How to Practice Safe Sex

3/13/2008

I didn't write this, but posting it to educate and inform
others on how to practice safe sex.I added some of the information
however.


Source:ehow.com


Equipment you can use to be safe:


• Condoms With Spermicide • Dental Dams • Female Condoms • Latex Gloves • Lubricated Latex Condoms • Personal Lubricants • Specialty Condom


Step 1: Know your partner. Sex with anonymous partners
carries a higher risk, as the HIV and STD (sexually transmitted
disease) status of the partner is unknown. See if they are
tested first.


Step 2: Touching provides a minimal amount of risk. HIV
and most other STDs are not transmitted merely through
touching, except for syphilis. If contact is made with
an open sore or ulcer on a person's genitalia caused
by syphilis, a risk of transmission does exist.


Step 3: Kissing provides a minimal amount of risk as well.
But cold sores, often caused by the herpes virus, can be
transmitted by kissing so you should avoid kissing if you
or your partner is having an outbreak.


Step 4: Be sure to use a condom or dental dam when having genital-oral
sex.


Step 5: Use a dental dam, or a condom cut lengthwise, when
having anal-oral sex. Vaccination against hepatitis
A is recommended as well.


Step 6: Keep in mind that other diseases can also be transmitted
to both partners by oral sex. These include gonorrhea,
chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, parasites,
giardia and hepatitis.


Step 7: Don't forget to use a female condom or condom
with spermicide when having vaginal intercourse* look
at notes. Unprotected vaginal sex carries a very high risk
of transmitting HIV between partners. Remember that other diseases can also be transmitted
to both partners during vaginal sex, including gonorrhea,
chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, genital warts and hepatitis.



Step 8: Use condoms when having anal sex, as microscopic
tears in the anal wall occur easily and provide a rapid and
efficient mode of transmission for HIV. Use lubricant
or lubricated condoms to prevent friction that can disturb
the lining of the anal canal.


Step 9: Remember that other diseases can also be transmitted
to both partners during anal sex, including gonorrhea,
chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, genital warts and hepatitis.



Step 10: Wash all sex toys between partners to decrease
the risk of transmitting HIV and other STDs.


Notes: MY info: A Dental Dam is a safe sex barrier,
usually made of a flat sheet of of latex, used when performing
oral sex on women. You should be able to get this at any sex
accessory store or improvise by using Saran Wrap.


Source: FDA.GOV * Recent clinical studies show that N-9
spermicides do not prevent or reduce the risk of getting
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from an infected partner,
or against getting other STDs. Thus, N-9 spermicides should
not be used for HIV/STD prevention or protection. Clinical
studies also show that use of N-9 spermicides can cause
vaginal and rectal irritation which could increase the
risk of getting HIV/AIDS from an infected partner. My
info: In other words, Spermicide only helps with not
getting pregnant, not in stopping HIV/Aids.