have intercourse at a competition

Pageant season is formally upon us. Glastonbury is true across the nook. And as we head into the peak of summer season, there can be a competition just about each different day. 

If you happen to’re a competition ticket holder this 12 months, there are most likely a couple of stuff you’re planning on doing: having a couple of drinks, consuming some nice meals, seeing a few of your favorite bands, attempting not to consider the very fact you’ll be sleeping on the bottom for a weekend. And, in fact, having intercourse. 

In response to analysis from intercourse toy firm Lovehoney, 39 p.c of Brits have had intercourse at a competition. This determine grows amongst youthful individuals, too. Over half (55 p.c) of these aged 18 to 34 have had intercourse at a competition in some unspecified time in the future. But, competition intercourse is an entire ache within the arse. Or the genitals. Or wherever else you intend on having intercourse. In reality, solely 12 p.c of these surveyed mentioned that competition intercourse was nice and 12 p.c saying it was ‘simply okay’. So, what is going on unsuitable?

Sure, competition intercourse is enjoyable, and it’s virtually a ceremony of passage, nevertheless it’s an entire nightmare to facilitate. You’re undecided once you’re going to get a correct, scorching bathe (even in the event you’ve paid for the bougie pamper go upgrades), you’ve typically drank a lot you’re undecided in the event you actually ought to have intercourse however you’re nonetheless attractive, and the one place you need to convey somebody again to is a tiny pop-up two-man tent tightly full of all of your belongings, and presumably your mate having a nap. 

It’s inevitably going to occur although. So, we spoke to the specialists in addition to those that love shagging at festivals to see tips on how to do it greatest. 

Put together for competition intercourse earlier than you head off

The primary a part of getting ready for intercourse comes earlier than the competition even occurs. Ask your self, are you most likely going to have intercourse at this competition? Are you single? Bringing your companion with you? Have you ever had intercourse at a competition earlier than? Contemplate whether or not you’re prone to have intercourse and in case your reply is even a “possibly,” you need to take it as a “yeah, most likely” and put together completely. 

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Earlier than heading to the competition, be sure you take an STI check so you understand the place you stand sexual health-wise. Whereas buying a tent and stocking up on provides is perhaps on the forefront of your pre-festival guidelines, it is important to prioritise getting an STI check, particularly if it’s doubtless you’ll be doing it with a brand new sexual companion and even in the event you plan on utilizing a condom. 

Pippa Murphy, intercourse professional at condom supplier condoms.co.uk says it will “not solely safeguard your future companions but in addition give you peace of thoughts, permitting you to totally benefit from the second whereas being intimate.”

“Though some festivals, like Glastonbury, distribute free condoms, shopping for and bringing your personal is sensible to make sure you’re ready.”

And talking of condoms, you’ll have to convey loads of these — or no matter your most popular barrier contraception technique is — even if in case you have a constant sexual companion. “Though some festivals, like Glastonbury, distribute free condoms, shopping for and bringing your personal is sensible to make sure you’re ready,” Murphy says. 

“That is particularly essential if in case you have a latex allergy and want a non-latex various. Even in the event you or your common companion are utilizing different types of contraception, I’d nonetheless suggest that you just convey condoms as naturally having intercourse in a small tent could make for a messy job — and it’s at all times in probably the most awkward of instances the place you realise you forgot to convey something that may assist clear up the mess.”

28-year-old Ella* says competition intercourse is her “favorite form of intercourse” and recommends stocking up on the morning after capsule before-hand if doable, too. “I attempt to simply handy and oral intercourse at festivals as there’s much less probability of STI or being pregnant mis-haps, however I’m additionally reasonable and know that, after a couple of pints, I’m gonna desire a full-on fuck,” she says. So, she brings alongside some emergency contraception simply in case. 

“Condoms simply rip generally, man. Or they fall off otherwise you overlook to place them on once you’re being silly. The very last thing you need is to be in the course of a discipline considering ‘oh my god’ once you’ve had an accident, so I convey a morning-after capsule with me.” Ella provides that condoms additionally cut back “mess” throughout intercourse for the receiver, so that they’re a win-win. 

“The very last thing you need is to be in the course of a discipline considering ‘oh my god’ once you’ve had an accident, so I convey a morning-after capsule with me.”

For these within the queer group, it’s additionally price taking Pre-Publicity Prophylaxis (PrEP) with you to festivals. As Murphy notes, generally drunk competition go-ers skip previous the vital pre-sex conversations the place STI standing can be disclosed, and generally condoms get forgotten within the warmth of the second. If there’s any probability you would ever be liable to contracting HIV, PrEP reduces your probability of transmission down by 99 p.c and it’s out there without cost on the NHS. Although, remember that it doesn’t shield towards some other STIs, and you need to nonetheless get examined after each new companion even in the event you’re on PrEP. 

Whereas we don’t suggest having any unprotected intercourse at a competition, these measures could have your again if accidents occur. Needless to say LARCs (Lengthy Performing Reversible Contraceptives) just like the implant, capsule, injection or coil don’t shield from STIs and a condom must be worn with new sexual companions. You may get the morning after capsule from Superdrug, Boots, and most pharmacies each in-person and on-line.  

Contemplate post-sex packing too

You understand how, after intercourse, there could be a little bit of… mess? On you and on the mattress? Now think about that in a small tent with restricted entry to good showers! Yeah, you’re going to wish to pack some objects for after intercourse as effectively.

It is perhaps price upgrading your ticket to at least one that features heat bathe entry in the event you’re a high competition shagger. However whether or not you’ve gotten entry to post-sex clean-downs or not, Murphy says moist wipes, hand sanitiser, and a towel are price packing to maintain issues clear. 

Yeah, you’re going to wish to pack some objects for after intercourse as effectively.

“It’s vital to practise hygienic intercourse to forestall an an infection. If you happen to’re tenting, you need to take hand sanitiser to maintain your arms and fingernails clear for foreplay, and common skin-to-skin contact,” Murphy advises. 

You also needs to pack fragrance-free moist wipes that are perfect for cleansing your self pre- and post-sex (together with further underwear which you’ll by no means have an excessive amount of of while at a competition). The “perfume free” a part of the wipes is vital, notably for individuals with vaginas, as some fragrances and chemical substances can alter the pH steadiness of the vagina and lead to situations like thrush, UTIs, or BV.  

One other good moist wipe competition hack: take them, or your personal bathroom paper, with you to the bathroom at festivals (both discover flushable perfume free wipes, or preserve maintain of non-flushable wipes and eliminate them afterwards). As a girl, it is important to convey bathroom paper and vagina-safe moist wipes with you when going to the bathrooms to have a wee. Ladies are at the next threat of creating UTIs at festivals as a result of “shaking clear technique” typically employed once they uncover an absence of bathroom paper. To forestall this, utilizing vagina-safe moist wipes and bathroom paper is the simplest strategy, as each provide a extra thorough cleansing. This reduces the chance of infections and helps preserve general genital hygiene.

“Altering your underwear repeatedly might help preserve good hygiene and stop discomfort from sweat and dust, particularly in the event you don’t have entry to any showers,” Murphy says, so convey a great deal of clear pants. 

“I’d additionally suggest bringing a small, light-weight towel or blanket to put on throughout intercourse. This gives a barrier between you and the possibly soiled floor, guaranteeing a cleaner and extra comfy expertise so you’ll be able to keep throughout the second,” she provides. 

What to do in the event you’re on the capsule at a competition

If you happen to take the contraceptive capsule, set an alarm so that you don’t overlook to take your contraception on the identical time every day. Festivals typically contain packed schedules, late nights, and quite a few distractions. Amid the thrill, it may be straightforward to overlook about taking your contraception, particularly in the event you’re ingesting alcohol or taking different substances as this will impair your reminiscence and decision-making abilities.

“Setting a reminder or alarm will guarantee you do not miss a dose as even one lapse in your routine can result in an unintended being pregnant. Additionally, realizing that you’ve got a reminder set can alleviate nervousness about forgetting to take your contraception. This peace of thoughts permits you to absolutely benefit from the competition expertise with out pointless fear,” Murphy says. 

In case you are on the capsule and occur to overlook, Murphy says to take it as quickly as you bear in mind. And in the event you miss two days, verify the directions included in your capsule packet and comply with their suggestion. 

Keep in mind that in the event you lose your contraception in the course of the course of the competition, a variety of festivals now have contraception tents arrange the place you’ll be able to entry condoms and the morning after capsule. Some even have HIV and different STI testing areas, that are price utilizing in the event you ever have any issues. 

What to think about earlier than having intercourse at a competition

Earlier than getting intimate at a competition, there are a number of elements to think about to make sure a secure, comfy, and fulfilling expertise for each you and your companion — particularly if one or each of you might be excessive or drunk, which tends to occur lots at festivals. 

Murphy says there are 4 elements, particularly, that want looking for: 

Consent

Intoxication can impair an individual’s means to present knowledgeable and enthusiastic consent. Be sure that each you and your companion are sober sufficient to offer clear and ongoing consent all through the encounter. If it’s not an enthusiastic ‘sure!’, it’s a no.

“In case your companion is intoxicated, prioritise their welfare over your sexual frustration and wait till they’re sober sufficient to present clear consent,” says Murphy. Perhaps you’ll be able to meet up one other time when your heads are extra clear. You possibly can learn Mashable’s information to drunk intercourse and whether or not it’s ever okay right here. 

Communication

Alcohol or drug use can have an effect on an individual’s means to speak successfully, which is important for discussing boundaries, preferences, and any issues. “These must be mentioned once you’re sober sufficient to have a dialog about all the above,” Murphy says. 

Security

Intoxication can improve the chance of participating in dangerous behaviours or making poor selections, similar to not utilizing safety or participating in unsafe sexual practices. Preserve all the pieces you want for secure intercourse in an easy-to-grab bag in your tent or in your individual with objects like safety and lube to make it simpler to entry all the pieces you want. 

The place to have intercourse at a competition and tips on how to navigate it in the event you really feel awkward

One phrase we’d by no means use to explain competition intercourse: discreet. If you happen to’re somebody who prefers privateness for intercourse, festivals could make that difficult. You might need to only settle for that your tent goes to wobble and folks would possibly hear you (it’s all a part of the competition vibes, actually!) however in the event you do need discretion, there’s some issues you’ll be able to strive. 

Murphy says “Having intercourse at a competition may be an thrilling and distinctive expertise, nonetheless, in the event you’re walked in on or noticed having intercourse, it may possibly flip an adrenaline-pumping expertise into a clumsy one. With this in thoughts, the most effective place to have intercourse is someplace that gives privateness, consolation and security — which is prone to be your tent.” 

So, make certain your tent is pitched flat and is prevented from shaking an excessive amount of. “Uneven floor could cause your tent to wobble extra simply which can trigger undesirable consideration. To forestall this additional, I’d additionally suggest putting heavy objects contained in the corners of your tent to weigh it down to scale back the shaking much more,” Murphy recommends.

22-year-old Tammy* is a frequent competition goer and self-confessed “high competition shagger”, and she or he recommends bringing a transportable speaker alongside for intercourse, too. “Transportable audio system are a should at festivals anyway for preparing vibes and campsite events, however they’re additionally good to have in your tent or simply exterior of it throughout intercourse to drown out any intercourse noises,” she tells Mashable.  

“You can too shag in the course of the daytime or when one of many primary acts you don’t care about are on as there gained’t be that many individuals within the camp web site,” she provides. 

Murphy recommends in search of “relax zones” the place intercourse may be extra personal, too. “Some festivals even present designated areas for rest and intimacy. These areas are sometimes extra secluded and may provide a extra comfy atmosphere for intercourse.” In case your competition isn’t offering these, you would possibly discover some areas that make for a pure chill-out zone after some exploring.  

As for when to have intercourse, it’s most likely greatest to have it sooner somewhat than later. In fact, you’ll be able to have intercourse everytime you like however contemplating the shortage of cleansing services and the final grubbiness of festivals, you would possibly need to shag early into the competition. 

Murphy says, “Because the competition goes on, your tent is extra prone to get dirtier as you head out and in of it, or in the event you solely have moist wipes to wash your self. Secondly, while festivals are enjoyable, they’re additionally bodily demanding so chances are you’ll lose your libido and power for intercourse as the times go on,” she says.   

Keep in mind that festivals are all in regards to the enjoyable and spontaneous ambiance, and also you’re higher off embracing this than attempting to have “excellent” intercourse (inconceivable at the most effective of instances, not to mention at festivals). If you happen to take the distinctive setting and awkward moments into your stride and discover methods to chortle collectively, the stress will diffuse and also you’ll have a way more relaxed time. 

This text was first revealed in 2023 and republished in 2025.