About one in four Americans will develop a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in their lifetime. While STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and cancer-causing strains of HPV are particularly common among sexually active young people, taking the proper precautions can protect one’s health.

Often, STIs will exhibit no visible signs or symptoms, but they can still be easily transmitted to other individuals. To help prevent the spread of STIs, the caring team from Groton, Connecticut’s women’s health center, Thameside ObGyn Centre, wants to emphasize the importance of practicing safe sex.

Preventing STIs: Women’s Health Center on Safe Sex

How Do You Prevent STIs?

Of course, the absolute most effective way to prevent the spread of HIV and STIs is to practice abstinence. However, there are other ways to drastically reduce the potential risks associated with sexual intercourse. For example, two people who have not been infected with any STIs, who only have sex with each other, and who do not use injectable drugs possess a very low risk rate of contracting an STI. When combined with condom use, this risk diminishes even further.

How Do You Practice Safe Sex?

If you do not know each other’s sexual history or have not been recently tested for an STI, you may want to opt for alternative activities like kissing and touching. You also have the option to employ precautions that will make sex with your partner much, much safer. Common preventive options include the use of male and female condoms during sex.

What If Both Partners Are HIV Positive?

Some people mistakenly think they don’t need to practice safe sex if both partners already have the STI. However, wearing a condom and taking other measures can help protect against other strains of HIV, for instance, which you may not already have.

To learn more about practicing safe sex, consult Groton’s women’s health center. The team from Thameside ObGyn Centre offers the birth control and sexual health resources women need in a safe, supportive environment. To learn more about the practice, visit the website. You can also call a helpful professional at (860) 445-5107.