Why safe sex is important? Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious conditions transmitted through sexual activity - vaginal, oral or anal. Some of the STDs can be easily treated but unfortunately there is no cure for many of them, and these incurable STDs tend to be the most common and longest lasting. Some, for example HIV and hepatitis B, can have serious health consequences.
A person can have any of the STDs without any symptoms. They may therefore be unaware that they have an infection and may be passing it on each time they have sex.
Reducing the riskThe only way to be 100% certain of never getting an STD is never to have sex at all. This means that if you do have sex, you need to consider ways that you can reduce your risk of acquiring an infection (or passing on an STD you may not know you have!) There are various strategies you can use. Some relate to whom you have sex with, others relate to what you do while you are having sex. Choose whichever strategies best suit your situation - they don't all work for everyone.
Have an STD check up after sex with a new partner. If you have picked up an infection it may be possible to treat it before complications develop, and the sooner you know you have an STD, the less likely it is that you will unknowingly pass it on to someone else.
If you are in a stable relationship and neither you nor your partner have any other sexual partners, you can make sure that sex is safe by both having an STD check up. If all the results are negative (both yours and your partner's) it may be OK to have unprotected sex. You should discuss this with a doctor or health adviser because sometimes extra tests are required.
If you have sex with more than one partner or if you often change your partners, one way you can reduce your risk of exposure to an STD is to reduce the number of partners. The more people you have sex with, the more likely it is that one or more of your partners will have an STD.
Be especially careful if you have sex with people you don't know well. You are less likely to know if they have an STD or have had a check up recently.
Unless you are certain that you and your partner do not have any STDs (i.e. by having a full STD check-up) use safe sex practices when you have sex.
Safe sex practicesSafe sex means not allowing your partner's body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids) into your body and vice versa. It can also mean covering up or avoiding contact with parts of the body that might be infectious (e.g. herpes sores or warts)
With some forms of sex, it's possible to avoid any transfer of body fluids, e.g. massage and mutual masturbation ("hand jobs").
Oral sex carries a lower risk of transmitting most (not all) of the STDs. If you have oral sex, you can reduce the risk of infection by following these guidelines:
using condoms (flavoured ones are available!) or dental dams (see below)
not getting semen or blood in your mouth
avoiding oral sex if you have mouth ulcers or bleeding gums; not brushing your teeth immediately before oral sex
if you get cold sores, don't give your partner oral sex when you have an outbreak. (Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus.)
If you have vaginal or anal intercourse, use condoms. They have the added benefit of helping prevent unwanted pregnancy. You can choose condoms which are textured, coloured and flavoured. Some condoms are non-allergenic, for those who have skin reactions or find latex uncomfortable.