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5 Safe Sex Practices for Sexual Responsibility.

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a hand holding an unused condom

Safe sex practices and sexual responsibility simply implies protecting yourself and your partner from unintended pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

In the new age of liberty, we are fast normalising a world where anything goes. From social connections down to sexual relationships, the rules of safety keep getting fluid.

However, the dire consequences of sexual carelessness far outweigh the temporary pleasure of unsafe sex.

In this article, the ways in which safe sex can be practiced are explored.

Be Faithful to one Uninfected Partner:

Sexual irresponsibility is one of the fastest ways to get or spread sexually transmitted infections. The reason is as simple as it is glaring; having unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners puts you at risk of contracting different diseases as you scarcely know who those partners are equally having unprotected sex with.

Truth is, there’s a high tendency for someone who engages in unsafe sex with another, to do so with every other person. It is therefore in your best interest to focus on an exclusive sexual relationship.

Always Use a Condom:

Safe sex practices
Source: Canva

The most common way to practice safe sex is through the use of condoms. When used appropriately, condoms serve as a physical barrier that hinders the exchange of vaginal fluid, blood or semen during sex, hence, reducing the risk of STI to a bare minimum.  Using a condom appropriately involves:

1. Checking the expiry date before use.

2. Avoiding re-usage

3. Resisting the urge to use your teeth or fingers to open the condom packet.

It is super risky to have penetrative sex without a condom. Matter of fact, 70% of STIs are contracted when partners fail to make use of the protection that condom offers.

These are pleasant times as there’s an abundance of different kinds of condoms in circulation, both for the males and females. Find the one that suits your needs and stick to it. There is nothing to be ashamed of in staying safe.

Get regularly Screened for Sexually Transmitted Infections:

Getting routine medical checks helps you to know your status at every point in time. Consequently, early diagnosis makes you start treatments on time should you be infected.

Practice Low-risk Sexual Activities:

You can also enjoy safe sex by engaging in sexual activities that do not necessarily involve the exchange of body fluids with your partner.

For instance, masturbation, dry humping or the use of sex toys can give great sexual pleasure without risking getting pregnant or contracting an STI.

Be in Control of Your Sexual Decisions:

Safe sex practices
Photo credit: Canva

Avoid situations that can spur you into making poor sexual decisions. At the top of such situations is getting drunk. Alcohol and sex drive are very unhealthy combinations. Since you are not in full control of your senses, it may be easy for you to be sexually reckless while damming the consequences.

Furthermore, do not play down on the fact that certain Sexually Transmitted Infections can be gotten orally.

Yes. You read right!

Some STIs that can be contracted from oral sex include Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Herpes and Gonorrhoea.

Therefore, if you are not certain of your partner’s STI status, kindly use a mouth condom or dental dam during oral sex.

With the teeming population of youngsters, it is imperative that attention is drawn to safe sex advocacy. Don’t be carried away by youthful exuberance. There is nothing boring about safe sex if it is sufficiently spiced up. You can enjoy satisfying and pleasurable sex while still playing safe.

It is important to note that the aforementioned ways of practicing Safe Sex are NOT 100% guaranteed. This is why most experts prefer to use the term “safer sex” methods to describe them.

Abstinence remains the surest way to be free from Sexually Transmitted Infections and unintended pregnancy.

But truth be told, practicing abstinence will not work for a vast majority of the population because a greater percentage of young people are sexually active. Hence, the best bet is to take effective precautionary measures to protect yourself and your partner.

What if you Already Contracted a Sexually Transmitted Infection?

Safe sex practices
Source: Canva

You can still practice safe sex to avoid spreading it to your partner.

With the advancement in medical science, most STIs are now curable. Therefore, endeavour to Get the Services of a Physician, and have yourself treated.

Furthermore, if you have an STI that is incurable like herpes or HIV, be open with your partner about it as well as follow your medications duly to reduce your viral load and other chances of spreading it to your partner.

However, if you have a chronic STI with visible warts or sores around your pubic regions, desist from having sex (whether protected or not) till you are through with treatment.

The earlier you know your STI status, the safer for you.

Talk to a Doctor on how you can enjoy safer sex with your partner today.

If you found this article interesting, also read our post on Knowing Your HIV Status

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6 comments

Clergy reply
September 18, 2020 - 11:28 am

Alcoholism has caused more harm than good

Franklin Udosen reply
September 18, 2020 - 12:22 pm

Wow I didn’t even know there was something called a mouth condom… I’m now curious.. Thanks for the tip Gini

July 4, 2023 - 5:54 am

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July 12, 2023 - 9:06 pm

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August 17, 2023 - 1:45 pm

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October 3, 2023 - 9:18 pm

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Ginika Oluchi Okeke

Ginika is the Lead health writer at KompleteCare. She also doubles as an editor and proofreader for everything that concerns content. When she's not writing content for KompleteCare, you might find her copy-editing works for authors before publication.

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