Protecting Against STDs
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Step 1: The Facts and Figures
One out of two sexual active individuals will contract a genital infection during their lives. For this reason a smart preventive approach to sex is vital.
Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are consequences of many sexual encounters. The only way to insure that you don’t contract an STD is abstinence, But,for many people cutting out sex is not an option they choose. For this reason, some people have sex monogamously with only one partner who may or may not be STD free.
Step 2: Honesty
Be honest with you partner about you sexual history. And ask that he or she is honest with you. If you do take on a new sexual partner, talk to a doctor about getting tested for STDs before you have sex. You should do this with every new partner or if you suspect a regular partner is engaging in sex outside of your relationship.
You can further reduce your risk of contracting an STD by keeping your partner’s bodily fluids out of your body and asking your partner to do the same.
Step 3: Preventative Measures
The male latex condom or the female condom can provide some protection during sexual activity. When used correctly both male and female condom can reduce the transmission of HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. They can also offer limited protection against other STDs like HPV and herpes.
In general condoms are more effective at protecting against diseases transmitted through bodily secretions, like HIV, then those transmitted by skin to skin contact, like HPV.
Step 4: The Male Condom
But it’s important to keep in mind that wearing a condom is like wearing a raincoat on a rainy day. You can still get wet.
For a condom to be effective it must be put on correctly before any sexual contact is made.
Unwrap the package and hold the condom up to the light. Make sure that there is no rips or tears in the latex.
Then, unroll the condom over the erect penis to the penis’s base. Leave about a half inch of space in the tip of the condom for semen,
Immediately, after ejaculation, pull the condom rim at the base of the penis and exit your partner.
Step 5: The Female Condon
While the female condom is not as effective as the male condom at preventing STDs, it can be used in people who are allergic to latex.
The female condom looks like a tube with two rings. Insert the inner ring into the vagina as far as it can go leaving the outer ring outside.After sex remove the condom before standing up by gently pulling it out of the vagina.Talk to your doctor and your partner about getting tested for STDS and about ways to protect yourself.
