Safer Sex

When you practice safe sex, you are following common sense precautions that reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs. Most basic is using a condom for all sexual intercourse (oral, anal, and vaginal) or a dental dam (which can be made from a condom) when performing oral sex on a woman. Using a condom puts a barrier between bodily fluids, so that diseases (or sperm) can't transmit from one person to another. Condoms cannot protect against ALL sexually transmitted diseases, however! That's why it's important for sexually active people to get regular STD tests, and to get proper treatment when needed. It's also a good idea for women who are sexually active to get some form of birth control (such as the pill or the ring) to further reduce the risk of pregnancy. If a woman DOES have unprotected sex, she can also look into emergency birth control (but it doesn't work as well if used a lot). Another very important safe sex practice is talking to your partner! Have they been checked for STDs recently? Have you? Communication is an important part of safe sex, from talking about what is comfortable for your partner and how far to go to talking about putting on a condom and taking birth control. It may feel embarrassing, but it's important to take care of yourself and make sure that both you and your partner remain healthy and safe.