What Does Safer Sex Mean?
How to Use a Condom


What Does Safer Sex Mean?

Published by an Unknown Source

Safer sex means being smart and staying healthy. It means showing love, concern and respect for your partner and yourself. Safer sex means enjoying sex to the fullest without transmitting, or acquiring, sexually related infections.

There are many sexually transmitted diseases. All of these diseases are caused by microorganisms which travel from one person to another during particular sexual activities. In this brochure, we deal with one of the most important sexually transmissible diseases - HIV-and the sexual behaviors that can transmit it. Two other ACHA brochures. Making Sex Safer and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.: What Everyone Should Know explain the other major infections related to sexual activity and suggest effective ways to reduce your risk for those diseases.

HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS. ACHA's brochure HIV Infection and AIDS: What Everyone Should Know will answer many of your questions. Here, you will find suggestions to reduce your risk of acquiring HIV.

Safer sex does not have to mean eliminating sexual passion and intimacy from your life. Safer sex means reducing the chance of acquiring HIV infection. For individuals who decide to engage in sexual intercourse, reducing the risk of HIV infection means using latex barriers every time you have intercourse.

What Is Safe? What Is Risky?
If you do not have anal, oral or vaginal intercourse. and if you never share needles von have almost no risk of HIV infection. You can greatly reduce your chance of acquiring HIV infection through sexual intercourse by knowing and practicing safer sex. Saliva, sweat, tears, and urine do not transmit HIV - but semen, blood, and vaginal/cervical secretions may. Sexual activities that include no direct contact with your partner's semen, blood, or vaginal/cervical secretions are safe. Activities that do involve direct contact with semen, blood, or vaginal/cervical secretions are risky. Precautions that reduce the chance of direct contact with those fluids will make sex safer.

Talking
Talking can make every other sexual activity safer. Talking helps you get to know your partner better, contributes to sexual pleasure, and provides an opportunity to negotiate safer sexual practices. However, talking alone will not protect you from HIV.

Fantasy
The brain creates images and finds words to arouse, delight, and satisfy. Imagination and creativity add richness to sexual experience.

Touching
Touching, caressing and massage provide warm, affectionate, and safe intimacy. The imaginative use of loving fingers and hands can relax, soothe, or excite.

Masturbation
It is safe for semen or vaginal fluids to contact unbroken skin (without obvious open cuts or sores) through self-pleasuring or mutual masturbation.

Kissing
There is no evidence that kissing transmits HIV , though deep kissing may transmit other sexually transmissible diseases. Kissing or licking your partner's body (other than the genitals), will not spread HIV.

Oral Sex/ Man
The risk of acquiring HIV by performing oral sex on a man (felettatio, "blow-job") seems very low but is uncertain. Since pre-ejaculatory fluid ("pre-cum") may contain HIV, stopping before ejaculation does not necessarily reduce the risk. Using a condom for oral sex further reduces the risk of transmitting HIV. The risk of your acquiring HIV by having fallatio performed on you is extremely low, if it exists at all. Some other sexually transmissible diseases, such as gonorrhea and herpes.

Oral Sex/ Woman
The risk of acquiring HIV by performing oral sex on a woman (cunnilingus) seems very low but is also uncertain. Using a latex square, dental dam, or condom cut open lengthwise as a barrier may reduce the risk further. Cunnilingus during menstruation may have more risk, but this is not known for sure. The risk of your acquiring HIV by having cunnilingus performed on you is extremely low, if it exists at all. Some other sexually transmissible diseases, such as gonorrhea and herpes, may be more easily transmitted during cunnilingus.

Oral-Anal Contact
The risk of transmitting HIV to either partner through oral-anal contact ("rimming") is uncertain but seems low. However, rimming may easily transmit other organisms. Using a latex square, dental dam, or condom cut open lengthwise as a barrier may further reduce the likelihood of transmitting HIV or other organisms during rimming.

Vaginal Intercourse
HIV may pass from man to woman or woman to man during vaginal intercourse without a condom. Unprotected vaginal intercourse is risky. Latex condoms greatly reduce the chance of acquiring or transmitting HIV during vaginal intercourse.

Anal Intercourse
HIV may pass from man to man or man to woman during anal intercourse without a condom. Unprotected anal intercourse is risky. Latex condoms clearly reduce the chance of acquiring or transmitting HIV. However, condoms are more likely to break during anal intercourse: using adequate amounts of water-based lubricants and being careful are especially important. To further reduce risk, you might choose to withdraw before ejaculation.

Condoms
Although condoms do not provide 100 percent protection against transmitting or acquiring HIV, they are highly effective if they are used properly each time you have inter-course. Remember:

1. Condoms are not all the same. Latex (rubber) condoms work better than natural skin ones. Lambskin condoms are not safe in pre-venting STDs. And some latex condoms per-form better than others. Be a cautious consumer. Men may want to get used to the feel of the condom before using that brand with a partner. Try different brands and styles to decide which ones you prefer. Some people are irritated by spermicidal coatings or particular lubricants.
   
   
2. Use a reservoir-tip condom, or pinch a 1/2" at the tip to collect the semen. Unless you are allergic to spermicides, put a drop of vaginal spermicide inside the tip of the condom.
   
   
3. Put the condom on the erect penis before the first contact of penis to vagina or anus. If the penis is uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin before rolling the condom over the erect penis.
   
   
4. Unroll the condom slowly and carefully all the way clown the shaft of the penis. smoothing out air bubbles. Have a spare condom available in case you find a tear or hole in the one you are using.
   
   
5. Use only water-based lubricants (see box). You can never use too much lubricant. A separate application of spermicide in the vagina or anus before intercourse in addition to the use of condoms makes good sense. Spermicides provide lubrication and may add protection against conception or infection if the condom breaks or slips off.
   
   
6. After ejaculation, withdraw while the penis is still erect; remove the penis carefully, holding onto the base of the condom to prevent slipping. Be careful not to spill the contents.
   
   
7. If you're also concerned about pregnancy in case the condom breaks, use other contraceptive methods along with the condom. But remember, birth control pills, diaphragms, sustained release contraceptive injections or implants, or intrauterine devices (IUDs) alone cannot protect you against HIM or any other sexually transmissible organism.
   
   
8. Dispose of the used condom. Never re-use condoms! Try different kinds of latex condoms; there are many styles. colors, and brands.
   
   

Lubricants
Lubricants are important because they reduce the chance that condoms will break during vaginal or anal intercourse. Remember: you can never use too much lubricant, and always use water-based lubricants, like KY Jelly. Some lubricants (including contraceptive gels and foam) contain nonoxynol-9, a spermicide that provides additional protection against HIV. Oil-based lubricants may cause the latex condoms to weaken and tear, so avoid any oil- or petroleum-based lubricant, lotion, or cream (such as Vaseline, hand and body moisturizers, cooking oils, shortening, or baby oil).


How to Use a Condom

1. Putting it on
   • Use a new condom before each sex act.
   • Squeeze tip of condom to remove air. (Excess air could cause condom to break.)
     
   • When penis is hard (before any sexual contact), place condom on tip and roll down all the way.
     
   
   
   
2. Taking it off
   • After coming, withdraw penis while still hard.
     
   • Hold on to rim of condom as you withdraw so nothing spills.
   • Avoid further sexual contact with your partner until both of you wash your sex organs and any other areas that came in contact with body fluids.
     
   
   
   
3. Important Facts
   • If more lubrication is needed, use K-Y Jelly(R) or other water-based or silicone lubricant.
   • Do not use oil based lubricants such as Vaseline(R) petroleum jelly, mineral oil, vegetable oil or cold cream as these could break the condom.
   • If you or your partner sense burning or itching, discontinue use of this condom. Try another type of condom.
   • If the condom breaks or semen (cum) spills or leaks out, you and your partner should wash wherever you had sexual contact right away.
   • Store condoms in a cool, dry place. Do not keep in a wallet or glove compartment. Keep out of direct sunlight.
   
   
   
4. Condom Effectiveness
   The only sure way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is not to have sex. No condom or contraceptive works 1000/0 of the time. However, if you are having sex, lifeStyles condoms, when properly used, can help prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. Condoms are primarily intended for use in vaginal sex; other uses can increase the potential for breakage.
   
   

Additional Information
*Condoms lubricated with Nonoxynol-9 combine a latex condom and a spermicidal lubricant. The spermicide, Nonoxynol-9, reduces the number of active sperm, thereby decreasing the risk of pregnancy if you lose your erection before withdrawal and some semen spills outside the condom. However, the extent of decreased risk has not been established. This condom should not be used as a substitute for the combined use of a vaginal spermicide and a condom.

LifeStyles condoms are available:

• Non-Lubricated - the preferred dry condom
• Lubricated with SK-70(R) -- for a natural feeling
• Lubricated with Spermicide* (Nonoxynol-9) -for extra protection

Active ingredient: Avg. 32 mgs. Nonoxynol-9 at 6.6% concentration per condom.

This insert is produced by Ansell Incorporated, America's #1 Condom Company.

Ansell Incorporated
Medical Products Division
Eatontown, NJ 07724