182 chapter 8: Sexual health
Some kinds of
sex between
a man and a
woman are safer
than others
Kissing is safe
Touching is safe
Oral sex is less safe—
but safer with a condom
Vaginal sex is risky—
but safer with a condom
Anal sex is very risky—
but safer with a condom
Other ways to have safer sex with a man:
• Have the man withdraw his penis before he ejaculates (comes). When less semen
gets inside your body, you are less likely to get HIV from him.
• Avoid dry sex. When the vagina (or anus) is dry, the skin can tear more easily,
and this increases the chance of infection. Use saliva (spit), spermicide, or
lubricant to make the vagina slippery. Do not use oil, lotion or petroleum jelly if
you are using condoms—these can make the condom break.
Sex and monthly bleeding
During your monthly bleeding, it is best not to have vaginal sex, unless you are
absolutely certain neither you nor your partner has HIV/AIDS or any other STI.
If you have HIV, the virus will be in both your vaginal secretions and blood.
This increases your partner’s risk of getting infected. If your partner is infected
and you are not, your risk of getting infected also increases during your monthly
bleeding. Using condoms will reduce the risk.
Working for change
STIs and HIV/AIDS are health problems for the whole community, including
women with disabilities. Sometimes disability groups think sexual health is not
something they should worry about. But sex education can save people’s lives.
Good information about sexual health and about how to prevent STIs must be
available to everyone, including women with disabilities. For example, information
about preventing HIV/AIDS that often comes through radio or on printed leaflets
should be available and accessible for deaf and blind women.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007