaks when you need to. Snacks can help keep your energy up, and don’t forget the sunscreen, which is particularly important if you’re using DoxyPEP, as the medication makes you much more sensitive to the sun and can result in very bad sunburn.
Equally important is looking out for your pals and partners. Not everyone will drink or use substances during Pride, but if you do, know how to stay safe. Pace yourself, alternate alcohol with water, and never leave your drink unattended. If you or someone you’re with feels unwell or unsafe, speak with bar staff or security. For practical information on drugs and harm reduction, check out drugs.ie, Man2Man.ie, or download the MPOWER Sex Party First Aid Guide for advice.
If you take medication, be sure to bring enough with you for the time you plan to be out. Keep it somewhere safe and remember your dosing schedule. For people living with HIV and daily PrEP users, stick to your regular routine. For event-based PrEP users, follow the 2:1:1 schedule: two pills two to 24 hours before sex, one pill 24 hours after the first dose, and one 24 hours after that. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but consult your PrEP provider if you’re unsure—you might need PEP. A 200mg dose of DoxyPEP should be taken within 72 hours after condomless sex.
After: Reflect and reconnect with your health
When the glitter settles and you’ve had a chance to rest, check in with yourself. If you think you may have been exposed to HIV—if a condom broke or you missed your PrEP doses, for example—PEP can help prevent it. It must be started within 72 hours, so act quickly by visiting your local A&E or sexual health service.
If you develop any symptoms such as discharge, burning, sores, rashes, or fevers in the days or weeks after Pride, don’t wait—contact your local clinic to get checked. But even if you’re symptom-free, if you had sex with new partners, it’s a good idea to get tested again after two weeks. This allows for the window periods of most STIs, though keep in mind that syphilis can take up to three months to show up on a test, so consider retesting later on as well.
Pride is about showing up for ourselves and each other with joy, authenticity, and care. Looking after your sexual health before, during, and after Pride is an act of self-care and community love. Whatever your plans this Pride season, know that you deserve to feel good, be safe, and be celebrated. Here’s to a healthy, happy, and fiercely proud Pride!