STD Prevention and Protection

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are an unfortunate side effect of many sexual encounters.
The only way to ensure that you don’t contract an STD is abstinence.  This includes abstinence, not only from intercourse, but from oral, anal and all other sexual contact as well. While abstinence is the only method that is 100 percent effective against STDs, for many people, cutting out sex play is not an option. For this reason, some people choose to have sex monogamously, with only one STD-free partner.  It’s important to be honest with your partner about your sexual history, and ask that he or she is honest with you.  However, because people CAN lie about their sexual history…or their sexual present… STD protection is always advised. You can reduce your risk of contracting an STD by keeping your partner’s bodily fluids out of your body, and asking your partner to avoid YOUR bodily fluids. This includes semen, vaginal fluids, blood and fluid from STD sores.  Aside from abstinence, the only proven method that can help to protect against STDs is the male latex condom or the female condom. When used correctly, both male and female condoms can reduce the transmission of HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. They can also offer limited protection against other STDs, like HPV, herpes, and bacteria vaginosis. In general, condoms are more effective at protecting against diseases transmitted through bodily secretions, like HIV, than illness transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, like HPV. For a condom to be effective, it MUST be put on correctly. Condoms should be put on before any sexual contact is made.  To put on a condom, unwrap the package and hold the condom up to the light. Make sure that there are no rips or tears in the latex.  Then, unroll the condom over the erect penis to the penis’s base. Leave about half an inch of space in the tip of the condom for semen. Immediately after ejaculation, a man should hold the condom’s rim at the base of the penis and exit his partner. 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. The inner ring is inserted into the vagina as far as it can go, while the outer ring remains outside. After sex, remove the condom before standing up by gently pulling it out of the vagina. The only way to guarantee protection against STDs is to abstain from all sexual acts. If this is not your decision, talk to your doctor AND your partner about getting tested for STDs on an annual basis.