Sexual intercourse can be one of the most pleasurable, memorable, and exciting, human experiences. However, it can also be stressful, and even traumatic, if the correct preventive steps are not taken. This article provides some simple ways to practice safe sex practices, which can help make the evening with your loved one a night to remember.
Table of Contents
Hot Guide to Safer Sex
There are various strategies one can employ to make sex safer. And while no strategy is completely full-proof, regular and healthy incorporation can reduce the likelihood of contracting a disease to a bare minimum.
1. Condoms and Dental dams
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Condoms are perhaps the simplest and most effective way to practice safe sex. A condom is a barrier placed on the male penis to prevent the portability of semen. This greatly reduces the chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Condoms come in different sizes, which makes them easily accessible to the majority of the population. Condoms are highly portable and can easily be carried inside a pouch or wallet. There are flavoured condoms for couples engaging in oral sex. Condoms are also highly affordable for most of the Indian population, and there are free condom stores now present.
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2. STD testing
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Regardless of whether protection has been used or not, it is healthy to get tested for STDs regularly. Many STDs, such as genital herpes, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV), are most often spread through skin-to-skin contact of the genital region. It is also important to urge your partner to get tested.
3. Outercourse over intercourse
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Not all sexual activity must involve intercourse. Non-penetrative sex or outercourse is an activity that does not involve sexual penetration. Frottage, mutual masturbation, kissing or cuddling are all great forms of sexual activity that can be stimulating and fun. Outercourse automatically reduces the risk of STI transmission as it prevents the exchange of fluids. It can also offer an interesting and refreshing way to complement intercourse or penetrative sex.
4. Maintaining good before and after-sex hygiene
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A straightforward way to ensure safer sex is to maintain good sexual hygiene. It can be good to wash one’s hands before and after sex to prevent the transmission of various diseases. A simple hand wash with some soap can do the trick. E. coli is one disease that easily transmits from dirty hands to genitals. A couple of minutes, some water, and a little soap can go a long way in keeping you away from the hospital.
5. Sober sex is safer sex
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It is important not to drink too much alcohol before engaging in sexual activity. This is especially true when you are engaging with a less familiar partner. It is easy to get carried away when drunk and forget the use of protection. Not only is sober sex better in terms of safer sex, but it also makes the night more memorable and less blurry. Moderation, if choosing to drink or consume other drugs before sex, is key.
6. Abstinence
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This is possibly the most extreme of methods one can use to ensure that they are not contracting any STIs. In many ways, abstinence is safer sex because it involves not having any sex at all. That being said, a temporary distancing from sexual activity is a full-proof way of ensuring that no diseases are contracted.
7. Conversation, education and dialogue
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This is the most underestimated and critical way of ensuring safer sex and understanding how to prevent yourself from STDs contraction. While it may not be as direct as some of the previously mentioned methods, a conversation about safer sex can go a long way in helping partners deal with any unresolved issues.
Unfortunately, particularly in India, one of the major reasons why people refuse to practice safer sex is because there is a lack of information about how important it is. While some schools might have sex education programs, there are very few that comprehensively cover the importance of safer sex. Additionally, very few programs talk about the myriad of ways in which safer sex can be incorporated in light and less stressful manner.
Culturally, there is not enough attention being given to the safety aspect of sex. Many couples believe that safer sex means that they have to compromise in some way on the quality of the sex that they are having. Regular dialogue can help increase the practice of safer sex techniques. And as mentioned earlier, it can also make sex a less stressful and more pleasurable activity.
8. Being selective about your sexual partner
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Sex is an extremely intimate act. It requires a deep understanding between the two partners, which often can only be developed over time. Therefore, it is important to be completely confident about the choice you are making.
While there can be exceptions, it might be a good rule not to have sex after the first date. Although, a conversation about someone’s safe sex standards will rarely come up on the first date. It is necessary to be honest and patient from the very beginning, as it can help create a strong foundation for a healthy sexual relationship.
9. Being aware of you and your partner’s body
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Most sexually transmitted diseases have symptoms that show physically. It is important to be on the lookout for these symptoms even if one is practising safer sex methods. Constantly checking for signs of a sore, blister, or rash, particularly around one’s genitals, can be a healthy practice. Additionally, one must keep an eye out for any irregular discharges. One simple way of doing this is organising some time weekly to do a ‘self-check-up’.
10. Get treated if you have an STI
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It is important not to panic if STI tests come back positive. Most sexually transmitted diseases can be treated with medication, especially if detected during the early phases. It is essential to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and constantly conversate with him or her. Also, it is best to abstain from sexual activity if the contracted STI can be resolved in the short term. If the illness is long-term, such as HIV, it is good to get a doctor’s advice before resuming any sexual activity.
11. Consent
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Consensual sexual activity reduces the incidence of unsafe sex practices as it usually involves the incorporation of necessary preventions and methods. One of the best and simplest ways to ensure consent is to ask your partner’s permission before proceeding. And while this is most often true for couples who are yet to build a sexual relationship, it can also apply to more mature couples depending on the situation and activity involved.
12. Taking necessary precautions if you have unsafe sex
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If you do end up having unsafe sex, it is essential to take necessary precautions to reduce the chances of contracting STIs. Getting tested as soon as possible is a must. Cleaning one’s genitals with clean water can help remove any lingering fluids from the penis, vagina or anus. Women are advised not to douche as that can cause irritation and inflammation. Finally, it can be helpful to simply sit one’s feelings for a bit and not feel guilty or stressed about what has already happened.
Conclusion
Safer sex practices have come a long way in the past few decades. While safer sex was considered taboo once, nowadays, these practices are available to almost anyone and everyone.
However, this does not mean there aren’t any efforts to be taken. The simple act of having a dialogue with your partner and/ or your friends can really help propagate the value of safer sex. By taking responsibility for our sexual safety, one can make sex a highly pleasurable and not stressful activity. Hopefully, a guide to safe sex, such as this article, will help you in taking the correct steps and enjoy a healthy sex-life.
Discovered on: 2022-11-14 06:24:29
Source: How To Have Safe Sex
