Provided
by The American Social Health Association Play It Safe Sex is better when
you don't have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Unsafe sex
can put you or your partner at risk for STDs. Protect yourself and your partner.
Then you can relax and feel close.
If
you decide to have sex, be sure to carry condoms (rubbers).
"I
feel like, if a man won't use a condom, he doesn't care about the person he's
with. HIV and other diseases are out there. You have to take care of each other."
--Roy, age 36 It Can Happen To You If you have sex with someone who
has an STD, you can get it, too. About 1 in 4 people in this country has an STD.
The more people you have sex with, the greater the chance that you will get an
STD.
"A
few years ago I got gonorrhea. It made me feel dirty inside. My tubes got infected,
and I had a terrible pain in my belly. I swore I'd never let that happen to me
again. Since then, I use condoms every time. No excuses!" --Robena, age
28
Most
People Don't Know Even someone you love can have an STD. Millions of people
have STDs--even people who are kind, sexy, and loving. Most of them do not know
they have a disease. But they can still give the STD to others.
"I
never thought about STDs until I dated a man who had herpes. He was really honest
and one of the nicest people I've ever met. That made me see that anyone who's
had sex could have an STD. You can't tell by how someone looks." --Chris,
age 45
STDs
Can Keep A Woman From Ever Having Children STDs can infect a woman deep inside.
They can damage a woman's body so she cannot have children. Many women don't know
they have an STD until it's too late.
Last
year I got tested and found out I had chlamydia. I was shocked--I had no idea
anything was wrong. My doctor told me if I had not gotten treated, I might never
have been able to have children." --Angelica, age 21
It's
Okay To Wait To Have Sex The surest way to prevent any STD is don't have sex.
There are many ways to show love besides sex. Kissing, talking, and touching feel
good and are safe. You cannot spread an STD if there is no contact between the
penis, vagina, mouth, or anus.
"Sex
is not something you just go out and do. I mean, for one thing, there's your feelings--like
how you feel about each other after sex. I feel like, when I do it, I want it
to be right." --Aaron, age 17
If
You Do Have Sex, Use Condoms Latex condoms help protect both people if you
use them the right way every time. Use condoms for any kind of sex--vaginal, oral,
or anal.
"It
was pretty embarrassing the first time. Neither Jan or I knew the right way to
use a condom. But we learned, and we made it fun." --Jamal, 19
If
You Have Had Sex, Get Tested For STDs It's important to get tested once a
year, even if you feel fine. Go to a doctor's office or clinic right away if you
have any of these symptoms:
pain
when you go to the bathroom a strange fluid or drip from the penis or vagina
bleeding between periods (women) To find out where you can get free treatment
in your area, call the CDC National STD Hotline at 1-800-227-8922.
"I
had to tell Kim I had gonorrhea. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.
But I didn't want her to get messed up from an STD." --Michael, age 24
Most STDs can be Treated If you have an STD:
Tell
your partner they need to get tested too. Take all of your medicine, even
if you start to feel better. Never take another person's medicine or give
someone yours. Don't have sex until you and your partner are treated. "I
used to think there was no use trying to prevent HIV or anything. I thought, 'It
can't happen to me.' Now I've grown up some, and I see it differently. I have
responsibilities." --Lui, 18
The
Right Way to Use a Condom
The
Male Condom Keep condoms cool and dry. Never use skin lotions, baby oil, Vaseline
or cold cream with condoms. The oil in these products will cause the condom to
break. You may use products made with water (like K-Y jelly or glycerin).
Put
on a new condom before any kind of sex. Hold the condom by the tip and squeeze
out the air. Unroll the condom all the way over the hard penis. Have sex.
Hold the condom so it can't come off the penis. Pull out. The Female
Condom The female condom fits inside a woman's vagina. It has a soft ring
on each end. The outer ring stays on the outside of the vagina and partly covers
the labia (lips). The inner ring fits inside the vagina to hold the condom in
place.
Put
the condom in any time before sex. Add water-based lubricant to the inside
of the condom. Squeeze the inner ring of the condom. Put the inner ring and
pouch into the vagina. With your finger, push the inner ring as far into the
vagina as it will go. Guide the penis into the condom. After sex, remove
the condom before standing up. Pull out gently.
