This document provides information about safer sex practices and guidelines for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It notes that approximately 65 million Americans currently have an incurable STI. The document outlines barrier methods for protection during various sexual acts and stresses the importance of open communication between partners about testing and protection. It provides tips for using condoms correctly and addresses potential challenges to practicing safer sex.

1. Safer Sex CHAPTER 14

5. Latex condoms used during vaginal,oral, and anal intercourse are the

6. safest and the best known barrier protection.

7. Other barriers such as squares of latex (dams) can be used for mouth- to-

8. vagina or mouth-to-anus contact.

9. Use protection even if you don't need birth control

10. IUDs, a diaphragm, or hormonal methods of birth control do not protect

11. against STIs.

12. Lather up, then cover up

13. Washing genitals, anal area, and hands before and after sex, and between anal and vaginal contact, may cut down on urinary track infections,

14. however, it will not prevent STI transmission.

15. Watch out for blood

16. Direct contact with blood (including menstrual blood) of an infected

17. person can transmit infections, including HIV or hepatitis.

19. Knowing what kind of sex puts you at higher risk of getting an

20. STI, can help reduce the risk of getting infected.

21. It's never too late for safer sex

22. If you don't have an STI, practicing safer sex will help you ensure that you do not get one. If you have an STI, safer sex protects

23. your future partners and prevents you from getting another STI.

24. Make foreplay the main course instead of just the appetizer

25. If you don't have a condom outer-course is a safe way to get off.

26. Touching, stroking, and caressing each other can be very erotic

27. and fulfilling. Foreplay also ensures that the vagina is lubricated

28. which can prevent the condom from breaking during sex. SAFER SEX GUIDELINES

30. Use a lubricated latex or polyurethane male condom or the

31. female condom. Hold the condom rim while having sex;

32. visually check the condom during sex; change the condom

33. when changing activities or if the sex lasts a long time; use

34. your own condom so you will know that it was stored correctly.

35. Anal intercourse

36. Use a strong latex condom with plenty of lubricant. Condom is

37. less likely to break if the anus is massaged with finger or sex

38. toy to help relax the muscles.

39. Oral sex on a man

40. Use a non-lubricated latex condom as soon as the penis is

41. erect to prevent pre-cum from contacting the mouth. Pre-cum

42. can contain HIV.

43. Oral sex on a woman

44. Use dental dam, a cut-open latex glove, a non-lubricated

45. condom, or nonmicrowaveable plastic wrap.

47. Use latex gloves to protect yourself from your partner's body fluids. HIV can travel into the

48. bloodstream through cuts or cracks on hands or fingers.

49. Rimming (mouth-anus contact)

50. Use a nonmicrowaveable plastic wrap or dental dam. Rimming has some risk of HIV

51. transmission and can also spread hepatitis A and intestinal parasites.

52. Dildos, sex toys, vibrators, bondage or S/M

53. Toys can transmit STIs from one partner to another. Put a condom on a dildo before use and do not share a dildo without washing it thoroughly with hot soapy water. Sex toys can be

54. cleaned with 10 percent hydrogen peroxide. Clean S/M gear after use.

55. Fluid bonding

56. Sharing body fluids with only one person, and using condoms with all

57. others.

58. Water sports

59. It's low-risk if there is no blood mixed in with urine. Protect eyes and broken skin or cuts.

62. Who me? I'm not a man or a junkie...I'm too young...I can tell who's infected...I'm afraid he'll refuse..He'd never do anything to hurt me...Talking about sex is too embarrassing..

63. Our partner's attitudes

64. Complains that sex with condom does not feel as good; some men are afraid that they won't stay hard; men may resent when women initiate safer sex; a lesbian may believe that there's no HIV risk for lesbians and not wash sex toys; partner might feel being accused of sleeping around or of using drugs.

65. Drug and alcohol use

66. Drugs and alcohol compromise our judgment and weaken our power to practice safer sex.

67. Lack of information

68. Not learning how to protect yourself makes it more likely to have unsafe sex. Getting incorrect information from friends, family or health care providers. Thinking that if you have an STI, your partner might already have it and safer sex is not longer helpful, however, your partner might not have yet been infected. If both partners are HIV positive, practicing safer sex can prevent being reinfected with a different stain of HIV.

70. Quote and Question Question: How can sexual partners avoid making each other feel that they are being accused of sleeping around or being a drug user? “ That condom seems to pour cold water on the romance by saying, “OK, to be brutally honest, we've both slept with other people.” The condom seems like a statement of distrust: “You could give me a disease, you could kill me.””