Safer Sex
Health Promotion Wellbeing Central approaches safer sex with a harm reduction approach. We focus on education and prevention. Our message: “If you choose to have sex, here’s how to protect yourself and your partner by practicing safer sex.”
What is Safer Sex?
Safer sex means protecting yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and unplanned pregnancy. It can also mean deciding to abstain from sexual intercourse or finding other forms of sexual expression that do not involve the exchange of bodily fluids.
Abstinence is the only 100 percent fool-proof method of preventing STIs, HIV and pregnancy.
Continuum of Risk
There are varying levels of risk involved with sexual activities.
LOW RISK
- Kissing
- Masturbation or mutual masturbation
- Cyber-sex, fantasy, or phone sex
- Touching or massage
- Fondling or body rubbing
- Using clean sex toys
MODERATE RISK
- Manual stimulation of one another
- Vaginal intercourse with a condom or female condom
- Anal intercourse with a condom or female condom
- Oral sex on a person with a penis using a condom
- Oral sex on a person with a vulva using a dental dam or non-microwavable plastic wrap
HIGH RISK
- Vaginal intercourse without a condom
- Anal intercourse without a condom
- Oral sex without a condom, dental dam, or non-microwavable plastic wrap
Lower Your Risk of STIs and Unwanted Pregnancy
- Avoid using alcohol and other drugs before and during sexual intercourse
- Learn the common STI/STD symptoms and perform monthly genital self exams
- Have regular medical check-ups, annual exams
- Stay healthy
- Get tested
- Limit your number of sexual partners
- Know yourself and what you want in a relationship
- Learn how to communicate with your partner about safer sex issues
- Use barrier methods to protect against STIs, and contraception to protect against unwanted pregnancy.
