Safer Sex

We are all sexual — from birth to death. When we decide to have sex, we want it to be satisfying — whether we are women, men, intersex or transgender, married or single, young or old, straight, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Enjoying our sexuality is a normal, natural part of life. Most people have taken risks when they have had sex — risks that include getting sexually transmitted infections. People take so many risks that up to one out of two get an infection some time in their lives. The risks people take can be dangerous. Many sexually transmitted infections can:

• last a lifetime

• put stress on relationships

• cause sterility

• cause birth defects

• lead to major illness and death

If you do find that you have contracted a STD, it is important to contact ALL previous and current partners. As you do not know how long you have had the disease (as it might have been dormant for sometime) and also you do not know if they have already got the disease. It is imperative that all sexual partners must undergo an STD check. Unfortunately, many people consider having STIs to be a moral issue. The stigma and shame some people feel because of this may lead them to neglect taking good care of their sexual health. Please don’t let embarrassment be a health risk for you. Speak frankly and openly with your clinician about your sex life and your sexual health concerns. Safer sex is anything we do to lower our risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection. It's about getting more pleasure with less risk. Three Steps to Safer Sex:

1.Become honest with ourselves about the risks we take.

2.Decide which risks we are willing to take — and which ones we aren't willing to take.

3.Find ways to make our sex play as safe and satisfying as possible. The most important ways to reduce your risk are:

• Keep your partner's body fluids out of your body — vagina, anus, or mouth. The body — fluids to be most careful about are blood, cum, pre-cum, vaginal fluids, and the discharge from sores caused by sexually transmitted infections.

• Don't touch sores or growths that are caused by sexually transmitted infections.

Safer sex also means protecting your partner.

• Don't allow your body fluids to get into your partner's body.

• Don't have sex if you have sores or other symptoms of infection.

• Have routine checkups for infections.

• Get the correct treatment if you become infected. This information has been brought to you by Firstmed.co.uk, the UK's leading online impotence clinic. If you wish to discuss any of the above issues in more detail, do not hesitate to contact info@firstmed.co.uk or call +44 (0)870 199 5287