As much as we don’t like to think about it, sexual transmitted infections (or STIs) are always a factor to consider when having sex. And despite so many people claiming practice safe sex, the truth of the matter is that many of them aren’t being as safe as they could be. In fact, a lot of women think that their particular circumstances whether it be age, or sexuality or whatever, means that they will not get infected. This is just a fallacy though and by believing it, women are putting themselves at risk every day for either transmitting or receiving STIs. This guide will dispel some of those myths and give you more knowledge about how to truly ensure you are protected from STIs.
Monogamous relationships do not mean you are safe
If you are truly in a monogamous relationship, then yes it is true that your risk of infection is quite low. However, there are a few cases that you always need to consider before assuming you are truly at a low risk. The first thing to figure out is if you or your partner have any existing infections that came about before coming into the monogamous relationship. Not only do so many people not actually know if they are infected with an STI, but sometimes your partner may simply not be telling the truth about their past sexual experiences. No matter how much you may trust your partner, it is always best to get you both checked for STIs before engaging in any unprotected sex.
Another thing you need to be wary of is if your partner is currently engaging in sex with other people other than yourself. Not only is this blatant cheating which is obviously very bad, but it also adds an additional concern of putting you at risk of infection. Even if you test your partner and he comes back clean, if he is currently engaging in sexual activity with other women, you are at risk of catching any infection that your partner later catches after the fact from another person. This basically comes down to trust and how well you know your partner. If you can trust him completely, then you can potentially engage in unprotected sex without any risk. But if there is any doubt in your mind, you should wear take preventive measures just in case.
Birth Control is NOT for STIs
While you may feel like birth control pills or other methods are flawless inventions that keep you safe from unwanted pregnancy and everything else, the reality is that they only keep you safe from unwanted pregnancy. This includes the pill, hormonal injections and implants, diaphragms and the IUD. The only method that protects against B pregnancy and STIs is the condom. If you are sure that you and your partner are not at risk for any new infection, then you could feasibly just use birth control to protect against the risk of pregnancy only. It is up to your discretion, and again comes down to how much you know and trust your partner.
STIs are risks for Women of ALL Sexualities
This is a common myth that lesbians often perpetuate. Although it is true that women who only have sex with women are at much lower risk of infection, they still have risk for various reasons. First of all, some STIs can be transmitted through genital-to-genital contact between woman, and even oral-to-genital contact that involves the exchange of vaginal fluid. Sharing sex toys is also a way that STIs can be transmitted. And sometimes skin-to-skin contact can cause infection. Even though the risk for a lot of these is very low, it is still something that even lesbians consider. They should always make sure there are no open sores and that all their sex toys are washed before engaging in sex.
Pulling Out does not protect you 100% of the time
The reason for this is simply because of something known as pre-cum. This the drops of fluid that the penis discharges during arousal (typically less milky and much clearer than actual cum). These drops of pre-cum can contain HIV or other STIs, which means sexual intercourse without a condom can still lead to the transmission of STIs even if the guy pulls out before his orgasm.
Pre-cum can also contain trace amounts of sperm as well, meaning that if you are not on birth control, having sex without a condom not only puts you at risk of infection but also of pregnancy.
It is always best to use a condom as soon as the man’s penis is erect. This will ensure that pre-cum is contained from the get go.
STIs can happen to women of any age and any experience
Girls and women of any age can contract an STI if they are engaging in sexual activity. In fact, younger girls have the highest risk of contracting an STI due to the fact that their cervix cells do not produce as much protective cervical fluid compared to the cervix of full-grown adults. For women with menopause, your risk may also be increased slightly as well, due to tears in the vaginal wall, which increase susceptibility to bacteria and infections (although this is a possibility for women of all ages).
And to women who feel that they are safe because it is only their first time having sex: contracting an STI is possible whether it is your first time, or your one hundredth. How many times you have had sex has no bearing on your risk of getting infected.
Take Matters Into Your Own Hands to Avoid STIs
No matter what sort of personal background you have when it comes to STIs, or how long you have gone without contracting an STI, it is important to always remember that the next time you have sex can potentially leave you with a new STI. Make sure to clearly understand your specific situation when it comes to the sexual history of not just you but your partners as well. Wearing a condom is truly the best way to prevent STIs (not to mention pregnancies) so even if you are arguably at low risk of contracting an STI, it is always better to be on the safe side. Taking protective measures such as this will help to ensure that your sexual health remains in pristine condition for the rest of your life!
