Looking for safe sex tips? Protecting yourself from unexpected kids or sexually-transmitted diseases? You’re in the right place.
As we venture to modern dating, people have become more open to their sexuality. Little by little, it has become a norm for people to participate in premarital sex. Indulging in erotic activities is no longer as “sinful” as it was before.
However, there are still repercussions that one can experience when having sex, such as getting unexpectedly pregnant or worse, getting infected with sexually transmitted diseases or STDs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV.
“Oh… so sex is bad. My great granny is right all along—it makes people sick!”
Nope, that’s not necessarily the case, sweetie. Due to the lack of proper sex education, people weren’t fully informed about the effects of engaging in unprotected sex.
Sex isn’t the one that’s bringing the unexpected babies and diseases– the lack of information does.
If people knew how to protect themselves, they wouldn’t put themselves in uncompromising scenarios. This is why awareness campaigns for safe sex are highly important to lessen the rising numbers of unwanted pregnancies and STD cases. We need to enlighten the people and remove the stigma surrounding contraceptives.
As we approach the month of April, which is the STD Awareness Month, we’re here to help provide all the essential information about safe sex. As for this article, we will talk about safe sex tips and why you should follow them.
15 Must-Follow Safe Sex Tips
Ready to have better and healthier sexcapades? We gotchu fam– here are the safe sex tips that will help you reduce your chances of unexpected pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases. Read away!
1Educate yourself about sex and sexual health
Before going to bars, blind dates, or dating apps, go to your browser first. There are lots of things we haven’t learned in school about Sex Education but thanks to the internet, everything is at the tip of your fingertips. Take some time expanding your Sex Ed knowledge. Learn about sexual health, its key components, and things you can do to improve your sexual wellness. There are lots of interesting sources out there that discusses sex education in a fun way. Watch documentaries, movies or TV shows that aim to inform viewers different topics surrounding sexuality.
Also, take some time to research your birth control options. Go to your OB-Gyne and do you regular reproductive health check-ups. Ask advice from your doctor regarding the birth control options you may have. Don’t just take the first contraceptive that’s available, you also need to figure your preferences, budget, and lifestyle.
2Know your status
For those who are into hookups, or have a sexually-active past, getting checked is a must. Even though you feel no symptoms, you can still be infected as some sexually-transmitted diseases don’t show significant signs until several weeks, months or even years after engaging in the infected contact. By doing regular STD testing, you will be able to ensure that you’re clean, or if you need further treatment.
Fact: HIV infection has an average incubation period of 12 years which means that it may take up to 12 years before signs and symptoms develop but the infection’s might have been there ever since.
3Communicate your sexual history with your partner
Sharing sexual histories may be awkward, but opening up to each other about past engagements will help you assess if there are potential cases for STDs. Having this talk will also be a good starter to convince your partner on taking an STD test. Just make sure to discuss this topic as open and as sensitive as possible—you sure don’t want your partner to get offended or confused with your insights.
And if you encounter a partner that’s not willing to talk about these things to you then it’s also probably time to rethink if this person is someone you wanna be intimate with – totally not worth the risk!
4Always use protection
Whether you’re having a steamy night with a new “friend” or going for some netflix-and-chill with your boo, always use contraceptives. Various birth control methods can protect you or your partner from getting pregnant or getting infected with STDs—one of which is a condom.
For those who are not familiar with a condom, it is a thin pouch made of latex, plastic, or lambskin. It covers your penis during sex to collect the semen afterward, preventing the sperms from getting into the vagina.
It’s 85% effective from pregnancy and STDs and is one of the few birth control methods that can protect you from sexually-transmitted diseases. If you want to make sure to be risk-free from pregnancy, you may want to use other birth control methods with higher effective rates such as implants and IUD.
5Abstain from sex
Let’s be real here: among these safe sex tips that we’ve presented here, the only way to stay 100% clean is by abstaining from any sexual activities. If you feel like waiting until you’re emotionally and physically ready, then go ahead sweetie. Stay away from platforms and situations that may tempt you to go for casual encounters, such as clubs or dating apps.
If you’re dating someone, just make sure to let them know your decision to abstain from sex—the right person will understand it.
6Limit the number of your partners
If you’re someone that has multiple sexual partners, consider limiting yourself up to one. The more sexual partners that you have, the higher the chances of getting exposed to sexually-transmitted diseases. Go for a monogamous relationship instead of flocking to one partner to another—less complicated and gets you protected.
On the other hand, for those that are in open and polyamorous relationships, communication and regular testing are the key. You must know your partner’s other partner(s). He/she should also agree to use contraceptives and regularly get STD screening.
7Don’t rush into risky sexual acts
No matter how you trust the person you’re hooking up with, don’t immediately engage in risky sexual acts such as unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Communicate with the person first and have him/her tested for full safety. Once you get to know this person and have become your long-term partner, this is the time where you can chill the brakes and indulge in raw sex.
Another risky sexual act is availing the service of a sex worker. Just ensure to use contraceptives that could protect you from pregnancy and STDs, such as a condom.
8Keep yourself sane and sober during sex
When doing the deed, getting drunk or high is a big nope! Having sex while under the influence of alcohol and drugs can skew your mind. You may forget these essential sex tips and let yourself participate in risky sex. Your partner could’ve sneakily took off his condom while you’re dazed.
What’s worse though is that you could be sexually assaulted and raped, as you’re basically helpless due to the substances that are in your system.
This is why you need to vigilant at all times. When meeting people in the club, always check the drink before chugging it in. Don’t immediately trust strangers, and most importantly, keep your parents or friends informed of your whereabouts.
9Check the label when using any product
You shouldn’t treat genital hygiene products like your “complicated” relationship— always check the label! Ignoring the ingredients just like how you ignore your ex’s red flags won’t cut it, sweetie.
You might not realize it, but some ingredients on genital wash and lubricants– such as parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances– can kill the healthy bacteria that are residing in your genitals, making you more prone to sexually-transmitted infections. So before you open that feminine cleanser, wet wipes or lubricant, make sure that the ingredients listed are safe enough for your intimate area.
Also, for our female readers, stay away from questionable vaginal treatments such as vaginal steaming and vaginal douching. You don’t need these treatments to clean your vagina. Simply use a mild, hypoallergenic, and unscented soap or feminine wash.
10Always clean your sex toys
Sex toys are one of the best ways to spice up the bedroom, but it’s also one of the sneakiest ways to get infected with STDs. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly sanitize and sterilize your toys between uses. Different materials require different cleaning methods, so make sure to wash your toys accordingly to their main materials.
If possible, you can clean it sex toy cleaner or soak it in boiling water. Let it air dry before storing it in a clean velvet or satin pouch.
You can also use latex condoms before using your certain toys such as a dildo, vibrator, or butt plug. In this way, your adult toys wouldn’t catch a lot of bodily fluids, keeping you safe from infections.
11Track your monthly period
For our female readers, tracking your monthly cycle is one of the most efficient ways to prevent pregnancy. By knowing your menstrual cycle, you can figure out your most fertile days aka no-sex days.
As for the women that already using birth control, it’s still better to track your most fertile days, as most forms of contraceptives don’t hit the 100% effectiveness mark.
How should you track your monthly period? You can consult a medical professional about it or learn it through articles like this article about ovulation. There are also tons of period tracking apps in the market, such as Flo, so tracking your menstrual cycle would eventually be easy-peasy for you.
12Observe possible symptoms of STDs
Check your body regularly. Did rashes start showing out of nowhere? Experiencing pain during sex? Are you getting unusual secretions from your genitals? Once you experience symptoms that are very much linked to STDs, we suggest that you first calm down and take some time to research about the symptoms. Now, we’re not saying that you should self-diagnose, but learning about your symptoms will help you determine the possible causes.
Now, if symptoms persists but you’re intimidated to seek help from your physician, you can visit various sexual health organizations such as LoveYourself. These organizations provide STD screenings, STD-prevention guides, and STD treatments. These orgs also consist of sex-positive individuals, so you’re safe from shame and judgments.
13Go for low-risk sensual activities
We all love experience oral, vaginal, and anal sex, but let’s not forget that non-penetrative sex can be enjoyable AF. If you want to fulfill your sexual needs more safely, you can try these steamy activities instead:
- Have a wild makeout session.
- Try non-penetrative BDSM activities such as impact play and rope bondage.
- Fulfill your fantasies with roleplaying.
- Try cybersex. Just make sure to use an encrypted messaging app for a more secure sexperience!
- Give your partner some sensual massages. Amplify it with massage candles.
- Use your imagination and play with your partner through phone sex.
14Choose responsible sexual partners
As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Even if you’ve followed all of our safe sex tips, your sexual health may still be at risk if you’re with someone who’s not responsible enough. Dating a dude who doesn’t like to wear a condom because “it doesn’t feel good”? Planning to have sex with a girl who doesn’t even bring her own condoms and is being secretive with her previous experiences? Scrap them, sweetie.
15Join sex-positive communities online
Aside from checking articles about safe sex tips, you can also visit some online forums that discuss safe sex, such as r/SafeSex. You’ll meet tons of sex-positive people that are willing to share their experiences and learn new safe sex methods that might help you in the future.
Takeaway
Safe sex matters. Don’t be blinded with the stigma from birth control methods. By doing the tips above, you’ll be able to prevent unplanned babies and sexually-transmitted diseases. And now that you’re aware of these safe sex tips, go ahead and share your these tips to your partner and trusted friends! You can also help in giving awareness about STDs by sharing this article.
Keep these tips in mind as you spoil yourself with sultry plays. Stay safe!
