One-stop shop for sex talk
McGill opens a new health and sex boutique for students
Gone are the days when only the school nurse taught students about the birds and the bees. Sex education just got a new classroom. In a Quebec first, McGill's Student Health Services has opened a safe place for students to talk about safe sex. The sleek and chic "Shagalicious Shop" is designed to look like a 21st-century shag pad, equipped with all you need to make sex a safe and fun experience.
"We want to make safe sex cool again," says Marius Wolfe, health promotion officer at McGill's Student Health Services. Wolfe's goal is to encourage students to feel comfortable to ask questions and address concerns they may have about STDs, sexuality and pregnancy. He has helped train peer "sex-perts" to offer information about safe sex practices to students. They can hang out to discuss confidential issues over a cup of coffee. These sex-perts are prepared to answer questions ranging from how the pill and patch work to how to use a dental dam to reduce the risk of transmitting STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
"At the end of the day we are a student service centre. There is a strong educational component to encourage behavioural change," says Dr. Pierre-Paul Tellier, the Medical Director of McGill's Students Health Services. "There's a resurgence in HIV and other STIs, and we felt it was important to debunk the myths and misconceptions for students who are not informed."
The "Shag Shop" special is a box of a dozen condoms for $2.99, tax included! Hot-ticket items include dental dams and flavoured lubricants. Sexual health includes basic health care, so students can also pick up thermometers, first aid kits and toothbrushes.
For students who are too shy to come by the shop, an online shopping service is available to order safe sex supplies. Students can pick up their "Shaggie Baggy" of items the next day.
The official launch of the Shagalicious Shop is Thursday, September 22, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. Media wishing to visit the shop and interview the Medical Director of McGill's Student Health Services can contact communications officer Rita Kotzia at 514-398-6751 or rita.kotzia [at] mcgill.ca (by email). For more information please consult the Shagalicious Shop website.
