There’s no shame in having an STI or blood borne virus, so let’s have open discussions about it, to make sex not just fun, but safe.

Skye McGregor

In 2020, as Australia experienced lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s reported STIs declined. However, there still over 90,000 notifications of chlamydia, making it the most common STI, with gonorrhoea the second most common. 

So how do we know this? Don’t worry, epidemiologists aren’t peeping through your windows and taking notes! Through public health surveillance and recording, these scientists are able to collate a broad range of data about sexually transmissible infections to create better public health campaigns. Because, unfortunately if left untreated, STIs can lead to serious health complications. So how can we bring better treatment and awareness to communities to make sure they stay healthy? If you’re lucky enough to be getting lucky now that COVID restrictions have eased, there are some things you can do: use protection, have open discussions with your partners and get tested! It’s free, it’s easy and it’s relatively pain free… 

In ten minutes or roughly the length of time it takes to correctly put a condom on a banana, epidemiologist Skye McGregor will bring you up to speed with Australia’s STI check up, and how you should be protecting yourself.

ABOUT 10 MINUTE GENIUS

In this sprawling digital age where a universe of information is accessible within seconds, it's easy to be paralysed by the simple question of where to begin. 

Introducing: Ten Minute Genius, a series of short talks designed to create a space in which you can engage with new ideas. We have curated a collection of material scientists, philosophers and maths lovers to help you make some sense of this chaotic information vortex. And because you’re busy, all we ask of you is just ten minutes.