Last week Leeds Student revealed that Leeds had been rated 20th out of 24 universities when it comes to sexual health support. While the amount of information on our website was awarded an A, we came out badly when it came to access to contraception and availability of testing.

Having taught sex education at local schools in Leeds for the last three years, and having spoken to both students at the schools and at Leeds University, there is a sense that we don’t need to be told what to do, and that we don’t like being told how to take care of our sexual health. We know that unprotected sex is risky and unsafe, and we know that we should go for regular testing even if we don’t think there’s anything for us to be concerned about. But that doesn’t stop us from finding buying or asking for contraception embarrassing, or not wanting to tell our friends if we’re worried that we have an STI because it feels shameful. What’s needed isn’t necessarily more education on sexual health, but an overhaul of attitudes that still see some aspects of sex as taboo and intensely private.

As a university, we need to embrace a sex positive attitude. Sex positivity doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to shout about our sex lives from the rooftops if we don’t want to, or that we have to glorify sex as something that everyone should be doing (and assuming that there’s something wrong with people who for whatever reason aren’t or don’t want to have sex). It’s about allowing each other to express and enjoy our sexuality and supporting individual choices, whatever they may be. It doesn’t matter if you’re abstinent, in a relationship or single – your sex life is yours to enjoy and you shouldn’t be judged for that. I don’t want to be demonised or be seen as irresponsible just because I’m a young adult, and I don’t want to be bullied or hurt because of the way in which I choose to conduct myself. What I do want is to feel as though I can speak to someone, be it a friend, my parents or even the university’s welfare officer if I’m unsure of where I can go. I want to be able to access free contraceptives on campus so I don’t have to wait for an appointment at the GP or a sexual health clinic, and to avoid having to spend my carefully budgeted student loan.

I believe that good sexual health support and advice is about much more than the physical. What we need is to stop stigmatising sex so that we can take control over our bodies and our sex lives, and act in way that allows us to take responsibility for ourselves while having sex lives that are rewarding, enjoyable and safe.

Leila Thompson is a 3rd Year English Student, Teaching coordinator for Leeds Sexpression and a Welfare Officer candidate.