Safe Sex and Condoms
Essential facts 

Safe sex practices

Safe 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.

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