What is safer sex?
If you are sexually active, consider doing other things with your partner, like kissing, mutual pleasuring, self pleasuring, touching or hugging, instead of having intercourse. For oral sexual activities, anal or vaginal intercourse, a condom should be used to reduce the chance of catching a sexually transmitted infection. For more information: Visit your local health care clinic, talk to your doctor, parents or partner and for more online information visit the sites below.
Safer sex means: • consent from both parties. • neither partner is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. • the use of latex barriers every time you engage in sexual activity, including 1) the use of a latex condom for vaginal and anal sex, 2) the use of a flavored latex condom for oral sex, 3) the use of a latex doily (or dental dam) during oral-to-vaginal or oral-to-anal contact. • the use of only water-based lubricants like “KY Jelly” or “WET” with latex condoms and doilies.
Safer sex is a way of adapting your sex life to minimize the risk of giving or getting the HIV infection. It includes those sexual practices which reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV during sexual activity. Sex can be made safer by using a condom consistently or by practicing non-penetrative sex.
Safer sex is lowering your (and your partner’s) risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you choose to be sexually active, using latex or polyurethane barriers (e.g. condoms, dental dams and gloves) will lower your risk for STIs. Safer sex is also abstaining from sex if you have sores or other symptoms of infection, getting routine checkups for infections, and getting the correct treatment if you become infected.
