Why is Safe sex important?

When we talk about safe sex we do not mean to kill the passion and intimacy from your life. It actually means preventing and protecting you from the sexually transmitted diseases and reducing the risk of acquiring the infection. Safe sex protects you against unintended pregnancy and some common STDs that can be transmitted during intercourse, for example chlamydia and gonorrhoea. HIV infection is transmitted mainly through vaginal or anal intercourse without a condom. Safe sex prevents you from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

If you have had anal, oral or vaginal intercourse and if you have shared needles then you are at a risk of HIV infection. You can greatly reduce the risk factor of acquiring HIV infection through sexual intercourse by knowing and practicing safer sex. HIV infection is spread through body fluids such as semen, blood, and vaginal/cervical secretions. Sexual activities that include direct contact with semen, blood, or vaginal/cervical secretions are risky and can cause HIV infection. When sex partner take precautions it reduces the chance of direct contact with those fluids and make sex safer.

Safe sex is important so as to protect both the partners from the incurable sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore it is essential for the partners to sit together and discuss what birth control methods they would opt for. It is also important to discuss if either of the partner is at a risk of an STDs. Although it is a delicate and difficult issue to talk on yet it is crucial. Therefore it is very important to look for the right moment to talk on the topic. It is also important to be honest with each other and equally important to be frank with each other. If any of the partners is sexually infected then he or she should be bold enough to tell it to the partner and take necessary precautions. Generally people hesitate and do not tell their sex partners about it if they have an HIV or STDs which is actually a heinous crime.

Both the couples should sit together and make decisions as to what precautions they are going to take. There are a number of birth control alternatives. Among the various alternatives the use of condoms is a good choice as they are highly effective if used properly. They give more than 90% protection against sexually transmitted diseases. The condoms have other advantages such as they do not require a prescription and are easily available at the drug stores and vending machines. There are other alternative that too can be used like the pill, IUDs, diaphragms, cervical caps, foam, a sponge, Norplant or Depo-Provera, all these are effective in preventing pregnancy but the DO NOT prevent STDs.

Safer sex means being staying healthy and being smart enough to protect and prevent from unplanned pregnancy and sexual diseases. It means enjoying sex to the fullest and at the same time showing respect and care for each other. Safe sex is important as health comes above pleasure and we owe a responsibility towards are partners and the society.

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