The low down on getting it on

Illustration: Mitch O'Connell

Sure, sex is natural, but sometimes you need stuff to make it work a little bit better. Here’s where to find the goods:

Free condoms and HIV/STI testing Chicago Department of Public Health Clinics go above and beyond many sexual-health services in the country. You can get free condoms as well as free testing for HIV and chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis at seven different locations. What are you waiting for? Call the Lakeview Specialty Clinic (2861 N Clark St, 312-744-5507), West Town Clinic (2418 W Division St, 312-742-4092) or Roseland Clinic (200 E 115th St, 312-747-2817) for locations near you and their hours.

Sexual assault/crisis services We hope it never happens to you or your friends, but keep these 24-hour crisis numbers on hand in case you need them: the Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline (888-293-2080) and the LGBT Crisis Hotline (773-871-2273).

Affordable gyn exams, birth control and emergency contraception Planned Parenthood Chicago Area (plannedparenthood.org) offers a wide range of services at its Loop Health Center (18 S Michigan Ave, sixth Floor, 312-592-6700) and Roseland Health Center (11250 S Halsted St, 773-468-1600). The Chicago Women’s Health Center (3435 N Sheffield Ave, 773-935-6126, chicagowomenshealthcenter.org) offers sliding-scale services (meaning cheaper for students, who are typically in a lower-income bracket) in a woman-friendly setting.

GLBT resources Howard Brown Health Center offers some of the most thorough services to GLBT individuals (including college-age women and men) in the universe, including health services, artistic endeavors, STI testing, counseling and more. Visit the website and be blown away by their range of services, or contact the main office for more info (4025 N Sheridan Rd, 773-388-1600).

Adult bookstores that don’t make you feel sleazy Woman- and queer-friendly Early to Bed (5232 N Sheridan Rd, 773-271-1219, early2bed.com) offers sexuality classes for men and women, as well as pretty vibrators with cool girly names. Tulip (3448 N Halsted St, 773-975-1515, mytulip.com) is sophisticated and fun for a girls’ night out, while g Boutique (2131 N Damen Ave, 773-235-1234, boutiqueg.com), boasts beautiful lingerie (plus toys). All three run sex-related workshops (think techniques) for men and women, too.

Adult bookstores that make you feel sleazy (in a good way) Sometimes sex is best when it’s a little dirty, and Cupid’s Treasure (3519 N Halsted St, 773-248-3884) delivers with a wide variety of lubes, fetish-wear and mouth-watering toys.—Debby Herbenick