What Is "Safer Sex"?
THAT'S "MAKING LOVE" WITHOUT "STDS".
Safer sex is a general term used to describe methods for reducing the chance that you will spread or catch sexually transmitted diseases (STDs, also known as sexually transmitted infections or STIs). The idea is that with a few simple tools and strategies, you can increase safety without sacrificing your sex life.
Use condoms
The first and best line of defense is to use a latex barrier whenever you have sex (if you have a latex allergy, use polyurethane instead). That means using a condom on the penis or on a sex toy; latex gloves on your hands; and when engaging in oral sex, dental dams or plastic wrap to cover the anus or vagina.
Get tested for HIV and other STDs
Knowing your own status is the only way to approach the next point honestly.
Communicate
Safer sex also involves talking with your partner, discussing activities and risks and making educated choices together. Of course, sex raises a number of other questions. Do you trust your partner? How do you get a guy to use a condom if he refuses to do so? What if you are suspicious that your partner is not being monogamous(have one sex partner only)?
Change sex practices
Some people choose to avoid risky activities completely or find ways to reduce the complications associated with them—although this strategy still requires honesty, communication, and STD testing.
Be monogamous or abstinent
Total abstinence is the only 100% effective safe sex method; it's just not that realistic for most people. Next in line is a long-term monogamous relationship in which both partners know their status to be negative for STDs (itself requiring testing and honest communication), and both stay true to the monogamous ideal.
How to Use Condoms Correctly
Check the expiration date on the wrapper and make sure it was not stored in a warm environment or near sharp objects that could weaken or puncture the condom.
Before opening the wrapper, use your fingers to push the condom to the opposite side of the package so it will not tear when you open the wrapper.
Remove the condom from the wrapper and pinch the tip between your fingers to prevent any air from getting in the tip, which can cause the condom to break. For extra comfort and enjoyment, place a drop of water-based lubricant at the tip of the condom and on the penis.
Make sure the penis is erect.
While pinching the tip of the condom between your fingers, hold it at the tip of the penis and begin unrolling it down the shaft. Make sure the rolled-up part of the condom is on the outside; otherwise, the condom is inside out.
If the condom rolls back up toward the head of the penis during sex, roll it back down immediately. If it slips completely off, do not put it back on. Instead, put on a new condom.
After ejaculation, hold the base of the condom while withdrawing from your partner to prevent the condom from slipping off. Be sure to keep the condom and your penis from touching your partner's body.
Wrap the used condom in tissue and toss it in the garbage. To avoid plumbing problems, do not flush it down the toilet.
Proper condom use means no penetration without it. Also, never reuse a condom. To be safe you must use a fresh condom for each new sex act.
2 Ways to Make Condoms Sexy
Some people just won't have sex without a condom—but find themselves encountering sex partners who need a little coaxing. Here are two suggestions for turning the routine into something sexy by getting everyone involved.
1. Have your partner put it on
Ralph Diaz (not his real name), 37, of New York City, says, "It makes it more intimate if someone else puts the condom on for you," says Diaz. "Because it's someone else's touch."
2. Make it an oral sex bonus
Carmen Donovan (not her real name), 27, of Los Angeles, likes putting the condom on her sex partners during oral sex. "Guys are less likely to complain if they are super turned on," she says. "And that way I can be sure that the condom is on correctly and less likely to break."
