Safe Sex & Healthy Relationships
Practicing safe sex can reduce your chances of contracting a sexually transmitted infection and getting pregnant.
Vaginal Sex
occurs when a penis enters a vagina(32). When this happens, a fluid called semen can be injected from the penis into the vagina. Semen is made up of sperm cells(32). If contraception is not used, these sperm travel up the vagina and into the uterus, then into the fallopian tubes, and can lead to pregnancy(79).
How Can I Practice Safe Sex
- Get routinely tested for STIs
- Talk to your partner about:
- Sexual history
- If they have previously been tested for STIs
- If they had or have a sexually transmitted infection
- Use a form of barrier contraception.(32)
- Unsure about what contraceptive method to use? Remember that condoms are easy to get at a local pharmacy and affordable to buy. They are simple to use, they keep you safe by preventing both pregnancy and STI’s and they can also be used in combination with many other contraceptive methods!(33)
Resources
- 32. Kids Help Phone. Sex: the basics [Internet]. [place unknown]: Kids Help Phone; 2018 Jul 6 [reviewed 2021 Dec 2; cited 2022 Jan 22]. Available from: [LINK]
- 33. Planned Parenthood. What are the benefits of condoms? [Internet]. [place unknown]: Planned Parenthood Federation; c2022 [cited 2022 Jan 22]. Available from: [LINK]
- 79. Hirsch, L. Emergency contraception [Internet]. [place unknown]: Nemours Foundation; c1955-2022 [reviewed 2021 Sep; cited 2022 Jan 30]. Available from: [LINK]