What is risky and what is safer sex?

Many sexually active people take risks with their health, believing, “It can’t happen to me.” If you practise unsafe sex, you may get an STD. You are practising unsafe sex if:

• you are sexually active with someone who might be infected and you are not protecting yourself
• you are having sex with someone who has, or has had, an STD
• you or your partner have, or have had, many sexual partners
• you or your partner inject drugs
• you or your partner share needles for drugs, body piercing or tattoos

You can avoid getting an STD by:

• not having sex at all
• having only one partner for life
• using a latex condom every time you have sex
• not sharing needles
• learning about and practising safer sex
• talking to your partner about STDs