Sex can be a really great thing for a lot of people, but it can also have consequences. Sex can spread STDs and lead to pregnancy, so it’s important to know how to protect yourself.
How can sex lead to STDs?
Anybody who has sex may be at risk forsexually transmitted infectionsand/orpregnancy.
Sexually transmitted infections can be spread during many kinds of sexual activity: likeoral sex,anal sex,vaginal sex, and skintoskin genital touching (AKA dry humping without clothes). Some infections are spread throughbody fluidslikesemen, vaginal fluids, and blood. Others can be passed when the skin of your mouth or genitals rubs against the skin of someone else’s genitals.
So pretty much any type of sexual contact with another person — where there’s body fluids or genital skin touching — can put you at risk for STDs.
Sexually transmitted infections are super common — most people get one at some point in their life. Some STDs can be serious, but the good news is they can usually be cured or treated. If you’re having sex, protect yourself by usingcondomsandgetting tested for STDs.Read more about STDs.
How can sex lead to pregnancy?
Along with STDs, there’s also a risk for pregnancy if you have vaginal (penisinvagina) sex. Anytimesemen(from cum or precum) from a penis gets into avagina, pregnancy can happen. Pregnancy can also happen if semen gets on avulvaor near the vagina (like if you had wet semen on your fingers and touched a vagina).
So if you’re having vaginal sex — or think you might have sex sometime soon — use birth control (likecondoms, anIUD, orthe pill) if you want to prevent pregnancy. Birth control is the best way to avoid pregnancy if you have sex.Read more about birth control.
What’s the best way to protect myself fromSTDs and pregnancy?
The only 100% certain way to avoid STDs is to not do any sexual stuff that involvesbody fluidsor skintoskin touching with another person (includingoral,anal, andvaginal sex).
And the only 100% certain way to avoid pregnancy is to not have penisinvagina sex, or do any sexual stuff wherespermcan touch avulvaorvagina(this is calledabstinence).
But let’s get real: most people do have sex at some point in their life. And there are ways to help protect yourself from STDs and/orpregnancyif you decide to have sex.
Using safer sexbarriers(likecondomsanddental dams) every time you have oral, anal, or vaginal sex helps protect you from STDs. And usingbirth control(including condoms) every time you have penisinvagina sex helps prevent pregnancy.
Condomsare the only type of birth control that helps prevent pregnancy andSTDsat the same time. But if you have penisinvagina sex, the best way to protect yourself is to use condoms PLUS another birth control method — like thepill,IUD,implant, orshot. That way you’re protected from STDs, and doubleprotected from pregnancy.
Getting tested for STDsregularly and talking honestly with people you hook up with about preventing pregnancy and/or STDs is another way to keep yourself healthy.
