Nice, good, clean, honest, beautiful people get STIs everyday.

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Most of us have taken risks when we have had sex — risks that include getting sexually transmitted infections (STI). We take so many risks that up to one out of two of us gets an infection some time in our lives.

 

In general, a woman's risk of infection is higher than a man's. The vagina and rectum are more easily infected than the penis. A woman's chance of being infected by a man with HIV is twice as great as a man's chance of being infected by a woman with HIV.

 

Women generally have fewer symptoms than men. You are less likely to know if you are infected. Lots of damage can be done — even if you have no symptoms.

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Is it safe to have sex with only one partner?

Maybe. The ideal for many people is to have sex with only one partner. Women and men don't need to worry about getting sexually transmitted infections if neither partner ever had sex with anyone else, if neither partner ever shared needles and if neither partner currently has or ever had an infection.

 

Most of us have more than one sex partner during our lives. We may not plan it that way, but it happens. We may also get an infection from one partner and carry it to another. The partners who gave it to us may not have known they had an infection, may have hoped they wouldn't pass the infection to us or may not have been totally honest about their sexual history.

 

Most women who get HIV from having sex thought they were their sex partners' only sex partner.

 

You and your sex partner may want to give up safer sex because you've decided to have sex with no one else. Before you do, be sure that neither of you has an infection. Some infections, like HIV, may take years to develop symptoms. You may not even know they are there. Visit your local Planned Parenthood center or health care provider to get yourself checked out for sexually transmitted infections.

 

When it comes to safer sex, rely on yourself. Believing you are your sex partner's only partner will not make it true. Think it over. We all want partners we can trust. The key is to make sure that our partners earn our trust. We should never just give it away.

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Condoms are the best protection when enjoying sexual intercourse.

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If you or someone you love has an STI, the best thing you can do is consult your doctor for treatment and care. Many STI can be easily treated with antibiotics. Others are more difficult to treat. The longer you go untreated the higher your risks of reproductive difficulties. And of course - HIV/AIDS is fatal. But new treatments and increased knowledge may help many more people live with HIV even longer. If you have never been tested for STIs, make an appointment with your doctor to be tested. Your doctor will hold your confidence and is ready to help you.

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When You Have a Checkup...

Don't assume you're getting tested for sexually transmitted infections. You need to ask your clinician to do it. Otherwise, it probably won't happen. Bring this checklist and go over it with your doctor. They will help you decide what you should be tested for.

 

0 HIV/AIDS

0 Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

0 Chlamydia

0 Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

0 Genital Warts/HPV

0 Gonorrhea

0 Hepatitis

0 Herpes

0 Intestinal Parasites

0 Molluscum Contagiosum

0 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

0 Pubic Lice

0 Scabies

0 Syphilis

0 Trichomoniasis

0 Urinary tract infections (UTIs) 

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For the most up-to-date information on symptoms of an infection, how one might contract an infection, who should be tested, testing options, treatments, long-term repercussions, impact on reproduction and pregnancy, safer sex options and prevention please visit:

www.plannedparenthood.org

or call Sexually Transmitted Disease Hotline at

1-800-227-8922     TTY: 1-888-232-6348

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SAFER SEX TIPS

For Your Pleasure has some great condoms in our line. Including flavored condoms that can be used during oral sex. Let people know they can also put a drop of lube inside the condom to create a feeling of wetness to go with the warmth of the giver’s mouth.

 

The lubes in our line help to cut down on friction during sex play. Friction can cause microscopic burns or opening in tender vaginal and anal tissue, leaving a person more vulnerable to infections.

 

The book Sex with the Lights On: 200 Illuminating Sex Questions Answered has an entire chapter dedicated to sexual health, including how you can find a sex positive doctor and tips for how one can make safer sex more erotic.

 

As your pleasure expert, I want you to feel good in your body. I’m here to answer questions and find more resources for you if you are struggling with an STI.

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