Some people like to have sex outdoors or in public places. These are sometimes known as public sex environments and include woods, public toilets, parks and car parks.

Why do some people have sex in public?
People have sex in public for various reasons. They may enjoy the risk of being caught, for instance, or like being watched by others. Or perhaps they prefer the anonymity of sex where there’s little risk of being identified and they don’t need to talk.

What should I know if I have sex outdoors?
There are a few things to remember if you have sex in public. The most important thing is to look after your health and safety.

Safer sex
If you decide to have sex in public, this may be with strangers, people you know or your partner. It’s important to use condoms whoever you’re having sex with, as it’s easy to pick up sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea.
Using condoms (external or internal) can stop HIV from being transmitted and can also prevent an unplanned pregnancy. If you have sex with more than one person, it’s important to use a different condom with each partner.

Personal safety
If you have sex in a public place you also need to look after your personal safety. For example, gay men have sometimes been the victims of homophobic attacks or even been robbed of their valuables when they have been cruising or having sex in public places.
If you’re a heterosexual couple you might take part in ‘dogging’. This is where couples meet to have sex in public places where they know other people might watch them or join in. Usually the people having sex are in cars. Again, it’s important to be aware of your personal safety, and if you’re single (no matter the sex or gender) it’s not advisable to go to dogging events on your own.
If you’re robbed or attacked in a public sex environment you should report it to the police to protect others.
Always call 100 in an emergency.
If you don’t know the person or people you’re having sex with, it’s advisable to be careful about where you meet them and where you go to have sex. Avoid public sex environments if you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs as this will make you vulnerable to attack, robbery or making poor decisions about sex and safety.