What are the Safest Sex Practices?

While many people will argue that safe sex takes all the fun out of sex, the fact is that communication with your partner and using safe sex practices will help improve your sex life by improving your relationship with your partner, and will help prevent the transmission of various STD’s. If you or your partner do have STD’s including HIV, there are a number of things that you can do to prevent the spread of these diseases.

The safest sex is to actually not have sex at all. Next to that, the safest sex is that between two partners who do not have any STD’s, who do not use injectable drugs, and who are not having sex with anyone else. If you are not sure of your partner’s sexual history or you know that there is a risk of the transferring of STD’s, there are a number of things that you can do.

Non-Penetrative Sexual Encounters

Outside of actual penetrative sex, there are a number of ways to achieve sexual satisfaction with a partner that will avoid the risk of transmitting various STD’s. These include fantasizing, phone sex, self-masturbation, mutual masturbation, sensual massage, and kissing. These encounters, especially when used together, can often achieve the same level of sexual pleasure as actual penetrative sex, but without the risks.

Safer Sexual Practices

When choosing to have penetrative sex with your partner, it’s best to do so in the safest way possible. Keep in mind that there’s no such thing as 100% safe sexual practices, but it is important to do all that you can to reduce your risks of STD’s and HIV. Safer sexual practices involve avoiding contact with your partners bodily fluids. The semen or vaginal secretions of your partner should not come into contact with your penis, vagina, anus, or mouth.

It is also important to avoid skin-to-skin contact of genitals, and to take additional precautions if you or your partner have any open sores, cuts, or wounds as any contact with these greatly increase the risk of spreading HIV. To practice safer sex, be sure to always use some type of barrier when having penetrative sex. Usually, that means using a latex male condom, but there are a number of other options available today.

Using Condoms for Safer Sex

While male condoms are most commonly used, there are also female condoms which fit inside the vagina, although these are more expensive and can be difficult to learn how to use. Either way, be sure to use latex condoms that are specifically designed to prevent disease which you can buy in drug stores and many other locations without needing a prescription.

Use a new barrier every time you have sex, and be sure to use lubricants that are water-based. Oil- and petroleum-based lubricants can cause latex condoms to break during use which renders them useless. You should also be checking condoms before using them to make sure that they appear normal. Never use a condom that feels brittle or sticky, is discolored, or has damaged packaging.