How to prevent sexually transmitted diseases
How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases that everyone should be aware of. Also, a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) is an infection spread during sexual contact with another person. This includes touching, as some Sexually Transmitted Diseases can spread from skin-to-skin contact. So, check out How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases:
In general, Sexually Transmitted Diseases are highly preventable. Nearly 20 million new Sexually Transmitted Diseases are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, a large number of these infections could be prevented if people made different decisions about their sexual health.
The only guaranteed method to avoid Sexually Transmitted Diseases is to abstain from all sexual contact. However, most people don’t think this is a practical solution. When engaging in sexual activities, there are steps people can take to limit their risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases .
Protection Before Sex: Effective prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases begins before sexual occurrence. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases before having sex :
- Limit your number of sexual partners.
- Talk honestly with potential partners about your two sexual histories.
- Get tested, along with your partner, before having sex .
- Avoid sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Get vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV).
Having a conversation about sexual health with your partner is critical, but not everyone with Sexually Transmitted Infections knows they are infected. That’s why it’s so important to get tested before having sex with a new partner.
If you have been diagnosed with Sexually Transmitted Diseases , tell your partner. That way, both can make informed decisions about risk. You should also explicitly ask your partner if they have (or have had) a Sexually Transmitted Disease .
Practicing Safer Sex: Having safer sex means using a latex or polyurethane barrier for all forms of sex . This may include:
- Using a male or female condom for intercourse
- Using condoms or dental teeth for oral sex
- Using gloves for manual penetration
Rinsing off after sex can help remove any infectious material on your skin. Women in particular should urinate after sex . This can reduce the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Using Condoms Correctly: When using condoms and other barriers to safe sex , it is important to follow the instructions on the box. Using condoms correctly makes them more effective. Follow these safety precautions when using condoms:
- Check the expiration date.
- Make sure the condom wrapper has an air bubble, which shows it has not been punctured.
- Put the condom on correctly.
- Always leave space at the end.
- Unroll the condom on the penis, not before continuing.
- Use condoms with lubricants during intercourse .
- Keep the condom on when pulling out after sex so it doesn’t slip.
- Properly dispose of the condom.
- Never take off a condom and try putting it on again.
- Never reuse a condom.
Potential Risks: Condoms and other barriers are very good at preventing the exchange of infected body fluids. They can also help minimize skin-to-skin contact. This reduces the transmission of diseases that spread through touch. However, it does not prevent transmission entirely. Sexually Transmitted Diseases that spread through skin-to-skin contact include:
If you are in a sexual relationship with someone who has herpes , they may want to speak to their doctor about suppressive therapy. This type of therapy helps prevent herpes outbreaks . It also helps prevent transmission but does not cure the infection. It is important to know that herpes can be spread even if the individual does not have an active outbreak.