Promote safe sex

Learn more. Having sex with only one partner who only has sex with you when neither of you has a sexually transmitted infection STI is believed to be safe. However, many healthcare professionals believe there really is no such thing as safe sex. They believe the only way to be truly safe is not to have sex because all forms of sexual contact carry some risk.

The only safe sex is no sex, according to most healthcare providers. Abstinence may be the only true form of "safe" sex. All forms of sexual contact carry some risk. You can reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection STI with certain precautions and safe behaviors. As a parent, you can teach your child about safer sex before he or she becomes sexually active.

Safe sex is having sexual contact while protecting yourself and your sexual partner against sexually transmissible infections STIs and unplanned pregnancy. Unsafe sex may put you or your partner at risk of STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, Mycoplasma genitalium, HIV or hepatitis B, or may result in an unplanned pregnancy. Condoms offer the best available protection against STIs by acting as a physical barrier to prevent the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids or blood between partners. However, condoms do offer the best available protection when used correctly.

Remember that safe sex is only one way to prevent disease. It should not be the principal focus of your messages during an epidemic! See Zika, Disease tool