Top STD Prevention Tips

Top STD Prevention Tips : Practicing safe sex is very important. How do you stay sexually healthy? Check out this guide to learn about std prevention.

Consensual sex is fun and exciting until the topic of STDs is brought up. No one likes to talk about the possibility of STDs, but it’s a necessary conversation to have considering STD rates are higher than ever.

So how can you continue enjoying sex without putting yourself at risk for an STD? Are there ways to prevent STDs altogether?

Well, the only way to completely preserve your sexual health is to abstain from sex altogether. But as that’s not a realistic option for most people, we’ve compiled a list of the top tips for STD prevention.

Let’s get started!

Use Latex Condoms

Latex condoms are essential to help prevent STDs, especially if you have multiple sexual partners. They are affordable and easy-to-use so there is no excuse for not using them when engaging in sexual activity.

Latex condoms can’t 100 percent guarantee safety from STDs, but if used properly, they are almost always effective. They are also highly effective for pregnancy prevention.
Wash Hands After Intercourse

When we touch our partner’s genitals and then touch our own, STDs can be transmitted.

This is why it’s important to wash your hand after intercourse so you can clear away any germs that can cause you harm.
Avoid Sharing Towels or Undergarments

Sexually transmitted diseases can also transfer from one person to another through towels or undergarments, so be mindful of that.

If your partner uses a towel to wipe down after sex, don’t use that same towel. Find a clean one to ensure your safety.
Notice Physical Symptoms of STDs

While many STDs like chlamydia often don’t have physical symptoms, other STDs and STIs do have symptoms. If you notice that your partner has genital warts, rashes, or anything else that looks out of the ordinary, avoid having sex.

You should also let your partner know of these symptoms because oftentimes people can’t see them on themselves.
Avoid Casual Sex

Casual sex means that you are engaging in sexual behavior with multiple people, and those people are likely having sex with others. By having several casual sexual partners, you are increasing the likelihood that you encounter an STD in the bedroom

If you do have casual sex, it becomes a lot more important to follow the previous tips. You need to take the necessary precautions and don’t let anyone pressure you into not taking these precautions.
Only Have Unprotected Sex in Exclusive Relationships

Unprotected sex should be reserved for exclusive relationships. And if you or your partner has had unprotected sex in the past, it’s a good idea to get tested before having unprotected sex. Always give your consent for unprotected sex only for your exclusive relationships. Somebody can’t force you to have sex. There is also a restriction of legal age for consent for having sex. So nobody can force you to have unprotected sex without your consent.

If you and your partner have a polygamous relationship and want to continue having unprotected sex, it’s important to set guidelines when having sex with others. This means always wearing protection and taking other steps to ensure safety from STDs.
Be Open and Honest with Your Partner

Honesty is a vital part of any relationship, and that honesty needs to happen in the bedroom, too. If you are sleeping with someone who thinks it’s an exclusive relationship (even if it’s not), you need to be honest with your partner.

By letting each other know what you both want from the relationship and what is going on outside of the relationship, you can help prevent any STDs from being transmitted.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

While simply drinking or using drugs doesn’t cause your body to become more vulnerable to STDs, there is a positive correlation between drugs, alcohol, and STDs.

This is because getting drunk or high can lower your inhibition, sense of judgment, and lead you to make poor decisions that you wouldn’t normally make. It can also make you more vulnerable to being coerced into unprotected sex.

This does not mean you need to quit drinking to avoid STDs, it just means you should be aware of these risks and make sure you are around people who will care about your wellbeing.
Get Vaccinated for HPV

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and can lead to cancer in both men and women.

While some people may experience physical symptoms such as warts and other skin conditions around the genitals, more people don’t have any symptoms of HPV. That’s why it’s so important to get vaccinated.

HPV vaccinations prevent more than 90 percent of cancers caused by HPV. So this vaccination can literally save your life.
Get Tested

If you’ve ever had unprotected sex — or even if you have only had protected sex — it’s important to get tested. You can get an STD without showing any symptoms, so it’s important to get tested often, especially if you have a lot of sexual partners.

If you have recently entered into an exclusive romantic relationship, make sure both you and your partner get tested for STDs before having unprotected sex. This will give you peace of mind when you finally do have unprotected sex with your partner.

You can get STD testing done at the comfort of your own home with at-home STD tests. Or, you can visit your doctor and get tested there.

Use These STD Prevention Tips to Stay Healthy

If you want to enjoy your sex life without always worrying about whether you’ve contracted an STD, it’s important to be proactive and use these top STD prevention tips. By protecting yourself, you can feel more confident in the bedroom and in life because you know you’ll be STD-free.

Looking for more tips? Check out our love and sex blog page today!

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