Safe sex

Having safe sex is important when you go further than kissing and caressing or petting. Do you want to make sure you don’t get any STIs or get pregnant? Then always have sex safely.

Use contraception

Using contraceptives is protecting yourselves. This is the best way to have safe sex: condoms plus the pill (or another contraceptive).
A condom protects against STIs. The pill does not protect against STIs but is one of the most widely used methods for preventing pregnancy.

Protect yourself against STIs

When you have sex, then using condoms is the only way to prevent STIs. Most things that go wrong with condoms happen because they’re not used properly. So make sure you know how to use a condom.

Safe for STIs

If you and your partner never have sex with anyone else and neither of you have an STI.
If you only caress, kiss, tongue kiss, cuddle, massage, masturbate or finger each other.
If you use an approved condom for vaginal sex.
If you use an approved condom with extra lubricant for anal sex.
If you use a condom when giving head.
If you use a dental dam or a cut open condom when you are licking and sucking the vagina or anus.

If you do not get menstrual or other blood or semen in your mouth when you’re giving head, you run no risk of HIV. But remember this: there is still a risk of other STIs.