How To Be Safer?
The fact is that anyone who is having sex can pick up a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Whether you’re young or old, straight or gay, do it once in a while or all night every night, unprotected sex will put you at risk of getting an STI so it makes sense to make your sex safer.
What is safer sex?
Think of it as any sex that does not allow an infected person’s blood, semen, pre-ejaculatory fluid (precum) or fluid from the vagina to get inside the other person’s body.
So, how can you be safer?
Use a condom every time you have sex. Only condoms provide ‘all-in-one’ protection against unintended pregnancy and most sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
It seems obvious, but the more sexual partners you have the more chance you have of getting an STI - so be careful who you sleep with.
Just because you’ve been with someone for a while, don’t give up using a condom until you’ve both had a check-up. Some of the most common STIs have no noticeable symptoms, so it’s best to be sure, before you decide you don’t need condoms any more. Don’t forget to use another form of contraception to avoid unintended pregnancies.
Always carry condoms with you when you go out, not just when you are going to a party or a club. Sex isn’t something you always plan in advance.