While sex is pleasurable and is one of the ways we bond with our partners, there’s no doubt that it’s full of risks. It is important that you and your partner engage in safe and healthy sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV.
Below, we give you a few tips on how to ensure you and your partner are safe while having sex.
Tips For Anal Sex
Whether you’re bottoming or topping, anal sex is a high-risk activity for contracting STIs and HIV. It is, therefore, essential that you learn how to use a condom properly. Polyisoprene or latex condoms are your best bet when it comes to prevention of the spread of HIV and other STIs.
Only wear one condom at a time and remember to check the expiry date. If you have to use lube, stay away from an oil-based one. We don’t recommend that you bareback. However, in the event that you do, pull out so you can reduce the risk of exposure to HIV especially to the bottoming partner.
Tips for Oral Sex
Oral sex isn’t a high risk activity for HIV. The risk of contracting HIV through giving a blow job is very minimal. The saliva in your mouth and the mouth are your body’s first line of defence to protect you against bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that enter our mouths each day.
But, if your gums are bleeding or you’ve recently had mouth surgery, getting HIV infected fluids into your mouth will greatly increase your risk of contraction. Also, there are other STIs you can get by giving oral sex. Good examples are herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and genital warts.
Getting head from your partner has the least risk of exposing you to HIV because saliva usually doesn’t have live HIV. However, you can still get syphilis or gonorrhoea. So, if you’re unsure about a partner or even yourself, use a condom for protection during oral sex.
Tips For Using Toys
Toys you can use during sex include anal beads, butt plugs, flesh lights, dildos, and sometimes, even vegetables. Whatever you and your partner are into, try as much as you can because sex toys can transmit HIV especially when you share them during sex.
To reduce the risk of contracting HIV, follow these simple tips:
- Strap on a condom onto the dildo you’re using or other sex toys. If you have multiple partners, make sure you change the condom.
- Use lube to prevent tears on the head of the penis or the lining of the rectum.
- Make sure the toys you’re using can’t splinter or break especially if you’re using household items.
- Make sure all your insertables have flared ends to save yourself from trips to the emergency room.
- Clean all your toys thoroughly before and after use. Boil your silicone sex toys for 5 minutes to sterilize them thoroughly.
- Ensure you and your partner are vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B.
- Never douche. Douching increases the risk of transmission of HIV and can cause irritation and tears inside your vagina or anus which can make it easier for HIV to enter into your bloodstream.
