University packing lists including condoms: is this now standard advice?

[Maybeshesbornwithitmaybeitssertraline]

My ds2 has got his essential packing list for university, including condoms. I know, better to do it safely than not but really?

When I was 18 you only needed condoms if you were in a long term relationship. Is it so different these days?

I'll admit that I'm struggling with the idea that my 18 year old us old enough to go to university so the idea of him needing condoms as well is a bit out of my comfort zone.

If it's not it should be!

How old are you? I bet you’re younger than me and i used go get condoms from the family planning clinic when i was a student and had casual sex sometimes

I don’t remember a list, but were heaps at the freshers events including where you could take them without being seen, along with assorted pens, pads of paper, poster stalls as well as the places to sign up for clubs.

‘Fuck a fresher’ week was alive and well when I went to uni in the early 90s…

When I was 18 you only needed condoms if you were in a long term relationship. Is it so different these days?

Surely, even ‘in your time’ condoms were PARTICULARLY on BEFORE you were in a LT relationship?
I mean that was the time of AIDS and having safe sex no??

I think the university concerned have taken a sensible approach.

It may not be the case now, but I remember reading perhaps 10-15 years ago that around one in ten women at university became pregnant at some time during their studies.

When were you 18? Teenagers needing condoms is very normal, age appropriate and tbh even more important if they are not in a long term relationship. In fact it’s crazy that anyone could possibly think only people in a LTR need them, as if no one else ever has sex. It’s clear though that you are infantilising your 18 year old somewhat, given you are uncomfortable with the idea of him being sexually active.

2 dcs at Uni and I’ve never been told about a packing list 😂😂
Had to trawl the Internet instead to find ideas and not forget anything reaLly necessary

I don’t think you’re helping the OP. 😁

If the student is the first person in their family to go to uni, it is often not realised that they need to provide cooking equipment, crockery, cutlery, bedding etc.
It doesn't tell them to take 7 pairs of pants etc 🙄

Pretty sensible isn’t it?
Everything on the list isn’t compulsory

Says who @Didion ?
All women (including young women) have monthly cycles which affect this.
Lube isn’t just for gay men, you know.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/how-lubricant-can-transform-your-sex-life-10493538.html

It's been 15 years since I left university OP, and even back then condoms were on packing lists, as well as widely available for free in all halls of residence and student venues. Almost all of us were having some sex, whether in or out of relationships. It's very normal and common for young adults to have sex, it's certainly not new, and it's important that they practice safe sex.

Are you serious?

We got given condoms as part of our welcome packs at Fresher's Week when I went to university in 1994, for god's sake.

You do realise university students are adults? They can, and do, have sex. Sometimes casually, sometimes in serious relationships. Of course they should have condoms, even if it's only 'just in case'.

Do you seriously think no young adult ever has sex until they're in a long-term relationship? Really??

the idea of him needing condoms as well is a bit out of my comfort zone

You really shouldn't need a 'comfort zone' for an adult man having sex. Firstly, he's been over the age of consent for the past TWO YEARS and secondly, it's absolutely none of your business whether he wants to fuck someone or not.

God, some people really do infantilise their teen/adult kids on this site. It borders on creepy.

Some women need lube sometimes. It's nonsense to say that all women should use lube every time, though.

Are you my grandmother?🤣🤣

29 years ago I was training to be a nurse I did a midwifery placement it was 4 weeks long and was 9 months after our cities 2 universities had freshers week. I saw 3 first year students have babies that month. It happens so may as well prepare them.

this thread is hilarious in how old fashioned it is. Do you seriously think 18 year olds only have sex in long term relationships?

Are you really that naive?

Condoms for teenagers is perfectly normal. I was 18 in the late 80s, Condoms and how to use them was everywhere. AIDS and HIV never mind pregnancy prevention.
Same today but more STI risk than HIV/AIDS
My 18yo has had no use for them, but there's a packet in his underwear drawer curtesy of me!

This was definitely a thing when I went to university. And I am about 800 years old. (Well, 44 to be precise).

They were being distributed everywhere for free as well. You'd have to have done a lot of shagging to get to the point you actually needed to buy any

You can’t possibly think 18 year olds living away from home won’t be having sex?

To be fair to the OP, I knew lots of freshers who weren’t shagging - small university that attracted a lot of sheltered / religious / quite geeky 18 year olds. I can imagine there were a fair few whose parents didn’t expect them to be having sex in the first term, and who didn’t do so.

But as previous posters have said, condoms were definitely handed out and made available to everyone.

Yes, I wondered the same.

It was on the packing list and then widely available when I was a fresher 20 years ago