AS WE face a relaxation in coronavirus restrictions after the long and (to many) lonely lockdowns, experts know one thing is clear - this means a lot more people will be having a lot more sex this summer.

Because of this, NHS experts are advising and encouraging members of the public to learn about the STI (sexually transmitted infection) protections available to the public, including lesser-known preventative treatment such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

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PrEP is free on subscription, and is clinically proven to help prevent HIV infection.

Sarah Macadam, CEO of local patient advocacy group, Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), said: “We are delighted to support Safe Sex Berkshire in its quest to help educate local people about the benefits of HIV testing and the specific treatments – PrEP and PEP – that help protect against HIV infection.

"The website offers a wealth of HIV and treatment information, plus lots of advice and information on other sexual health issues.”

The Safe Sex Berkshire campaigns was launched on Monday, May 17, and seeks to inform residents on how best to avoid HIV infection, of which is the campaign's main target over other curable sexual illnesses.

The advice includes:

- (unsurprisingly) wear a condom

- check your HIV status - self-test kits can be confidentially delivered to a preferred address, or book a confidential appointment at your local NHS Sexual Health Clinic

How to have safe post-lockdown sex (according to experts)

How to have safe post-lockdown sex (according to experts)

- use PrEP; This medicine is available for people at-risk of getting HIV, but won't protect from other STI's

- use PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis); This is an after-sex emergency treatment to take if you've potentially been exposed to HIV aft4er unprotected sex, which (like PrEP) is free on prescription

Dr Jonas Thompson-McCormick, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Services for Berkshire, said: “With COVID-19 restrictions easing, we need to avoid - as far as possible - any increase in the number of people presenting with HIV and other STIs.

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"We therefore encourage people to take steps to protect themselves by wearing a condom during sex – or consider self-testing for HIV and other STIs if they’ve been put at risk.

"Regardless of your background, or sexual orientation, please do consider using the treatments, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, which are proven clinically to help pevent against HIV.

"PrEP is a medicine people at risk for HIV take to protect themselves from getting HIV.

"Whilst PEP is taken after unprotected sex in cases where people may have been potentially or unknowingly exposed to HIV infection, perhaps by having unprotected sex or if a condom breaks during sex.

"People can contact Berkshire’s NHS Sexual Health Clinics who can support people considering treatments, which are available free, on prescription.

"I’d encourage people to visit the Safe Sex Berkshire website at www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk”