FESTIVE revellers in the Bradford district who want to keep safe on a night out should plan ahead for potential sex and take a condom, according to a council health chief.

Nicola Corrigan, Bradford Council's Sexual Health Lead, has also warned that excessive boozing is likely to lessen inhibitions and increase risk taking which could end in unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

"Often sexual risk taking can lead to regret or feelings of guilt the morning after. This is often made worse by not being able to remember what happened, not knowing where to get advice, or not wanting to get help for fear of being judged.

"The best advice for preventing unwanted pregnancies or to avoid STIs is to plan what you would do when you are sober - even if you are not specifically planning on having sex,” she said.

She added: "Once you’re under the influence of alcohol and you meet someone, it’s often too late to properly plan appropriate contraception. The more you drink the smaller the risks appear. At this time of year, coming up to the Christmas party season, our advice for those planning to have sex is to always use a condom and to get yourself screened for STIs on a regular basis.”

The advice is not just being targeted at younger generations, people aged 35 to 55 also need to take heed, Mrs Corrigan said: "It’s not just younger people who are at risk. People aged 35 to 55 years of age who may have split up from their long term partners and are back on the dating scene are less likely to have had recent relationships and sex education.”

More advice from the council's sexual health team is that talking about using contraception with a new partner as early as possible can also help reduce the chances of catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI) which could lead to having to have a much more embarrassing conversation in the long run.

The council's sexual health warning comes out as HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust urges people to get tested for the disease as the number of people with it in our region is understood to have passed 5,600.

This World's Aids Day on Monday, December 1, Centenary Square will be lit up red. New figures released this week by Public Health England (PHE) reveal there were an estimated 5,655 people living with HIV in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2013 - the total number of people accessing HIV care in the region was 4,298.

A week of awareness activities including HIV testing around the district is being organised.

Jackie Redding, service director for Terrence Higgins Trust in the North of England, said: “Reducing undiagnosed HIV is the most important step we can take in our efforts to halt the spread of the epidemic. Once people are diagnosed, they can access life-saving treatment that will keep them fit and well.

"People who are on treatment are also far less likely to pass the virus on unwittingly. There are more reasons to know your HIV status than there are not to, so we would encourage local people to get involved with National HIV Testing Week and make a commitment to test.”