Sex safety guidelines: Essential information
In today's world, it's essential to prioritise safer sex practices to minimise the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Here's a comprehensive guide on how to do just that.
Key Strategies for Safer Sex
- Use Condoms and Barrier Methods Consistently
- For vaginal and anal sex, use latex or polyurethane condoms every time to reduce STI transmission risk.
- For oral sex, use latex condoms or dental dams (thin latex sheets) to cover the mouth or vulva/anus to reduce exposure to infectious fluids.
- Avoid using lambskin or natural condoms for STI prevention as they do not block viruses.
- Use Appropriate Lubricants
- Use water-based lubricants with latex condoms to prevent breakage.
- Avoid oil-based lubricants (baby oil, lotions) as they degrade latex and increase condom failure risk.
- Avoid Reusing or Mixing Condoms
- Never use male and female condoms together.
- Always use a new condom or dental dam each time you engage in sexual activity.
- Reduce Number of Sexual Partners
- Practicing monogamy or polyfidelity with partners who have been tested and share STI status lowers the likelihood of STI exposure.
- Communicate Openly
- Discuss STI history, testing, and prevention preferences with sexual partners to ensure shared responsibility and safer practices.
- Regular STI Screening and Timely Treatment
- Regular testing helps detect asymptomatic infections, especially important for women and extragenital sites (pharynx, rectum).
- Early treatment prevents complications and reduces transmission to others.
- Avoid Sexual Activity with Open Sores or Cuts
- Especially in the mouth for oral sex, as breaks in skin or mucous membranes increase infection risk.
- Avoid Using Saliva as a Lubricant or Sharing Sex Toys
- Without cleaning and using protection to prevent transmitting germs.
- Vaccination Against Certain STIs
- Immunisation is available for hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV), both of which reduce the risk of infections that can cause cancer and genital warts.
- Vaccines are most effective when given before sexual activity begins and are recommended for teenagers, boys, and young adults up to certain ages.
- Male Circumcision
- May reduce HIV risk according to some research, though this is somewhat debated.
- Abstinence
- Remains the only guaranteed method to avoid STIs completely.
It's important to note that while these strategies can significantly reduce the risk of STIs, abstinence remains the only guaranteed method to avoid STIs completely.
For those living with HIV, it's possible to have a healthy and active sex life as long as appropriate precautions are taken. Antiviral drugs can also reduce the viral load of HIV in the blood, reducing the risk of spreading the disease.
Anal sex poses a higher risk of HIV transmission compared to other sexual practices. To reduce the risk during anal sex, the penetrative partner should wear a condom. Using a condom-friendly lubricant can further reduce the risk of microtears during anal sex.
While the risk of contracting HIV from oral sex is lower than that of penetrative sex, a person can still contract STIs, including herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, from oral sex. People who contract chlamydia or gonorrhea from oral sex may develop a throat infection rather than a genital infection.
Reducing the frequency of high-risk sex can lower a person's chances of acquiring an STI. High-risk sex is any sexual act or behavior that can lead to unintended results, such as having sex without barrier protection.
Treating any STIs and not having sex until treatment is complete can lower the risk of transmitting an STI to a partner. Using PrEP can help reduce the risk of transmitting HIV during sex.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that of the U.S. population had an STI on any given day in 2018. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that more than half of Americans will have an STI at some point during their lives.
By following these safer sex practices, you can enjoy a healthy and active sex life while minimising the risk of STIs. Remember, open communication, regular testing, and consistent use of protective barriers are key.
- In alignment with health-and-wellness and sexual-health principles, prioritize safer sex practices such as consistent use of condoms and proper lubricants, reducing the number of sexual partners, and regular STI screening for a lower risk of sexually transmitted infections.
- Awareness of the contextual significance of specific STIs, like HIV, demands constant vigilance during sexual activity, ensuring adequate protection, abstinence if possible, and discussions with partners about their STI history and prevention practices.
- Advances in science have led to vaccines for certain STIs such as hepatitis B and HPV, reducing the risks of infections leading to cancer and genital warts; these vaccines are most effective when given before sexual activity begins.
- In the case of HIV, antiviral drugs can help lower the viral load and reduce the risk of spreading the disease, allowing those living with the infection to maintain a healthy and active sex life.
- To minimize the risk during anal sex and other high-risk sex acts, always use appropriate protective barriers such as condoms and consider getting vaccinated against certain STIs, like HIV, or utilizing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to further reduce transmission risk.
