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Safe Sex
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Medical Encyclopedia: Safe sex
Definition
Safe sex means taking precautions during sex that can keep you from
getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or from giving an STD to
your partner. These diseases include genital herpes, genital warts, HIV,
Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and others.
Information
A STD is a contagious disease that can be transferred to another person
through sexual intercourse or other sexual contact. Many of the organisms
that cause sexually-transmitted diseases live on the penis, vagina, anus,
mouth, and the skin of surrounding areas.
Most of the diseases are
transferred by direct contact with a sore on the genitals or mouth.
However, some organisms can be transferred in body fluids without causing
a visible sore. They can be transferred to another person during oral,
vaginal, or anal intercourse.
Some STDs can also be
transferred by nonsexual contact with infected tissues or fluids, such as
infected blood. For example, sharing needles when using IV drugs is a
major cause of HIV and hepatitis B transmission. An STD can also be
transmitted through contaminated blood transfusions and blood products,
through the placenta from the mother to the fetus, and sometimes through
breast feeding.
The following factors
increase your risk of getting a sexually-transmitted disease (STD):
- Not knowing whether a
partner has an STD or not
- Having a partner with
a past history of any STD
- Having sex without a
male or female condom
- Using drugs or alcohol
in a situation where sex might occur
- If your partner is an
IV drug user
- Having anal
intercourse
Drinking alcohol or using
drugs increase the likelihood that you will participate in high-risk sex.
In addition, some diseases can be transferred through the sharing of used
needles or other drug paraphernalia.
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