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Sexual Health Centre
Infections and Safer Sex |
Safer Sex
There are many infections a woman
can get in her genital area. Germs that live in or on a person's genitals
cause these diseases. These germs can be passed from one person to another
during sex. Safer sex is any sex where you choose behaviours that make it
less likely you will get an infection.
When we talk about safer sex,
we often talk about body
fluids. That is because some of the most serious infections, such
as hepatitis and HIV, can be transmitted in body fluids such as blood,
semen or vaginal juices. You can be infected with these diseases, if body
fluids from an infected person enter your vagina, anus or mouth. Some
sexual activities are riskier than others are. Learn about the risks associated
with different kinds of sex and what you can do to protect yourself by
clicking here.
Although safer sex may mean
protecting yourself and your partner(s) from the exchange of body fluids,
it really means any changes you make in your sexual activities to protect
each other. For example, women who have herpes can often feel a tingling
before herpes sores appear. Making sure your partner doesn't touch the
infected area and modifying your sexual practices before the cold sores
appear, and while they are visible, is a form of safer sex.
Honest communication is the
key to safer sex. Talk to your partner about the possible risks you take
when you have sex, and decide together which risks you are willing to
take. Safer sex can be good sex. It encourages the two of you to communicate
and it often makes sex-play last longer, building the intensity.
Other
Safer Sex Tips
Never touch a sore caused
by a sexually transmitted disease. Some kinds of infection can be
carried on your hand, at least for a short time.
Drinking alcohol or
taking drugs can influence the decisions a person makes about sexual
risks. Be aware of how drug and alcohol use affects your decision-making
around sexual activity.
Lesbians are not automatically
free from sexually transmitted infections just because they have
never had sex with a man. Lesbian partners also need to talk about
safer sex.
Sharing needles to
inject drugs is another way for someone to catch an
infection. If you or your partner injects drugs, you need to take
some protective steps. There are some ways
to make needle use safer.
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Sometimes when a couple has been
together for a while, they want to stop using condoms or to stop limiting
the ways in which they have sex. If you and your partner are thinking about
this, you need to be very honest with each other about your past. Most people
have more than one sexual partner in their lives. A previous partner may
not have known they had an infection and you may not know now. Unprotected
sex always involves some risk but the risk is low if:
- you have both been tested
for sexually transmitted infections
- neither of you had sex in
the six months before the tests with anyone else
- you can trust each other
not to have sex with other people during your relationship (or to tell
you so you can protect yourself)
- neither you or your partner
shares needles to inject drugs
Be careful not to talk yourself
into this. We all want to trust our partners, but if you're not sure, you
are probably not ready.
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