From how to get around, to how to find basic necessities, living abroad can be a struggle, albeit a delightful one. When it comes to intimacy, though, it can even be intimidating. How can I find reliable protection? What do I do if it fails? How can I approach sex and intimacy safely when I can't even speak the language?
Whether single and dating, in a relationship or happily married, expat-locals are faced with the same challenges anyone faces with sex. Here's a basic outline of how to tackle some of these issues, tips for where to buy what, and what your options are for some of those trickier situations.
Condoms (bìyùntào)
In recent decades, China has seen its fair share of headlines about faulty or fake condoms being seized by authorities. In major cities, shady organizations would produce faulty or unhealthy condoms, package them in legitimate boxes and flood the market with lower-priced options. Those unaware of the issue were then duped into unsafe condoms, resulting in some health issues or unplanned pregnancies.
While authorities do what they can to eliminate this issue, it's become common knowledge to avoid that altogether. The best rule of thumb is to only purchase condoms at major supermarkets, Western supermarkets like Carrefour and BHG (at the U Center in Wudaokou) and D-Mart (just across the street from the U Center), or at shops like Mannings or Watsons. After those options, you can find reliable boxes at 7-11. Avoid any unnamed or hole-in-the-wall shops to err on the side of caution.
Note: There are other ways to say “condom”. See the dictionary below.
Birth Control (jìhuà shēngyù)
Over the counter: You'll want to know what brand or dosage you were on before, to ensure you don't put your body through too much of a shift. There are only two doses a pharmacist will be able to give you without a prescription – both low doses with minimal impact on your body. Understandable, but a notable obstacle when it means you need to find a doctor you can effectively communicate. There are two major Western hospital options in Beijing, both with doctors that can help you find what's best for you in a language you know.
For most generic, low-dose options (like Mercilon) you'll spend around 170RMB per box, with a potential 30RMB pharmacy fee if you go through the pharmacist without a prescription. You can buy boxes per month, which may serve as a good go-between if you are between appointments or need a quick solution for only a few months.
Consulting a physician: For things more complicated, like an IUD or other implant options, you'll want to consult a physician. At the aforementioned hospitals, staffers know a collection of Western languages, eliminating the need for a translator. Though more expensive options as opposed to the pill, they are options still available in hospitals here.
Emergency Contraception (jǐnjí bìyùn)
You can purchase emergency contraception over the counter at any pharmacy in the city. For those with limited spoken Chinese, you can show them the characters of the box you're looking for, or point it out from the shelf. If your Chinese is passable, or you have a friend to help, that's ideal. Be sure to check the box carefully, and confirm that the characters are correct for what you're looking for. It will cost you around 40RMB a box at the smaller pharmacies around town. At the mainstream pharmacies, it may cost more. The deal is the same, though – take it within 72 hours and with plenty of water.
Getting Tested
For those sexually active overseas, it's always a good idea to err on the side of caution. That said, both Western hospitals, as well as those Chinese hospitals around the city, are able to run basic sexually transmitted disease/venereal disease (xìngbìng) screenings and AIDS tests. See the resources sections for ways to contact those institutions.
Urinary Tract Infections (niàodào gănrăn)
Often an unfortunate side effect for women after having sex (especially if there has been a respite between encounters), urinary tract infections may seem daunting to remedy while living abroad. Luckily, it can be as simple as a quick trip to the local pharmacy.
For those who have not had a UTI before: Not to get to clinical, here are a few warning signs of a urinary tract infection: a frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out; pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen; painful urination; etc. If you experience any of these, it is best practice to consult a doctor and see if it is a UTI. If so, they will prescribe the right dose of an antibiotic, kàngjūnsù, for you.
For those who have had a UTI before: If you are aware of the symptoms, having had a UTI before, you well know how promptly you'll want to address the issue. Any local or Western hospital will be able to test you for those bacteria causing the UTI, and prescribe an antibiotic to clear the bacteria out. In the case of an emergency, you can also visit a nearby pharmacy with a good translator app (or friend well-versed in Chinese) and request a basic antibiotic like Amoxicillin (āmòxīlín), or Levofloxacin. These will follow the same course of treatment as they did back home – take two a day, following a snack or meal, until your series of pills are complete. If problems persist, see a doctor again to be prescribed a more serious antibiotic.
It's always best to visit a physician.
Dictionary & Pronunciation Guide
For variations on how to say “condoms”:
bìyùntào – bee-yoon-tow || condom
ānquántào – ahn-twahn-tow || condom
yīnjīngtào – yeen-tsing-tow || condom
jìhuà shēngyù – tsee-hwah-shung-yoo || birth control (family planning)
jǐnjí bìyùn – tseen-tsee-bee-yoon || emergency contraception
xìngbìng – shing-bing || venereal disease
niàodào gănrăn – neow-dow-gahn-rahn || urinary tract infection
kàngjūnsù – kahng-tsoon-soo || antibiotic
āmòxīlín – ah-moh-shee-leen || Amoxicillin
Resources
Beijing Haidian Hospital: http://www.hdhospital.com/
International SOS Hospital: https://www.internationalsos.com/clinicsinchina/en/Beijing.aspx
Beijing United Family Hospital: http://beijing.ufh.com.cn/
Whether single and dating, in a relationship or happily married, expat-locals are faced with the same challenges anyone faces with sex. Here's a basic outline of how to tackle some of these issues, tips for where to buy what, and what your options are for some of those trickier situations.
Condoms (bìyùntào)
In recent decades, China has seen its fair share of headlines about faulty or fake condoms being seized by authorities. In major cities, shady organizations would produce faulty or unhealthy condoms, package them in legitimate boxes and flood the market with lower-priced options. Those unaware of the issue were then duped into unsafe condoms, resulting in some health issues or unplanned pregnancies.
While authorities do what they can to eliminate this issue, it's become common knowledge to avoid that altogether. The best rule of thumb is to only purchase condoms at major supermarkets, Western supermarkets like Carrefour and BHG (at the U Center in Wudaokou) and D-Mart (just across the street from the U Center), or at shops like Mannings or Watsons. After those options, you can find reliable boxes at 7-11. Avoid any unnamed or hole-in-the-wall shops to err on the side of caution.
Note: There are other ways to say “condom”. See the dictionary below.
Birth Control (jìhuà shēngyù)
Over the counter: You'll want to know what brand or dosage you were on before, to ensure you don't put your body through too much of a shift. There are only two doses a pharmacist will be able to give you without a prescription – both low doses with minimal impact on your body. Understandable, but a notable obstacle when it means you need to find a doctor you can effectively communicate. There are two major Western hospital options in Beijing, both with doctors that can help you find what's best for you in a language you know.
For most generic, low-dose options (like Mercilon) you'll spend around 170RMB per box, with a potential 30RMB pharmacy fee if you go through the pharmacist without a prescription. You can buy boxes per month, which may serve as a good go-between if you are between appointments or need a quick solution for only a few months.
Consulting a physician: For things more complicated, like an IUD or other implant options, you'll want to consult a physician. At the aforementioned hospitals, staffers know a collection of Western languages, eliminating the need for a translator. Though more expensive options as opposed to the pill, they are options still available in hospitals here.
Emergency Contraception (jǐnjí bìyùn)
You can purchase emergency contraception over the counter at any pharmacy in the city. For those with limited spoken Chinese, you can show them the characters of the box you're looking for, or point it out from the shelf. If your Chinese is passable, or you have a friend to help, that's ideal. Be sure to check the box carefully, and confirm that the characters are correct for what you're looking for. It will cost you around 40RMB a box at the smaller pharmacies around town. At the mainstream pharmacies, it may cost more. The deal is the same, though – take it within 72 hours and with plenty of water.
Getting Tested
For those sexually active overseas, it's always a good idea to err on the side of caution. That said, both Western hospitals, as well as those Chinese hospitals around the city, are able to run basic sexually transmitted disease/venereal disease (xìngbìng) screenings and AIDS tests. See the resources sections for ways to contact those institutions.
Urinary Tract Infections (niàodào gănrăn)
Often an unfortunate side effect for women after having sex (especially if there has been a respite between encounters), urinary tract infections may seem daunting to remedy while living abroad. Luckily, it can be as simple as a quick trip to the local pharmacy.
For those who have not had a UTI before: Not to get to clinical, here are a few warning signs of a urinary tract infection: a frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out; pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen; painful urination; etc. If you experience any of these, it is best practice to consult a doctor and see if it is a UTI. If so, they will prescribe the right dose of an antibiotic, kàngjūnsù, for you.
For those who have had a UTI before: If you are aware of the symptoms, having had a UTI before, you well know how promptly you'll want to address the issue. Any local or Western hospital will be able to test you for those bacteria causing the UTI, and prescribe an antibiotic to clear the bacteria out. In the case of an emergency, you can also visit a nearby pharmacy with a good translator app (or friend well-versed in Chinese) and request a basic antibiotic like Amoxicillin (āmòxīlín), or Levofloxacin. These will follow the same course of treatment as they did back home – take two a day, following a snack or meal, until your series of pills are complete. If problems persist, see a doctor again to be prescribed a more serious antibiotic.
It's always best to visit a physician.
Dictionary & Pronunciation Guide
For variations on how to say “condoms”:
bìyùntào – bee-yoon-tow || condom
ānquántào – ahn-twahn-tow || condom
yīnjīngtào – yeen-tsing-tow || condom
jìhuà shēngyù – tsee-hwah-shung-yoo || birth control (family planning)
jǐnjí bìyùn – tseen-tsee-bee-yoon || emergency contraception
xìngbìng – shing-bing || venereal disease
niàodào gănrăn – neow-dow-gahn-rahn || urinary tract infection
kàngjūnsù – kahng-tsoon-soo || antibiotic
āmòxīlín – ah-moh-shee-leen || Amoxicillin
Resources
Beijing Haidian Hospital: http://www.hdhospital.com/
International SOS Hospital: https://www.internationalsos.com/clinicsinchina/en/Beijing.aspx
Beijing United Family Hospital: http://beijing.ufh.com.cn/