Question: What Can I Do To Prevent STDs?
Answer: The simple answer is to avoid ever having sex, including vaginal and anal intercourse, as well as oral sex. Sexual abstinence is your only real guarantee against STDs and unplanned pregnancy.
However, if you do decide to have sex, have responsible and safe sex by practicing these three simple rules:
- Always use a condom. It doesn't matter if you're having vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex -- use a condom. And use condoms consistently and properly. For example, although both male and female condoms are available, never use both types at the same time. Doing so can cause friction that can lead to condom damage and ineffectiveness.
It's worth noting that some STDs, such as the herpes simplex virus and human papillomavirus, are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, and thus condom use is not as effective at preventing their transmission as they are for fluid-borne infections. Condoms reduce the transmission of these viruses by about 40 to 60%.
- Before you have sex with a new partner, have an open and honest discussion about your sexual past. Ask them if they have HIV/AIDS or any other type of STD. Ask them whether they have ever had sex with someone who had open sores, rashes, or any type of discharge.
- If you are having sex with more than one person, you need to have pelvic exams (according to your doctor's advice) for STDs, including HIV. Having regular STD checkups won't prevent you from getting a sexually transmitted disease, but it may help to catch it early if you do get one.
Source:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Womenshealth.gov. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/sexually-transmitted-infections.cfm#11. Accessed 08/21/2009
