What is safer sex?
Safer sex is about being the safest you can be if you are choosing to have sex. When you protect yourself and your partner during sex in a straight relationship (a boy and a girl), it is from two things – unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In relationships with someone of the same sex, safer sex means protecting you and your partner from STIs.
Being careful means:
- Using condoms or femidoms (female condoms) for vaginal sex
- Using condoms or dental dams for oral sex
- Using condoms and lubricant for anal intercourse, or when using any shared sex toys.
- Having non-penetrative sex like licking, stroking, rubbing
- Only stopping using condoms with someone you trust and who you know doesn’t have an infection.
Try to talk first!
The decision to be safe is best taken before you end up in a sexual situation with someone, so it’s important to bring up the subject before you have sex. This may sound embarrassing but it’s a lot better than worrying afterwards about infections or pregnancy. Talk things through with your partner and try to make decisions together. It isn’t the responsibility of just one of you – both of you are involved!
Are there sexual things we can do that are safe?
There are lots of sexual activities that carry less (or no) risk from STIs, like kissing, massage and mutual masturbation (fingering and touching each other’s sexual parts). Just because you’re going out with someone, it doesn’t mean you have to have penetrative (full) sex.
How can I avoid infections and unintended pregnancy?
If you are having vaginal sex, to avoid pregnancy, you need to use contraception. There are many different types. Lots of people use contraception plus a condom to be even safer. Most contraception will not protect against STIs – only condoms can do that. You can visit our address book to find out where you can get condoms or other contraception. The c:card website (c:card entry in address book) also has useful information about condoms.