About Safer Sex
What Is Safer Sex?
Safe
Sex means conducting your sex life in a way that will minimize the possibility
of exposure to a life-threatening, sexually transmitted disease such
as AIDS. Safer Sex means enjoying sex fully without putting your life
at risk.
Who Should Practice Safer Sex
and Why?
Everyone. Always. Many college students
think that the possibility of exposure to AIDS is too small to be concerned
about. A study of blood tests conducted at college health services
indicated that about one in fifty college students may carry the HIV
AIDS virus. There is no cure for AIDS, so everyone must take reasonable
precautions to avoid exposure.
How Does Safer Sex Work?
Most sexually transmitted diseases (including
AIDS and hepatitis-B) are spread by bacteria and viruses in body fluids
such as semen, blood, urine and feces. Safer sex techniques work by minimizing
direct contact with the body fluids of your partner.
What Is Safer?
Intercourse (vaginal or anal) while using
a condom (or other appropriate barrier) and lubricants is safer. The condom must be put on before there
is any pre-ejaculatory fluid. It is not enough to put on the condom
just in time to prevent contact with semen.
Kissing is safer if neither
person has cuts or sores. There may be some slight risk from saliva.
Oral sex while using
a condom (or other appropriate barrier) is safer.
Safety is relative. The above sex
practices are safe in the sense that they involve relatively low risk
of exposure to life-threatening disease.
What Is Dangerous
Intercourse (vaginal or anal) without
a condom is not safe.
Oral sex without a condom (or other appropriate barrier) is not safe.
Any practice which involves contact
with cuts, sores or raw areas is not safe. Remember, even small or microscopic
cuts can be dangerous.
Any practice which involves contact
between any body fluids of the partners is not safe.
Sex while high on alcohol or other
drugs is not safe because it affects judgment and lowers inhibitions
about engaging in dangerous practices.
Sharing a needle is probably the
single most dangerous thing that anyone can do.
Don't be afraid to talk about safe
sex with your partner. Your partner is probably just as concerned about
risks as you. Talking about safe sex is an expression of caring for
your partner and yourself.
Be safe. Stay
alive.
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safer_sex
http://www.aids.org/factSheets/151-Safer-Sex-Guidelines.html#anchor67079
If you have questions about safe
sex or about any sex practice not discussed here, call one of the confidential
hotlines (Public Health Service: 1-800-342-2437 or National Gay Task
Force AIDS Crisis Hot Line 1-800-221-7044), talk with a personal counselor
in 0203 James Hall,or visit the Health Clinic in 114 Roosevelt Hall.
Email us