Safer sex is about protecting yourself and your partners from sexually transmitted infections. Safer sex helps you stay healthy and can even improve your sex!
What is safer sex?
STIs are infections that are passed from one person to another during sexual activity. As soon as you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex, have skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, or share sexual fluids with another person, you can become infected with STDs. Safer sex means taking steps to protect yourself and your partner from STDs.
How to protect yourself from STDs
There are many ways you can make your sex safer. One of the best ways is to use a physical barrier such as condoms, femidoms, or latex gloves. Such contraceptives protect you from bodily fluids that can transmit STDs.
Have safer sex with condoms and other birth control methods – here’s how:
- Use a new condom every time you have sex.
- Pay attention to the expiration date – do not use a condom that is past its expiration date.
- When opening the package, be careful not to damage the condom with your fingernails, jewelry or teeth.
- If you use additional lubricant, use only water-based lubricant. Other lubricants can damage the condom.
- Condoms should be worn from the beginning to the end of intercourse.
- Also use condoms for vibrators and sex toys that you share.
- Use condoms or a dental dam (lick cloth) during oral sex.
- Remember that a diaphragm offers less protection against STIs than condoms.
If you touch your partner’s genitals or intimate area with your hands, wash your hands before touching your own genitals, mouth, or eyes to avoid transferring sex fluids.
Top tips for safe sex
Talk openly with your partner about your sexual health.
Get tested for STDs if you change partners often.
If you have an STD, get treatment and avoid sexual contact until you get a doctor’s confirmation that you are no longer contagious.
If someone pressures you to have sex or you feel uncomfortable, communicate that clearly. Conversely, this also means that you must respect the other person’s decision if they say “no” or do not also send indirect signals and may not be able to give specific consent.
Avoid having sex with strangers when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This can cloud your judgment and you might do things you regret later.
Other ways to have safer sex
Just because you have safe sex doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Sex is just one part of enjoying intimacy with another person. There are other ways to feel sexual pleasure without putting yourself at risk for STDs:
- Kissing
- Cuddling
- Massages
- Masturbation (alone or with sexual partners).
Remember that it is better to avoid sexual contact if you or your partner have sores, rashes, or ulcers.
Conclusion
Proper contraception will let you enjoy sex more and take the worry out of having sex – no risk, just fun!
If you think you may have contracted an STD or have been exposed to contact with someone with an STD, you should talk to your health care provider about it.