Trust me when I say Valentine is still in the air and a lot of awww awww and lovey dovey acts have been on lately. While this is fun to do and see, it is important to be safe by being with the right partner.
When you engage in sexual contact with someone other than your partner, you run the risk of being exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI). A key part of your sexual health is learning how to protect yourself against STIs and have safe, healthy sex.
Safe sex is when people take specific measures before or during sexual activity to reduce the risk of sharing sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STDs/STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Sometimes, the phrase “safe sex” is used to refer to contraception practices (which help prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancy) in addition to STI prevention. It’s important to note that many contraceptive methods (such as birth control pills) are not effective ways to reduce the risk of STIs.
Here are some practices for safer sex this valentine period.
Barrier methods: Barriers during sex aim to prevent direct contact between each partner’s genitals by limiting exposure to bodily fluids. Among the most common barrier methods for safe sex are latex condoms (external polyurethane) and internal condoms (sometimes called female condoms). Latex condoms are barriers worn on the penis during intercourse, and internal condoms are placed inside the vaginal canal before vaginal sex. Other barriers include dental dams, which can be used as a barrier over the vulva or anus during oral sex, and latex gloves, which can be used as a barrier over the hands to prevent contact with an open wound. In addition to their use during sexual intercourse, you can use condoms or other barrier methods over sex toys to avoid transmission of fluids between orifices or partners. .
No-contact sexual activities: No-contact sexual activities are sexual experiences that do not include physical touch, eliminating the possibility of fluid transmission. Examples of no-contact sexual behaviors include phone sex, sexting, mutual masturbation, and cybersex.
Non-penetrative sexual activities: Non-penetrative sexual activities like making out, handjobs, and fingering limit partners’ exposure to each others’ bodily fluids, reducing chances for STI transmission (as compared to high-risk activities like vaginal, oral, or anal sex). However, non-penetrative sexual practices do not protect against STIs transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact, like herpes or syphilis.
Immunization: You can reduce your risk for STIs like hepatitis B and HPV by being immunized preventatively by a licensed health care provider.
Medication: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a method of taking specific prescription drugs to reduce your chances for HIV infection. The most common PrEP drugs use a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine, and should only be taken under the direction of a healthcare professional. These drugs have proven effective against HIV transmission, but cannot reduce your risk of other STIs. Contraceptive pills (also called birth control pills) are not an effective method to prevent STIs.
Limiting sexual partners: Engaging in sexual activity with a new partner runs the risk of exposure to an STI, so one way to reduce your risk is to limit your sexual partners to people who communicate about their medical and sexual history and agree to use safe sex practices in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
