190 Sexual Health
Some kinds of sex
are safer than others
Safer sex methods
Every woman needs to decide how much risk she is willing
to accept, and what steps she can take to make sex safer. The
following are different ways that women can reduce their risk:
Kissing is safe
Touching is safe
Very safe:
• Avoid having sex at all. If you do not have sex, you will
not be exposed to STIs. Some women may find this the
best option, especially when they are young. However for
most women, this choice is not possible or desirable.
• Have sex with only one partner, who you know for sure
has sex with only you, and when you know for sure that
neither of you was infected by a previous partner. This can
only be known by testing for STIs.
• Have sex by touching genitals with your hands (mutual
masturbation).
• Use condoms during oral sex. A barrier of latex or
plastic helps prevent infection with herpes and gonorrhea
in the throat. It also protects against the very small risk of
infection with HIV through tiny cuts in the mouth.
Oral sex is less safe—
but safer with a condom
Safe:
• Always use latex condoms—for either men or women—
when having vaginal or anal sex.
• Have sex in ways that avoid getting your partner’s body
fluids in your vagina or anus. Sex using your mouth is
much less likely to spread HIV. If you get semen in your
mouth, spit it out (or at least swallow it) right away.
Vaginal sex is risky—
but safer with a condom
Anal sex is very risky—
but safer with a condom
Other ways to lower risk:
• Have the man withdraw his penis before he comes
(ejaculates). You can still get HIV if he has it, and you can
still get pregnant, but it is not so likely since less semen gets
inside your body.
• Using a diaphragm may lower your risk. For more
information about the diaphragm, see page 205.
• Avoid dry sex. When the vagina (or anus) is dry, it tears
more easily, and increases the chances of infection. Use
saliva (spit), spermicide, or lubricant to make the vagina
slippery. Do not use oil, lotion, or petroleum gel if you are
using condoms—these can make the condom break.
• Get treated for any STIs you may have. Having one STI
makes it easier to become infected with HIV or other STIs.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012