Safe sex: Encyclopedia II - Safe sex - Safe sex precautions

Safe sex - Safe sex precautions

Safe sex - Abstinence

Sexual abstinence, while it virtually eliminates the risk of STIs or pregnancy, is technically not a method of pursuing "safer sex". It is, however, an option which eliminates risk of STI transmission. Solitary masturbation (including so-called "phone sex" and "cybersex") is safe, since it does not involve contact with a different person's bodily fluids. Two exceptions are: playing with one's own body fluids during masturbation and autofellatio both of which can spread an infection between various parts of the body.

Safe sex - Controlling social factors

Outside of total abstinence and masturbation, proponents of safer sex recommend that some of the following methods can minimize the risks of STI transmission and pregnancy during sexual activity.

• Monogamy. However, be aware that many monogamous people have been infected with sexually-transmitted diseases by non-monogamous partners, partners who use injection drugs, or previously infected partners. Monogamy can only be considered "safer sex" with frequent STI testing. Since preventing pregnancy is also part of safer sex, at least medical contraception is technically required.
• Knowing your partner(s), especially their STI status.
• Treating existing STIs and infections of the genitals or mouth (which may increase the chance of transmission).
• Communicating with your partner. Being assertive in saying what you want and don't want. This includes discussing beforehand what is acceptable and what is not to avoid "heat of passion" decisions.
• For those who are not monogamous, reducing your number of sexual partners, particularly anonymous sexual partners, will also reduce your potential exposure to STIs.
• Not using recreational drugs, including alcohol, in a way that increases the likelihood you will be negligent of other safer sex guidelines.

Safe sex - Preventing fluid exchange

Avoiding any contact with blood, vaginal fluid, and semen of the partner:

1. Use condoms. Condoms cover the penis during sexual activity. They are most frequently made of latex, but can also be made out of polyurethane for those who have a latex allergy, or they can be made out of animal intestine. Polyurethane is thought to be a safe material for use in condoms, since it is nonporous and viruses cannot pass through it. However, there is less research on its effectiveness than there is on latex. Any condoms made out of animal skin or intestine, such as Trojan NaturaLamb, are not thought to be safe because they are porous and viruses such as HIV can pass through them. (See the article on condoms for a more detailed treatment of condom use.)
2. Female condom. This condom is inserted into the vagina prior to intercourse. It is also sometimes used for anal sex.
3. Dental dam. A sheet of latex (originally used for dentistry) for protection when engaging in oral sex. It is typically used as a barrier between the mouth and the vagina during cunnilingus or between the mouth and the anus during anilingus. A piece of plastic wrap (such as Saran wrap) may also be used as a dental dam; Saran wrap has been tested by the FDA and CDC and found effective in preventing the transmission of virus-sized particles, although "microwave-safe" wrap may be ineffective. Latex condoms may also be cut to form an improvised dental dam.
4. Medical gloves. Gloves made out of latex, vinyl, nitrile, or polyurethane may be used as dental dams during oral sex, or to protect the hands during mutual masturbation. Hands may have invisible cuts on them that may admit pathogens that are found in semen or vaginal fluids. Although the risk of infection in this manner is thought to be low, some people use gloves as an extra precaution. Gloves also make mutual masturbation more comfortable by preventing sharp fingernails from accidentally scratching the genitalia.
5. Another way to avoid contact with blood and semen is outercourse (non-penetrative sex), or forms of penetration that do not involve a penis, such as the use of dildos (when cleaned or covered with condoms), especially strap-on dildos when thrusting is desired.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Safe sex precautions", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki