It's a brand-new year, full of promise and a time for new goals and aspirations. Don't let unwanted and avoidable sexual health issues derail your year.

Sexual experimentation is normal and fun, but it is important to keep safety in mind. Unplanned pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are more common than ever.

The statistics don’t lie

In South Africa, there are over 10 million STIs recorded per year. This means around 1 in 6 South Africans suffer from an STI every year.

Common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Luckily, bacterial STIs, are all treatable with scheduled medication.

Some viral STIs, such as Aids, Herpes Simplex and HPV are incurable. These infections require the use of Antiretroviral medication (ARVs) to manage the condition.

STIs can have a major impact on your sexual and reproductive health. These infections can increase your risk of infertility, cancer, pregnancy complications and HIV.

Guest on the line: Alex Schmid - Founder - Contro