Safe Sex

What is it?


Safe sex means sexual activities that do not involve sharing of body fluids. Body fluids include saliva, urine, blood, vaginal fluids and semen. These fluids can contain germs that spread many infections and diseases to another person during sexual contact. These are called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You may get HIV (AIDS virus), herpes, lice, scabies, and genital warts by having unsafe sex. Other STDs that are spread by having unsafe sex are gonorrhea (gone-uh-ree-uh), chlamydia, syphilis, yeast infections, and hepatitis B. Other illnesses, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, flu, and mononucleosis can also be spread by sexual contact.

STDs can be passed between a man and a woman, 2 men, or 2 women. A person infected with an STD can pass the infection to other people during sexual relations, even if he or she does not have any symptoms. Having safe sex may help keep you from getting or spreading a sexual infection. But, it does not mean you cannot get an infection. The only sure way to keep from getting a sexual infection is not to have sex. The safest kind of sex is between 2 people who only have sex with each other. Some of these infections may be cured while others cannot.

Do's and Don'ts:


Always have safe sex. Safe sex includes the following activities.